Advertising Is Dead. Long Live Advertising!

This is an amazing book for anyone into ambient media. It's full of cool alternative advertising campaigns that have made people stop and take notice of brands. We're so overwhelmed with above the line communication messages that it's got to the point where people stop taking them in. Brands need something fresh, clever and witty to stand out from the crowd. Ambient media campaigns often allow brands to get closer to consumers and target them more specifically. And by catching them off guard, they're less likely to block out the messages as people do with traditional advertising. I could go on about the perks of ambient media but it'll take a while. If you want to learn more about it and see some amazing ideas, take a look at the book. It's a great source of inspiration.

Visionaire

Visionaire is a magazine with a difference. In fact, I don't know if you can even call it a magazine. It's described as a 'multi format album of fashion and art produced in exclusive numbered limited editions'. Whatever it is, if you buy it, you're officially too cool for school. It's published three times a year and each issue features a different format and theme. Famous artists from the fashion, design and art world collaborate with each issue, making each one completely unique. With a volume costing around £135- it doesn't come cheap. But they always sell out fast.
Issue 26 (above) had the theme 'Fantasy'. A round box held pieces of round, unbound artwork. Featuring work from Tim Burton and Victor & Rolf, it also included a mask designed by Hermes.
To celebrate the 50th issue, 'Artists Toys' came as a collection of ten toys by ten different artists that sat in a white tray with a silk screened clear cover. Each toy took the form of a Russian doll, housing another two, within it.
Issue number 54 'Sport', is now available and you can you actually wear it. Using special printing technology, photographically printed Lacoste polo shirts feature work by artists including Nick Knight, Phil Poynter and Karl Lagerfeld to name a few. This issue is available in four different sets, each housing three collectable shirts.

Click here to visit the website, where you can see more of its amazing issues.

Four Letter Word

This book is an inspiring collection of 21st century love letters. Joshua Knelman and Rosalind Porter have given forty of today's most celebrated writers a simple brief: to write a fictional love letter. This form of communication seems to have been neglected in modern society. But I think it's one of the most powerful and honest pieces of communication there is.

When I first picked this up, I looked at the phrase "love letter" and my first thoughts were: soppy, romantic, gush. But after reading the back, I thought I'd give it a go. I'm so glad I did as it's brilliant. It's fascinating to see how the writer's have given these love letters a modern twist. Each letter is unique: there's a set of emails from an obsessive stalker, a letter from Bigfoot to Santa, a missing persons ad... Each writer has tackled the brief in their own way; it's a great example of seeing how these creatives think outside the box. Some are so far out of the box, it looks like a dot to them. Reading this book will make you laugh, touch, feel pity, cringe, and shock you. It's well worth a read.

Face Food

I came across this amazing little book yesterday that I'm really excited about.  Being a complete foodie, I was hoping that I could write about something food related on my blog.  "Face Food" is a collection of images of Japanese bento boxes that are more like works of art than your average packed lunch.  Parents have literally created visual feasts for their children's lunches.  I think it's a brilliant way to make kids enjoy their food and encourage them to eat healthily.  Most of the components are made from rice, vegetables and fish cakes so not only are the meals nutritionally balanced but great fun too.  They make ham sandwiches and a packet of crisps seem somewhat pathetic...

A Clockwork Orange

I know most people have seen the film, but if you haven't read the book yet, it's a must.  I read it recently and it's already one of my favorites.  For me, the charm was all in the language.  Anthony Burgess writes using an Anglo-Russian slang called Nadsat and it's these words which make it so unique.   A few of my favorites being 'goober' (lip), 'gulliwuts' (guts) and 'toofles' (slippers).  The almost comic style of writing makes an interesting contrast to the violence in the book.  There's a whole glossary at the back so you know what's going on, but generally, you get the idea.  It's good to look at just for inspiration, especially when needing copy writing ideas.  Sometimes English just doesn't convey meaning as well as a bit of chepooka language...