Today, we look at how the networks are catching up with digital platforms. Lucia Moses profiles Steve Swartz and finds out how he rose to the top Hearst's corporate ranks.
We often wonder: Who do the kids in our favorite ads become when they grow up? Well, Lori Day, founder of the Brave Girls Alliance, snagged an interview with the girl from the famous 1981 Lego ad (above left) that recently recaptured the zeitgeist—and your Facebook feed—as a protest against the Lego Friends line and the world of pink princesses in general. Her name is Rachel Giordano. She's 37 now, and a doctor.
In soccer parlance, mobile is like the corner kick of digital brand marketing while something typically easier to score off of, such as search, is more akin to a free kick.
The upsides and drawbacks of common work spaces have been debated in the agency world for decades. But no one can deny the cool factor of The Barbarian Group's newly designed offices—and the amazing, undulating "superdesk" that snakes through it. Benjamin Palmer and Sophie Kelly introduce the new space in the video below. Understandably, they talk mostly about the desk. A marvel of design—created with help from architect Clive Wilkinson—it features gorgeous lines, archways and cubbies, and is topped with a single unbroken surface created by a continuous pour of resin.
Vans has released an ambitious new documentary project titled "Living Off the Wall" with a gorgeous scrolling website and so much great content that no one in their right mind has time to watch it all. But of course, I watched it all for you. Check out the documentary on the East Los Angeles punk scene for some of the best-cut stuff. The documentarian Angela Boatwright has a special way of capturing wayward teen anger that capitalizes on every eye roll and seamlessly blends with the alternative perspective of the Vans brand.
Isn't this the most romantic newspaper ad you've ever … oh, wait. This two-part classified ad appeared on Valentine's Day in Australia's Launceston Examiner newspaper. Hopefully Jodie has a sense of humor.
McDonald's puts our minds to the test in this British campaign from Razorfish that features prankvertising and an online quiz. The premise is that people can't concentrate on anything else when the Big Mac is nearby. Unlike some recent hair-raising ad stunts, and the million-calorie sandwich itself, the prank element here is pretty benign. On a busy street, a young couple with a camera ask presumably unsuspecting passersby to take their picture.
In the longstanding fight to combat online piracy, there’s been growing pressure on the advertisers whose ads appear on sites that steal copyrighted material. The Obama administration has called for private-sector actions to reduce piracy.
The historic roots for modern-day mentoring can be found in Homer’s Odyssey. Odysseus, king of Ithaca, went to fight in the Trojan War and entrusted the care of his household to Mentor, who served as teacher and overseer of Odysseus’ son Telemachus. Nearly 3,000 years later, the need for sage guidance is greater than ever, and those who have acquired expertise and wisdom should share their wisdom with the next generation of leaders—especially in this age of digital transformation and disruption.
Steve Stoute is restocking his leadership ranks at Translation with veterans of the agency and marketer worlds. Joining as president is Nils Peyron, a former account leader at McCann Erickson and Ogilvy & Mather who most recently was chief marketing officer at Toms shoes. Peyron fills a vacancy left by the November 2012 exit of Leeann Leahy. John Norman, meanwhile, is coming aboard as partner and chief creative officer. In the creative role, Norman, who has been CCO of TBWA\C\D in Playa del Rey, Calif.
