By Renuka Rajadurai
Working on a brand health presentation this week I was introduced to Wordle, an innovative new program that graphically illustrates the proportion by which a word is used in a list or on a site, or at least the words most used. The words are written in collage where the size of the words represent usage of them and colours define themes of your choice. Just another geek treat for our increasingly visually focused culture.
Dig the Wordle for www.CtrlShiftRtn.wordpress.com…
It’s been a pretty rough week for Tiger Woods. In the past 10 days he was outed for at least 4 affairs, has lost his billion dollar sponsorship set-up, and was possibly beaten by his wife with a golf club.
Loved this little gem from Urban Dictionary this week:
December 14: tiger’s wife mad
The act of being so angry at someone that you find the item they cherish most and beat them with it.
Chris was so tiger’s wife mad at Joe that he grabbed Joe’s Wii remote and beat him with it.
Yesterday he announced the following on his website…
I will take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.
Something similar to Kerry Katona’s fall from corporate grace, most of his biggest sponsorship brands have dropped him like a hot potato. Accenture, Gillette and AT&T have all declined to comment in detail but are taking the line that he is no longer a relevant face for their brands no longer playing professional golf. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the affairs coming out of the woodwork or rumours of Ambien-sex.
Funnily enough Nike has decided to stand by Woods. Of course it would be a tad rich for the pioneer of corporate scandal to dump him.
Speaking of exit strategies, bet he wishes he had a better one…
Powerful voice, powerful cause.
On World AIDS Day this year (December 1st – the day everyones Twitter avatar had a little red ribbon on), American Express held an intimate live set with Alicia Keys in New York City to raise awareness for AIDS and funds for research to find a cure.
Watch the full concert held on World AIDS Day in Manhattan here:
Google is set to offer full-length episodes of television programs on Youtube, a day after they air free-to-air in their home country. Rivalling the same services offered by iTunes and Hulu, the issue for Youtube will be convincing consumers to pay $1.99 to stream instead of download. I for one would rather have something to show for my money and opt for the iTunes solution. Despite this hurdle, those closer to the core of the business proposition are wary of the way the U.S is already usurping online revenue for TV content from UK networks.
ITV chief Michael Grade said this of the implications of Google’s new enterprise on Britain’s share of online content revenue:
Soon after Channel 4 signed the deal with YouTube such deals will mean that Americans will take the lion’s share of the internet value in our content in this country, very soon.
With the launch of the world’s first internet-connected HD set-top box, which will allow users to access TV over IP services, browse the web, with Facebook, YouTube and Twitter apps built-in, it seems as though free to air TV no longer has a USP when compared to online viewing which at base cuts out the ads automatically. Having said this I love television commercials and more often than not flick between only the channels with ads on. However, I feel I may be alone on this.
WPP and Fox Network are agreed to partner on an upcoming research study on the next generation of audience insight, segmentation and media planning. What are your thoughts on the future of Television given the dramatic way by which the internet has altered the way content is produced and consumed?
Can’t get enough of Chester French’s debut album ‘Love the Future’.
Dig this cover they did of Shakiras ‘Shewolf’:
This year’s Christmas ad offering from John Lewis really ups the stakes on emotional engagement. Set to the tune of Guns n’ Roses Sweet Child of Mine (the first song of theirs allowed to be used for advertising by the band), the ad was created in an effort to transport viewers back to the magic of their childhood Christmas memories. Echoing the lyrics of the song the ad is a montage of moments where we see people receiving Christmas gifts with the amazement they would have experienced as a child.
This is the first campaign Adam & Eve agency has created for John Lewis and I’d be hard pressed to call it anything other than enchanting. In the words of the agency’s co-founder, James Murphy, it ‘captures the innocent excitement of childhood in a very poignant way’.
This ad is quite distinct from last year’s execution, which focused on the idea of the department store as a one-stop shop. Playing on a theme of anticipation and wonder, similar to the famous Coca Cola ads which have lost esteem in recent years, it seems as though John Lewis may have now replaced them as the ad that defines the start of the holiday season. This is the kind of ad that generates brand affinity beyond the rational.
The 70 second ad was launched last Sunday night on ITV1 during the X-Factor, and will continue running though to Christmas Eve.
Today I came upon this comment Vivienne Westwood made in 2005. It seems to mean a lot more than all the affected musings I have heard spill from the lips of any other icon. It’s believable and lends so much credence to the intersect between fashion and politics, as if Punk was to the 1990s as the first polyblend textiles were to the 1950s. There is so much more to politics than war. But if there weren’t, she’d still have influenced the world more than a majority of world leaders.
I have always been political – I never really wanted to do fashion. Fortunately or unfortunately, it is my career, and I did it by accident. I continued to do it, because I think I’m good at it. I also like it because it gives me a status, a cache and a voice to sometimes say something.
London is all about hidden secrets. As winter rolls around again, it’s been lovely to hideout away from the wind and rain with a book or a boy, for a bite to eat. Below are a few of my favourite best kept secrets…
Crazy Bear member’s club – The decor may be overkill, with the diamante studded leather lounge and gold embossed wallpaper, but Crazy Bear serves up some of the best sushi in London. They have a permanent sushi chef on staff, so no matter the hour you can order a platter of freshly rolled makizushi or a wide selection from their permanent dim sum menu. The crazy bear farm provides organic and locally reared produce for a wider selection of asian courses on the main menu available in the restaurant downstairs. The atmosphere is inconsistent at times, often packed beyond capacity, then sometimes entirely empty, however both bar and restaurant are always well staffed and so service is excellent.
The Candid Cafe and Courtyard - Tucked away behind the Angel tube station is the Candid Arts Centre, and its charming cafe. The atmosphere is always relaxed and romantic, candlelit with both lounge space and communal seating. The Italian mama who runs it home cooks all the hearty mediterranean mains, which are humbly priced yet generously portioned. The coffee is worth the trip in itself rivalling the famous Monmouth in my books (and I speak as a Melbournian with extremely discriminating taste in java). Offering nothing but the classics, it’s the perfect place for Sunday brunch, a quiet place to read, or a romantic afternoon tea.
Le Circle – Hidden away on Wilbraham Place, the basement bar of Le Cercle is the epitome of chic. Serving up the most indulgent tapas menu of French cuisine, Le Cercle is the perfect place for a romantic dinner or pre-date drinks. Boasting an excellent list of fine French reds, the bar is also well-stocked with boutique liquors including Sipsmiths finest. The lighting, music and decor are a delicate relfection of the bar and restaurants exquisite menu. My favourite seat being the low leather loungers by the fire place.
The Royal Court Theatre Bar – A great venue with a cool bar I like to visit even when I’m not seeing a play. The coffee is strong and you can order some great antipasto platters, while you chill out in the basement space decked out like a rennovated warehouse. There’s a good selection of beers on tap for the boys, and the bare essentials food and drinks menu makes for no-fuss option any night of the week. The atmosphere is always buzzing with the arthouse crowd and ever-intriguing chat.
Freuds Cafe/bar – One of my favourite bars for the past few years, Freuds has one of the best and most extensive cocktail menus around. Offering all the tride and true classics you’ll find a list over 50 drinks long above the bar that runs the length of the underground cafe. Located in the middle of Covent Garden on one of the busiest streets in the area, Freuds is rather inconspicous and easily missed by those passing by on street level. Look for the rusted iron stairs draped in overgrown ivy and get there before 8 if you want a seat.
Renuka Rajadurai
If you ask me, ethical fashion is a great cause. However, the path to trial for consumers should remain as ‘that top is gorgeous. oh, it was produced ethically? From a sustainable source? That’s great, I’ll definitely get it now.’ Some of the designs I saw this week parading under the banner of ethical, seemed to do only harm to the movement. The designs were tacky, unoriginal and uninspired, although the fabrics recycled for good cause. I’m not slamming ethical fashion, but a lot of care needs to be taken when selecting the designers who are tasked as ambassadors of the movement.
By Renuka Rajadurai
London Fashion Week kicked off at The Hospital Club this week with the launch of Nova Dandos new Rainbow Collection. Stylist to the stars, most notably, the eccentric La Roux, who played a private set in the TV studio Friday night.
The dancers were a welcome change to the increasingly mundane catwalk and worked up a storm on the dance floor to an eclectic series of drum and bass beats. Loved the collection.
Pity La Roux played at the beginning of the night though, as about half the guests piled out the doors as soon as she finished the last lines of ”Quicksand”. Nevertheless, always a treat live, and looking particularly particularly fabulous in that technicolor dream coat.
