L.A. Marathon and Bike Tour

Creativity-Online is featuring these print ads for the March 2, 2008 L.A. Marathon and Bike Tour. The series of posters feature a selection of L.A.'s hoods; Griffith Park, Hollywood, Westside, even LAX, and Freeways chanting to ride or run on.

I love the illustration style, it sort of reminds me of the cheese wheel commercial from when i was a kid...
The illustrations were done by Andy Mueller via agency Rubin Postaer & Associates.

You can view the entire campaign on Creativity here.

Prada "Trembled Blossoms"

Here is another high fashion piece, a short film made to capture the essence of Prada's Spring/Summer 2008 line. The film was recently unveiled at Fashion Week in New York (probably why the Louis Vuitton spot just launched as well.) Prada has a website devoted to the piece where it can be downloaded for your computer or your iPod.

This film is an eerie dream world with an interlacing beauty. Personally the characters remind me a bit of The Fifth Element. A film with costumes all created by another high fashion designer, Jean-Paul Gautier. I wonder if it was intentional?

More Polaroid Goodness...

Sia's "Breathe Me" video supposedly used over 2,500 polaroids to make, pretty amazing. The haunting song resonates so strongly on it's own, I get a little distracted watching the video. Then again without the video I can't help but visualize the last scene of Six Feet Under.

Will Polaroid Become a Thing of the Past?

In some sad but not shocking news Polaroid is closing its two remaining film production facilities in Massachusetts and will focus on digital processes. The company is looking into outsourcing production of the film that carries it's name, but if that does not happen the medium will disappear by the end of next year.

It makes me sad, and I know there are a number of artists world wide that will have to make a change if the medium disappears as well.Polaroid series by isofoto


All of these polaroids and many many more available from the artists on etsy,
images link to arists' pages.

Advertising on the Streets of Dublin

Publicis QMP, Dublin has been peppering the city for a new campaign to raise awareness about water conservancy. They group has placed huge vinyl stickers over manhole covers to make them look like drain plugs.











Last year the group created a successful ambient campaign for the Dublin City Council to hinder littering.

Louis Vuitton Suggests We Enjoy the Journey

In their first US commercial effort Louis Vuitton takes us on a "Journey." Directed by Bruno Aveilla of Quad Productions, Paris. The spot is visually stunning, dreamy, and a little over the top - fitting for the brand I think.



I tried to find other Louis Vuitton spots, not fully believing this is the first. I found this great Japanese cartoon "Superflat Monogram" another journey story, and this half music video-half ad from Pharrell Williams for Blason Jewelry.

Hitchcock's Designer to Receive Honorary Oscar

Legendary Production Designer Robert F. Boyle will be receiving an Honorary Oscar at this year's Academy Awards for his lifetime achievement in Art Direction and Production Design.








Boyle has a seemingly endless list of credits, including In Cold Blood, Fiddler on the Roof, and Cape Fear. Most celebrated is his work as Production Designer for Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest and The Birds.

98 year old Boyle is a living legend in his field, nominated for four Academy Awards in his career, and offering his talents to the next generations of Production Designers as a professor at the American Film Institute Conservatory.

To learn more about the art of Hitchcock's films Hitchcock's Notebooks is full of storyboards, sketches and other behind the scenes info.

Ben Lee "American Television"

I was passed a link this morning to the newest video for Ben Lee made by some friends from college. Produced by Ken Franchi, and directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson through Ulterior Productions and Mt. Vernon Entertainment. It's so nice to see classmates making it and making great work - and it's always great to hear some new Ben Lee.
"American Television" forces us to revisit growing up in the early nineties, Nintendo, the sitcoms, the music videos, it even co-stars Saved By the Bell's own Tiffani-Amber Thiessen. You have to check it out!

These new Benjamin Moore ads are pretty enough to be a part of the editorial in the latest Martha Stewart Living or Real Simple magazine.



Sandwiched between decorating stories wouldn't you look twice to make sure there wasn't a design tip attached?