Design Debate

I need some assistance. After watching the latest Mr Muscle advert run once more, I have begun to lose faith in the British public. Update, August 2026: the original video embedded in this post disappeared from YouTube years ago, so I’ve replaced it with a copy of the advert. At the time I wrote this I hadn't been able to locate the UK version, but this is the advert I was talking about: I am not going to even begin to critically analyse this travesty, not even going to start to question the thought process that went into it, but will address the lack of respect we are being shown by all the companies involved in putting it on our screens. The fact that this campaign appeared in different versions around the world emphasises the point. A very brief spot was intended to work across different countries simply by dubbing it for each market. S.C. Johnson, an American firm, and worth vast sums of money, own the brand Mr Muscle, as well as another offende...

"Shared Experience" advertising; TV spots that are filmed in public places with, ostensibly, actual reactions from passers-by. They seemed to begin in earnest after the very successful Fallon adverts for the Sony Bravia. I have written before regarding the affect of those award wining spots, and so much seems to stem from them when analysed. The halcyon photography, folk music soundtrack and vérité direction, has been endlessly emulated from Orange to Berocca. Some work, others are embarrassing. Take a look at the latest from Halifax, their first advert to depart from the apparently troubled relationship with Howard, the previous face of the company: Again, they have filled their advertising with actual members of their staff, and they should be commended for that, especially when those chosen are able to convey the required level of sincerity. But they have altered the style and approach of their advertising campaign dramatically, approaching the established Delaney Lund Kn...

I have finally decided I can wait no longer and am going for a new phone. I have been waiting in the vain hope that Apple iphones will come down to a more realistic price, but now a mobile device with good quality internet access has become a necessity, not a luxury, forcing my hand. The technology in the iphone is very attractive, but cost has always been an issue, prompting me to examine different options. The souped-up standard mobiles initially looked a possible alternative, and as I already had a Samsung I took a look at the Samsung Soul. I also speculated that a Blackberry may supply the functionality that I needed, if not the brand name. The Storm jumped out as an option. But in the end, as a designer, I could not seperate the products from their marketing. The Samsung Soul for instance has been given a very feeble advertising campaign that absolutely baffled me as to the item itself. Take a look at the following spot: This was an advert designed for a pan European appeal, and ...

Over the last month, the commercial breaks have been packed with adverts for perfume and cologne. There have been some dire offerings and a few great spots, the two that have really stuck with me have been for Dolce & Gabbana, advertising The One, male and female fragrances. They are both constructed in similar ways, shot in opulent black and white with a classic jazz record as a soundtrack. Both focus on one attractive celebrity, their exposure to the press as a sign of adoration and compliment, and each conclude with a transformation into colour with the flash bulbs. Matthew McConaughey and Gisele Bundchen star. McConaughey's follows him from the car as he looks weary (but still cool!), he enters his palacial apartment and, after removing his shirt, reclines on an expensive sofa. Colour floods the screen as suddenly he is photographed from what can only be a previously invisible group of paparazzi. His face breaks into a smile. It is as if he can only exist with the affirmati...

Fallon's recent advert for the Sony Bravia, Play Doh, has just won the British Television Advertising Craft Awards. In fact, they have been awarded a lot of well deserved awards for their television work this year. It just seems a shame that it was this advert that won them the award. Their previous two campaigns were outstanding, and altered way television advertising was formulated dramatically. The bouncing balls and exploding paint fireworks flowed seamlessly into the public consciousness, even spawning spoof campaigns by other companies such as this particularly well thought out homage: Those advertisements worked through their understated audacity and exceptional use of soundtrack, and their Play Doh piece started with as much promise, hinting that the initial concepts were being reworked with imagination. But then the Rolling Stones kicks in and lets everything following down. I happen to really like the track they chose, and it is very clear why "She's a Rainbow...

As the downturn in the financial markets continues, and the media eagerly prophecies worse to come, we may see a worrying trend in graphic design. A few weeks ago, I saw an advert for Discount Brands at Tesco . What was significant was the packaging and style of direction, clearly aimed at rivals such as Lidl and Aldi . These two companies have branding that reflects their roots, distinctly German. After having visited my wife's family in what was East Germany, I was surprised to see the dramatic differences in marketing. We would consider them outdated, as is often the case when looking at such brands as Lidl. This is not to say these businesses are not valuable assets, not only are they well priced, but they offer products not available in many other stores. My concern is the style of package design. As I said, I was certain I was not watching a UK based supermarket's advert, especially not Tesco. This implies that they feel the British public associate cheap products with a...

When companies have to resort to knocking the opposition you tend to worry about the quality of their own products. That was my initial thought when I saw Apple's "I'm Mac, I'm a PC" adverts, and it has been re-enforced by the latest from both Microsoft and Apple. This post though is to analyse the current Microsoft advertisement. Is there an unwritten law that says, the larger the company, the more banal their advertising? I am certain someone has already made the connection between the " I'm a PC " slogan, and the hopelessly PC approach to its make up. We are presented with a series of testimonials from "quirky" individuals, conveniently made up of photogenic "characters" from all races, backgrounds and age groups. All with a musical bed stolen from Seinfeld, to emphasise the zany nature of the advert. There has been some money spent on this campaign, with high production levels and impressive software on the accompanying websit...

First post on my new blog, might as well start with a moan! I have a feeling that most of my thoughts on design will be a rant... Anyone who knows me will probably be aware that I am not a fan of Orange's television advertising campaigns, so this will hardly be a surprise, but I just cannot let my thoughts on their latest be left in my head - I fear for my already feeble grip on reality. The title is so pretentious for a start, " I am who I am because of everyone "? My word, that is so trite. The implications from their latest advert - the one I have included a screen shot from, where a cartoon-ish ball of activity sweeps through an inner city estate tidying things up, and leaving some very media friendly graffiti in its wake - are certainly admirable, giving something back to the environment we live in, but just so far removed from real life it's embarrassing. There does seem to be some effort to move away from the preened models that have been used for the last few ...