Wow. So when i first heard about Orient Express’ rebranding and “A Journey Like No Other” campaign coming up, i didn’t quite grasp how magically inspiring it would all be. Then amidst the chaos of running literally ALL over europe at lightning speeds for a few weeks of work trips, they offered the opportunity to experience it first hand, so i’ve been hiding out for a few days in between the madness in Mallorca at La Residencia in Deia. I supposed the truth is, i’m a sucker for other worldly escapes ~ be it in film or photography, there’s something nice about being pulled out of your everyday life, pressing pause for a moment, slipping into as much inspired relaxation as possible before leaping back into the thick of it.

The Orient Express’ seems to have captured the essence of this other worldly escapism perfectly through the 4 perspectives of a family in their new campaign ~ from Father, Mother, Son, and Daughters views spanning travel via luxurious train, boats to Venice, drives to Rio, and more. The mini films (and matching instagram-esque photo galleries) help you feel like you’re peeking into another life ~ and it’s so fun seeing the same trips from various perspectives… both nostalgic and modern, watching them while curled up in Mallorca, a mere few hours before hopping a 7am flight, just makes me want to duck away into yet another Orient Express styled adventure in luxurious relaxation… but perhaps a few more work bursts before the next one is needed! As for now… take a peek at some of the first few “A Journey Like No Other” videos on the next page ~ and see more on the site!

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Tags: advertising - travel - video

Adorable HUGE “Make Summer Funner” campaign installations by Target are popping up ~ just spotted these time lapse videos of the making of the giant iconic Little Tikes Turtle Sandbox in Chicago and the Sprinkler in Houston over at AdWeek… such a fun idea, would love to see them in person, check out the vids on the next page!

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Tags: advertising - target - toys

Oh, the art of highlighting! I love this ad campaign ‘Everybody reads the same story differently’ by Y&R Bogotá, Colombia. When i ran across it at Ads of the World tonight, it just made me smile, and then want to take a highlighter to everything. Too cute to see the various perspectives they play with on who highlights what… see them all up close on the next page: The Little Prince, Don Quixote, and Moby Dick!

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Tags: advertising - art

It’s been fun watching the new Porsche angle of it being for “Every day”… the ads are adorable. Check out the videos on the next page ~ and the Porsche Every Day site! Additionally, today i spent a few hours out at California Speedway with the Porsche World Roadshow test driving the “every day” side of the cars as well as playing with them around the track. Nothing makes you forget what day it is, what’s going on in your life, or how blisteringly hot it is out quite like a few turns out on the track and doing 120 on the straight aways…. ok, so maybe that part wasn’t quite “every day” driving, but it was definitely fun to get to know how the cars handle and just barely start to push them to what they were designed for… and that they can also serve as pickup trucks, pet carriers, school buses and more ~ take a peek at the ads and some pics from the day on the next page!

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Tags: advertising - cars - race - video

Just touched down in Milan ~ on things to look forward to upon arrival home next next week ~ Portal 2! Finally! But first to keep us going, while waiting a bit longer… three awesome videos of “Investment Opportunities” ~ looking at Panels, Bots, and Turrets! I’m conflicted as to whether to wish for more videos, or for the game to FINALLY arrive… So fun, so pretty, watch them all on the next page!

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Tags: advertising - video - video game

In a TV near you, there is an upcoming TV show, National Geographic Expedition Week. Far, far away in a room… there is a tiny train track - that goes through the Himalayas, London, Ancient Rome, and Papa New Guinea… and on this track, is a tiny train… with a tiny camera. A camera that YOU control through the internet. And when you find artifacts while driving this tiny far away train… you can take pictures. Then a person in the far away room with the tiny train looks at your picture, and decides if you found something. And he tells you through the internet, and if you DID… he pulls a REAL life-sized artifact off the shelf, and packages it up, and it appears on your REAL doorstep. Where you might be sitting on the couch, watching National Geographic Expedition Week.

PHEW ~ did you follow that? so that’s… digital - physical - digital - physical - digital - physical - digital? How many layers of real world/digital interaction is that? I love Deeplocal. Oh, and if you do win a real world artifact, and then proceed to photograph it, and feed it back to the internet… bonus interaction layers?

So, to recap, National Geographic Channel and Deeplocal, the team behind GAP’s Project Reindeer, have teamed up to create Mission Expedition where viewers can go on a photo safari using telepresence cameras to explore miniature sets… and it’s AWESOMEly fun! See more about the project, the artifacts, and behind the scenes on the next page.

p.s. OH, and to know its real, when i had a call with them this morning pre-launch ~ they even waved their giant hand at me via the tiny train’s tiny camera while we were talking!

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Tags: advertising - augmented reality - technology - television - video

Petite Lap Giraffes! They have their own website!!! If you follow my silliness on twitter / Life.NOTCOT, you’ve probably noticed my post way back when i couldn’t resist screenshotting the DirecTV ad with the creepy russian and his adorable teeny tiny giraffe! Well, DirecTV, has given them their own website, complete with “giraffe cam”! Petite Lap Giraffes!!! Take a peek at some screenshots and also the two DirecTV ads on the next page!

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Tags: advertising - animals - nature - television - video - website

On fun ways to kick off the weekend, these are like ninja cooking mama ~ or sesame street/eureka’s castle ~ or crazy art video/baby noise/pot clanging remixed… These amazing videos you can see on the next page are The Art of cooking series byCarl Kleiner in collaboration with Eric Severin & Evelina Bratell for IKEA, and made possible by Forsman & Bodenfors. They are mesmerizing and amazing! An awesome follow up to the amazing HEMBAKAT ÄR BÄST cookbook (which still has some of the most incredible recipe photography i’ve laid eyes on). But anyhow ~ TO the videos on the next page!!!

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Tags: advertising - ikea - photography - video

There is a trend of impressive projection advertising going on in Germany ~ through both Mercedes-Benz and BMW. I love that both are not simply about being larger than life, but about eco-friendliness (in the case of BMW, the projections are mainly powered by wind energy) and environmentally aware (the Mercedes one helps you SEE through walls, at bikers, skateboards, and unexpected things coming around the corner) ~ both make fascinating and beautiful uses of the spaces around them. AND! Of course, videos of each on the next page to see them in action!

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Tags: advertising - bmw - germany - green - Mercedes-Benz - projection - video

These ads will make you want to go on an adventure, learn a new language, explore new foods, make new friends, fall in love… with a city, a person, a whole new life… Absolutely stunning typographically happy advertisements set to fun music showing you how to LIVE THE LANGUAGE ~ EF Language School style. I haven’t been able to get them out of my head since i first found them on Wanken. These videos are Directed by Gustav Johansson, D.P: Niklas Johansson, fsf, Typography: Albin Holmqvist, Music: Magnus Lidehäll, and Produced at Camp David. Go get lost in Paris, Barcelona, London, and Beijing on the next page…

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Tags: advertising - travel - typography - video

“It’s a 60’s post modern gingerbread house. Although I hesitate to call it a house… It’s more of a Palazzo.” And then i can’t help giggling. And then once i stop… can’t help but note what an awesome gingerbread palazzo that is! The whole Acura Season for Reason ad campaign by RP& is pretty cute ~ though there’s a tiny part of me that wants the ridiculousness they mock in the ads more than reason! See the chestnut roaster and the awesome xmas tree/live reindeer/etc, as well as the Gingerbread Palazzo ad on the next page!

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Tags: advertising - architecture - cars - food - video

The Saatchi & Saatchi LA xmas email came out yesterday, and this year they are “giving back by making donations to three nonprofit charities on your behalf: The Amanda Foundation, Free Arts for Abused Children and New Directions“… and then they announced NOG PONG! Exactly what it sounds like, only it’s always our turn, and they get to do all the eggnog drinking…

Teaming up with Deep Local (yup, our new favorite people from Project Reindeer, etc) - “Nogbot started as an off-the-shelf ping-pong practice machine. In one weekend, we reverse engineered the machine and replaced its guts with our own wiring and microcontroller. The new microcontroller allowed us to programmatically control the motors, switches and servos to do our bidding. We created a web-based API to communicate with Nogbot allowing an external program to fire balls at different speeds and directions.” Awesome, right? Well they’ve also shared some pics of what the NogBot looks like! (He’s your real world arm launching those balls as you click from behind your monitor.) As well as videos of the game in action, and the making of! Check it all out on the next page… love these projects that really pull the digital and physical closer in such playful ways!

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Tags: advertising - drinks - games - liqurious - video

So many great inspiring ads and videos this week! The Conan O’Brien Amex Ads ares are just incredible. From a design and travel perspective, they are such a nice look at a culture and an artisanal skill. First there was “Curtain” ad shot in India, where in about a minute you get to see exactly how cloth is made and dyed… in the follow up, we’re brought to Italy, and Conan blows the glass to make the Applause sign! The obsessive attention to detail in these ads, and sharing the process… the pain of imperfection followed by the perseverance to perfect it… such a great thing to aspire to! Take a look at both adverts as well as the great Making Of videos on the next page!

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Tags: advertising - television - video

I can’t even begin to tell you how giddy i am tonight. One, its 2am. Two, REINDEER! And there is an inexplicable joy when ad campaigns that i adore and would write about anyhow, are supporting NOTCOT! Firstly, let’s look at Project Reindeer minus the Gap involvement. There’s a page where you can watch the Reindeer Webcam, see their GPS tracked movements, watch fun Reindeer videos, and get to know a bit about each of the 8 reindeer in the herd as well as Zoologist, Josh, who focuses on North American Caribou… all the way out in Lake Crystal, MN. That alone is pretty awesome. Now, add the rather bizarre but interesting layer Gap has added on this. Each deer is assigned a specific deal (i.e. Emma = 40% off your purchase). Each day there is a new goal (i.e. Shortest Distance Within 24 hrs). Whichever reindeer reaches that goal, you get that discount the next day. See? A bit bizarre, yet strangely fascinating when you mix it all together?

So, inspired by Project Reindeer, I can’t help but wonder… who is this Zoologist Josh? How did they find him? Are they sponsoring his research? Is there an interesting public way advertising and academic/zoological research can come together? How can we further evolve mutually beneficial relationships of academic research, design inspiration, brands, and more… we’ve often mused over here at NOTCOT about finding ways to get more involved in that side of things. Then again, Justine, our NOTCOT.org editor who is also a research zoologist with a doctorate in animal behavior, coupled with our never ending fascination with nature and creative inspiration at NOTCOT… hmmmm. Much to think about! And who would have thought this late night ramble would be sparked by Gap? And Project Reindeer? Ok but back to the topic at hand ~ check out some screenshots on the next page of their fun simple page… as well as some of the absurdly amusing video bios of the various reindeer!

p.s. For full disclosure, this isn’t a sponsored post. Just something that i discovered because they are supporting NOTCOT, and was such a fun concept, i would have written about it anyhow! I guess it’s a perfect fit!

UPDATE: Project Reindeer is a Gap/AKQA project by Deep Local, the awesome post-digital shop that helps brands create remarkable experiences that bridge the online and physical worlds, who also did the awesome Saatchi LA NogPong!

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Tags: advertising - animals - holiday - nature

Spotted this stunner of a new ad from Audi at the always awesome Stash ~ “Imagination Meets Engineering” advert for the new Audi A7 Sportback. It’s like an xray kaleidoscope of nature meets engineering madness that is absolutely mesmerizingly set to Basement Jaxx’s ‘Dracula’. I just watched it a few times over! See the video on the next page, as well as screenshots of some of my favorite moments.

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Tags: advertising - audi - cars - video

Love these french ads for Martell XO that i ran into on I Believe in Adv. Such a fun concept to show that it’s “The same pleasure since 1715”, having the more modern day scene reflect the world in the painting from the 1700s! I supposed the question is did they take it too far? or not far enough? Part of my wishes in the paintings, there would be a painting of an even OLDER time with the same scenario inside… or that the dresses and suites were matching in color… though that might just be because of the girl in the pink dress matching… and a guy in a red suit might be a bit much! See the second ad, as well as close ups of the paintings on the next page!

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Tags: advertising - art - drinks

Kahlúa hosted an incredible dinner at Zarela in NYC to announce the launch of their new campaign celebrating its Veracruz heritage, and Sean from Sub-Studio went to experience it for us! He came back with some amazing photos of the event, and it sounds like some serious wanderlust for Veracruz! Which is in turn making me crave mexican food and a Veracruz adventure as well! The cocktails, decor, and new Kahlúa adverts look so beautiful and delicious! Take a peek on the next page to see (and read!) more of Sean’s adventures with Kahlúa!

P.s. the new Delicioso ads are pretty hilarious… they’re embedded on the next page for you!

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Tags: advertising - drinks - food - kahlua - liqurious - new york - restaurants - sub-studio - video

Sometimes the best art is locked away INSIDE TBWA\Chiat\Day! So, i’ve shown you their studios before, and you just saw their 5353 Music Art Fest ~ well, while i was there, popped inside again, and their latest internal art exhibit is awesome! Freerunning captured in action and printed larger than life all around their communal areas… only thing that could be cooler would be watching the LA based Team Tempest freerunners bouncing off the surfboard bar, gargoyle, fish tank, shipping containers and more!

And since i was a bit ignorant, just read up a bit on the difference between Freerunning and Parkour - according to wikipedia - “Parkour as a discipline emphasizes efficiency, whilst free running embodies complete freedom of movement — and includes many acrobatic maneuvers. Although the two are often physically similar, the mindsets of each are vastly different.” Watching some Tempest TV, it definitely look like an incredibly athletic art form that feels like urban tumbling/dancing at times! Mesmerizing to say the least ~ and apparently you check out Team Tempest at UCLA every saturdat at 11am!

For now ~ check out more pics of the exhibit up at TBWA\Chiat\Day on the next page!

p.s. UPDATE! The stunning photography in these prints are by people/dramatic sports photog, Andy Batt!

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Tags: advertising - art - events - gallery - outdoor - sport

Such a fun way to spend the day before hopping on the LAX-CDG flight ~ TBWA\Chiat\LA 5353 Music Art Fest ~ an evolution of what was once a company wide picnic, this year TBWA\Chiat\Day threw a party in their parking lot celebrating their team, art, and music accompanied by food trucks (Kogi and Greasy Weiner) and an Ice Cream Sandwich Bar! The music was quite the line up with performances by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Fool’s Gold, Fitz and the Tantrums, and Local Natives. Then there was the art ~ nice idea to have an art show featuring non work pieces by TBWA\Chiat\Day employees, many of which don’t necessarily even work in the creative side! The beer was flowing, the dunk tank was splashing, the music was blasting, and everyone seemed to be having a great time as they popped in and out of the building ~ i guess the only downside (or upside?) to having this year’s event in the parking lot versus offsite, you can hang out AND still work at the same time! Huge thanks to the folks at TBWA\Chiat\Day for inviting me in, honored to have made the “friends of…” list! Check out the fun scene from the top of the parking garage, the giant chicken sculpture that farts bubbles, the pixelated bike, the burnt golf balls and more on the next page!

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Tags: advertising - art - events - installation - los angeles - music - sculpture

Gucci’s latest ad just dropped ~ and it’s stunning! Even frame by frame, its incredibly beautiful ~ and unmistakeably Frank Miller! With a Metropolis/Gotham style… mind blowing vintage jag/city scenes… heels to die for… it stars Evan Rachel Wood and Chris Evans and Gucci Guilty “the new fragrance for her” with soundtrack by Friendly Fires. It’s really stunning, i think i just watched it a half dozen times… see the new ad as well as my favorite frames on the next page!

p.s. you won’t be able to stop drooling over the 1953 Jaguar C-Type or those sky high stilettos…

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Tags: advertising - luxury - perfume - video

A bit ad happy lately ~ so many inspiring, creative ads lately! Latest are these new Blank Canvases ads from American Express for their Zync Card! Lovely idea that ANYTHING can be a blank canvas ~ opening things up to unlimited possibilities ~ particularly in art, music, food, and fashion! And the three spots have different musicians… so see the spots from The Passion Pit, The Antlers, and Andrew Bird on the next page!

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Tags: advertising - video

You’d think it’d be hard to top the “I’m on a horse” he’s the man our man could smell like ad. You’d think most wouldn’t even try. But leave it to Weiden + Kennedy to take it above and beyond and still have us in stitches laughing so hard. Who doesn’t love a bubble bath foam axe and birds? From t-shirts, to new ads, to hilarious online ad takeovers (that even make me a little jealous we’re not running them here!), and fun graphic design we’re loving on the sites too… See the new ads and more on the next page.

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Tags: advertising - video

We’re down to Spain vs Netherlands already in the World Cup finals! And before it’s all over ~ you have to check out Nike’s installation in the atrium of the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg. Meet Ball Man! A giant 21 meter high footballer made from 5,500 suspended skills balls and weighing more than 4.5 tons. Developed using a 3-D image of an athlete and then aligning each of the balls individually, which are strung together by over 10 kilometers of wire from the ceiling. Additionally, it incorporates some of Nike’s latest products (National Team Kits and Nike Elite Series). While we’ve been seeing a trend in individually suspended weights, etc. to create incredible 3d sculptures that become far more than a sum of their parts from afar… this installation certainly takes the scale to a whole new level!

Nike definitely gets bonus points for thinking beyond the installation ~ each of the 5,500 balls will be given to local community programs after the tournament! Such a nice gesture, i wonder if they recipients will be able to tell which one of Ball Man’s balls they receive? Pics and video on the next page!

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Tags: advertising - art - football - installation - soccer

Silly as it sounds, sometimes running an ad on NOTCOT may be one of the best ways to get my attention (not surprising when you think about how much time i spend on the sites daily!) ~ latest one to really suck me in? These new Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011 ads! I’ve always been a sucker for bold, concise text though… and they are fun and inspirational! And so pro-making things and living your life! And from there, i ended up on the Jeep page and the Manifesto video just pulls you right in. A nice reminder of American design/manufacturing… and a fun morning kick off video!

Also fun? The design videos about the making of Jeeps, and seeing old video footage of how they used to design cut in with the design processes of today! See more videos and visuals on the next page!

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Tags: advertising - cars - jeep

RPA: Rubin Postaer and Associates ~ ad agencies always seem to have so much FUN with their office spaces! Remember the Sainty + David Whittle at rp& (of RPA) post? With the amazing art adorning their walls? Well, here’s a peek at the rest of the RPA offices! My favorite part is definitely the adorable original Honda Civic ~ their first account back in ‘79! What’s especially fun, is to see so many props from their various adverts in real life! From the SoyJoy tree, to “I Pinch” Crab, and more honda campaigns i’m sure you’ll remember when seeing the pics! Also fun, they are full of passion and creativity ~ and character! My favorite tradition they shared ~ on “birthdays” (anniversaries of being at RPA!) everyone signs pieces of paper with drawn candles ~ you can see a picture of one showing Gerry Rubin’s in his office… awesome to see how many candles there are! Also worth a read ~ love this article in Smart Business from 2007 about Gerry Rubin’s philosophies on the importance of nurturing your corporate culture! Anyhow, take a little walk through some of the highlights of the world of RPA in Santa Monica, CA (including their Club RPA bar…) on the next page!

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Tags: advertising - los angeles - studio