Coca Cola Small World Machines

It has been a while since I've posted. Think it's appropriate that my first post after a month, is one that speak to reestablishing relations, to the exchanging of ideas and to how advertising can be used as platform to address or assist in solving social issues. 

In March 2013, Coca-Cola set out to break down barriers and create a simple moment of connection between two nation, India and Pakistan. The Happiness Without Borders initiative, also known as “Small World Machines”, provided a live communications portal between people in India and Pakistan and showed that what unites us is stronger than what sets us apart. The key to engaging with each other through the machines was simple: people in India and Pakistan could complete a task, like touching hands, drawing peace, love, and happiness symbols, together.

In March, the vending machines were placed in two different locations, one in India and another in Pakistan. People were encouraged to put their differences aside and complete a friendly task together – wave, touch hands, draw a peace sign or do a dance – in order to receive a Coke. The actual “Small World Machines” are live portals that take the shape of Coke vending machines. The machines are the first of its kind and have the ability to virtually unite people. In order to connect people in two different countries and capture such an intimate experience, Coke and Leo Burnett created unique 3D touchscreen technology to project a streaming live video feed onto the vending machine screen while simultaneously filming through the machine to capture a live emotional exchange.

This technology resembled the act of looking into a full-length webcam, face-to-face with another person. At the same time, people were encouraged to interact with touchscreen animation including peace signs and smiley faces drawings that could be traced together with hand-to-hand connection. Once the shared tasks were completed, a celebration screen emerged which triggered the vending machine to dispense a free Coke for each person.

“Small World Machines” solidifies the notion that what unites humanity is far stronger 

than what sets us apart. The experience evoked many, heartwarming and emotional 

reactions. One Pakistani remarked, “It’s great to connect with the average Indian who 

probably knows nothing about the average Pakistani.” Another Indian said, “It’s 

something to really bring the countries together,” and “It’s fantastic that you’re allowing 

people to see the other side as well, to not let it be a mystery anymore.” During the 

three-day experience, more than 10,000 cans of Coke were given away.

Credits

The Small World Machines campaign was developed at Leo Burnett Chicago and Leo Burnett Sydney by global chief creative officer Mark Tutssel, chief creative officer/art director Andy DiLallo, executive creative directors Dave Loew and Jon Wyville, creative directors Grant McAloon, Vince Lagana, art director Justin Carew, copywriter Iggy Rodriguez, designers Omari Miller, John-Henry Pajak and David Mugford, director/editor Patrick Fileti, 2nd unit director Angus Forbes, creative technology director Chad Mirshak, creative technologists Brendan Crich, Keong Seet, Scott North, executive director of production Vincent Geraghty, directors of production operations Michael Shanahan, Amir Mireskandari, executive producer Adrian Gunadi, producers Stephen Clark and Michelle Browne, executive strategy director Wells Davis, strategy director Olivier Tse, executive account director Bob Raidt, account supervisor Katie Nikolaus.

Leo Burnett partnered with Highlight Films and The Super Group. Set dressing was by Full Circle Corporation Marketing. Music was produced at Song Zu.

Keep Calm & Carry On

You’ve seen it everywhere. From posters at agencies, coffee shops or galleries, to mugs, screensavers, t-shirts and tattoos. Oh, and of course, all its numerous satiric variations online. But, do you really know the origin and history of this iconic poster? The fact that it was commissioned and created back in 1939 yet it was never released to the public? There’s more to this poster than just Urban Outfitters iPhone covers, and it is a very interesting and cool story. Today, we’ll learn the history behind the iconic “Keep Calm & Carry On” poster thanks to Barter Books, home of the original poster.

In the Spring of 1939, with war against Germany all but inevitable, the British Government’s Ministry of Information commissioned a series of propaganda posters to be distributed throughout the country at the onset of hostilities. It was feared that in the early months of the war Britain would be subjected to gas attacks, heavy bombing raids and even invasion. The posters were intended to offer the public reassurance in the dark days which lay ahead.

The posters were required to be uniform in style and were to feature a ’special and handsome’ typeface making them difficult for the enemy to counterfeit. The intent of the poster was to convey a message from the King to his people, to assure them that ‘all necessary measures to defend the nation were being taken’, and to stress an ‘attitude of mind’ rather than a specific aim. On the eve of a war which Britain was ill-equipped to fight, it was not possible to know what the nation’s future aims and objectives would be.

At the end of August 1939 three designs went into production with an overall print budget of £20,600 for five million posters. The first poster, of which over a million were printed, carried a slogan suggested by a civil servant named Waterfield. Using the crown of George VI as the only graphic device, the stark red and white poster read ‘Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution will Bring Us Victory’. A similar poster, of which around 600,000 were issued, carried the slogan ‘Freedom is in Peril’. But the third design, of which over 2.5 million posters were printed, simply read ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’.

The first two designs were distributed in September 1939 and immediately began to appear in shop windows, on railway platforms, and on advertising hoardings up and down the country. But the ‘Keep Calm’ posters were held in reserve, intended for use only in times of crisis or invasion. Although some may have found their way onto Government office walls, the poster was never officially issued and so remained virtually unseen by the public – unseen, that is, until a copy turned up more than fifty years later in that box of dusty old books bought in auction by Barter Books.

The Ministry of Information commissioned numerous other propaganda posters for use on the home front during the Second World War. Some have become well-known and highly collectable, such as the cartoonist Fougasse’s ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series. But we will probably never know who the graphic artist was who was responsible for the ‘Keep Calm’ poster, but it’s to his or her credit that long after the war was won, people everywhere recognize the brilliance of its simple timeless design and still find reassurance in the very special ‘attitude of mind’ it conveys.

An Ode to Creative Work

Behance recently released a GREAT mini film about the opportunity, hardship and responsibility creative work. And all I can say after watching is… Oh Yeah, no other way to put it!

Well done, as laways, Behance :)

International Black Music Exhibition

International Black Music Exhibition by Mondomix - opening in Johannesburg from crunk on Vimeo.

A OUTSTANDING EXPLORATION OF SOUNDS & RHYTHMS OF AFRICA & THE DIASPORA Bob Marley – Celia Cruz – Fela Kuti – Nina Simone - Miles Davis – Jay-Z - Miriam Makeba – John Coltrane – Public Enemy – Ali Farka Touré – Etta James – Gilberto Gil – Mahalia Jackson – Nas – Billie Holiday…. 

Each one a giant, an icon who represents sheer excellence in musical expression, creators of music that lasts a lifetime. It is these artists, and many, many more, who will be celebrated at the International Exhibition of Black Music, a groundbreaking digital experience that pays homage to artists and music of Africa and the African diaspora. Musicians across the ages from the Caribbean, the America’s, and the African continent will form part of the exhibition, set to be held in Museum Africa, Newtown – Jo’burg, over a 4 month period. Brought to South Africa as part of the French Season in South Africa 2012, it is the first tribute to black artists of it’s kind. The exhibition uses state-of-the-art technology, with over 100 interactive audiovisual setups transmitting the sights, sounds and rhythms of artists from all over the world.

Opened 1st of September to the 12th of December 2012 at the Museum Africa in Johannesburg before it will be transferred to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil where it will become a permanent exhibition. This unique multimedia project is the first initiative showcasing black music as a full concept from African roots to blues, jazz, soul, funk, Caribbean and Latin American music.

Cost: R30 | R40 per person | Sundays Free

Museum Africa

t	011 833 5624
e	webmaster@museumafrica.org
a	121 Bree Street, Newtown, Johannesburg.

There will also be black music available for sale at the end of the exhibition.

Contact Eddie Mudau - Justed@mweb.co.za or go to 23 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein Center, Shop No.7

Just love being a part of this wonderful event.

Wrong Maths on cover of SA Census 2011

Attention to Detail and the important role it plays in the design process.

Attention to detail makes for a better experience in any industry. A mint sweet on your pillow at the hotel or a mint with your cheque at a restaurant makes for a more enjoyable travelling experience. Detectives and law officials know that it is in the details of a crime scene that they find success. Engineers and architects know that the stability of the most enormous structure depends on the integrity of its smallest element.

Why then, should it be any surprise that the integrity and success of your design depends heavily on the attention you give to the details therein? Paying close attention to detail simply makes your design more professional.

Even simple maths need attention, moreso if the are going to be on the cover of a document, that is going to be use for research and important knowledge gathering tasks. I had a brief moment of questioning my understanding of maths, when I saw the front cover of Census 2011 statiscal release say 21÷7=6.


The agency that did this for Statistics South Africa and the communication team at Statistics South Africa, need to be taught about the importance of attention to detail and maybe go for some elementary maths.

They might know South Africa, all it's statistics and understand that it's our home, but I doubt they pay attetion to detail and may be they don't understand simple Maths. 21÷7=3, not 21÷7=6

Such mistakes teach the wrong kind of maths, are bad for PR and should not happen. But I guess that's why it's called a mistake.

The Scale of Human Skin in Pantone.

For her latest project, Brazil based designer Angelica Dass is in the process of compiling a skin color chart of human skin tones. As a reference point for all the different skin colors, Dass has adapted a system in which she samples an 11 x 11 pixel space on the face of the subject, blends those colors, and finds the match with the PANTONE color scheme.  The color found is then placed, in numerals, at the base of the headshot.

Angelica Dass studied Fashion Design and graduated as a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Worked in the fashion industry in Brasil, moved to Spain where she has mastered in Fashion Journalism at the UNED and Photography Concept and Creation by the renown EFTI Photography School.

The aim of her photographic work is to achieve the public’s direct involvement in photography as a whole concept, as a non-passive communication between people. All her projects deepen in an important issue: social, cultural and racial identity and masks.

Human skin tone is a complex and very deep topic.  Dass’ website states the project is still a work in progress.  See the full range of human skin tones that have been collected thus far.

Copywriter & Art Director have this in common.

 So, what do Copywriters and Art Directors have in common? My copywriter friends always ask – Besides having to deal with Account Executives on a daily basis of course :) Copywriter vs Art Director is a fun illustrated series created by Caio Pena, Henrique Parada and Letícia Hanower featuring the differences between both when it comes to applications, hobbies, tools and pet peeves.