And the cactus goes to..

Before this week come to an end I thought I'd tell you about the last Golden Cactus awards. On Wednesday morning we all arrived at the Hilton Tel Aviv where the award ceremony was about to take place. As always it started with a gallery displaying both print ads and outdoors advertising followed by a typical events breakfast.
As always there where lecturers and speakers and of course the award ceremony itself (with brunch in the middle). The thing is though, that as always, it was boring. This event holds in it the best creative minds in the industry, with a combined production capabilities and creative experience of at least 100 years, and yet as always it's one of the most boring and dry events you can imagine. Still, as always, it was fun to meet all your friend and see who moved where and who did what.
But those of us who remember the Adeaters nights that were held at the trendiest clubs in Tel Aviv, know that there is a another way and for you youngsters...

http://www.adeater.com/night-of-the-ad-eaters.htm

Anyways...congratulation to all the winners, who proves once again there is good advertising here, if you know where to look

Creative of the week

Brand X Brand

We sometimes call it "Talent" or "Celeb" but basically when we use someone famous to promote a brand or a product we are actually using a brand to promote a brand. Well you know symbiosis. It's kind of funny when you think about it because the bigger the brand, the bigger the chances this symbiosis will occur (more money of course). But who is doing who service here? Obviously the "Talent" is getting compensated big time for his services. But still, if his career is slowing down a bit, he may come cheaper but the service done to him is priceless.
Now I know it not the first time and definitely not the last, but the great endless concept behind the Snickers ads is just, well....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys0cmMiW6bI&feature=player_embedded

Creative of the week

The rise and fall of the Haredic advertising

Someone dear to me asked me recently, why don't I (now, when my blog is celebrating its first years birthday) write something about Haredic advertising. I did work there for four years after all. Well, truth be told, and I do hope it doesn't come across as me being big headed, but since leaving the Haredic advertising world there wasn't anything to write home about.
I remember the start of this weird and wonderful friendship with this unique market. It started around 5 years ago, and as a creative director from the secular sector, it was quite a culture shock. A friend once told me, that designing for the Haredic market is like being asked to paint a beautiful and colorful picture without using three of the basic colors.
But still, the amazing potential, both from the business point of view and the creative one were obvious from the start, so we garbed it by the horns and never looked back.
Now 5 years later, every now and then I get stuff sent to me or I surf the blogs of this past life hoping to see a continuation to our legacy (yes, legacy) but alas, I never really do.
Maybe one day. One can still hope without being a believer.

4X4 Hippo

Congratz

happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear blog,
happy birthday to me...
Congratulations to myself for my blog's first year's birthday.