One of the most innovative campaigns we’ve seen in recent years is the Tesco’s use of billboard shopping in South Korea. Tesco, known as Homeplus locally, was second in the market and had fewer stores than E-Mart. Tesco’s market research showed that grocery shopping was a dreaded task for most consumers. Tesco realised that mobile technology could help shoppers by bringing the store to them. How? Tesco ingeniously implemented virtual shopping aisle displays at subways which looked just like real stores, albeit 2D versions. Images of the products were presented as if in a real store and itemised with QR codes. By scanning QR codes with their smartphones the product would land in shoppers’ virtual baskets and once paid for, the goods would be delivered shortly after the purchaser got home. Tesco saw its business results increase by 130% which took the company to no.1 in the online market and squeezed their competitor’s lead to a nominal percentage offline.

• In the past day, more data was created than in the entire history of civilisation 

• QR code uptake increased 4589% from early 2010 to early 2011 

• Print ads containing QR Codes grew from below 1% of all print ads in January 2011 to in excess of 6% of all advertising by December 2011

• In July last year a Ferrari, a Bentley and a house in the South of France were all purchases made by mobiles on eBay 

• Mobile now accounts for $7 billion a year of Paypal transactions

• More people have access to mobile phones than have access to electricity or drinking water 

Sectorlight offers full digital solutions 
including QR code technologies, apps, websites 
and interactive presentations.
 For more information please contact Nicola Trykosky +44 (0)20 7255 5250 ntrykosky@sectorlight.com

Mr Kipling is currently repositioning its brand (check out the new, exceedingly good, tv advert).  Coinciding with this, I saw this charmingly designed, promotional, set-up this morning at King's Cross station (they were handing out free cakes). A perfect antidote and refreshing splash of colour on a grey and wet morning.

Illustrator Jack Hudson has just completed two fantastic infographic posters for Channel 4. Each is designed to show how the different departments function and they are to be displayed internally in Channel 4's London HQ. 

With the impressive level of detail, from racing cars representing the interdepartmental collabration to a lighthouse searching out for undiscovered talent and dolphins diving with a surfer, it’s not surprising that Hudson describes this as: "The biggest, most time consuming project I have ever produced".

As Avis said ‘ When you’re only No 2, you try harder. Or else.’


Here’s a remarkably clever awareness campaign demonstrating that ‘challenger brand’ philosophy from Monteith’s Brewing Company in New Zealand. To help gain market share and reassure customers that their cider was made using fresh fruit, they slipped a twig inside each box before distribution to supermarkets – the twigs taken from the fruit trees that Monteith’s actually harvest from.

Within days customers were asking for an explanation for the twigs through facebook and on the radio. Soon after, with public interest at its height Monteith’s issued a nationwide apology: ‘Sorry about the twigs, folks… if you really did take offence then perhaps you could try one of the many other cider brands on the market made from concentrate – you won’t find any twigs in their packaging – or any fresh apples and pears in their cider for that matter either’.

Here’s a video telling the story. 

Two years in the making this fantastical and dazzling three-and-a-half-minute-long ad celebrates 165 years of Cartier, the luxury jeweller, it is currently being shown on French, UK and international TV and also in cinemas. 

The ad opens on the brand's flagship Rue de la Paix storefront where a jewelled panther statuette comes to life. The panther, the symbol for Cartier, then embarks on an epic, breathtaking and surreal journey around the world.

In its bold celebration of luxury, and what must have been a phenomenal budget, the ad could be accused of being out of place in this time of austerity but let’s just enjoy it for what it is - a beautiful, visual tour de force.

As part of Universal's 100th anniversary, Peter Jackson's Weta Digital (which also created the effects for The Lord of the Rings films) have animated a new version of the company's signature globe. The new logo is the seventh version – the previous versions and the new one can be seen in the clip below.

“Our Centennial year is the perfect opportunity to create a new logo that reflects our future while honoring our past,” says Ron Meyer, Universal Studios president and COO.

Illustrator Eda Akaltun has created artworks, interpreting this year's five Best Film nominees, for the covers of BAFTA’s 2012 Film Awards brochures. The brochures are given to attendees on the night and form a collectable set.

Here is Eda’s artwork for the Best Film winner - The Artist. The full set of artworks are available to view or buy as prints from BAFTA  

 This is possibly the best business card I’ve ever seen.

The story goes that, comedian and actor, Steve Martin was approached by so many fans, asking for his autograph and for him to say something funny, that he had these cards produced.

Okay, so it’s not technically a business card but it’s close enough and demonstrates that business cards needn’t be bland and formulaic. They’re a great opportunity, frequently missed, to be distinctive and sometimes even... witty. This helps create that most desirable and elusive effect of being memorable.

On their blog, The New York Times share an interesting insight into the processes that went into creating one of the front covers for their magazine. The article shows, with explanatory descriptions, the creative journey from initial designs through to the final artwork.

See the full article here: The making of a cover

A new exhibition on influential graphic designer Saul Bass brings together a collection of his film posters, film titles and film festival posters.  Bass’ work is instantly recognisable - breaking all conventions in the 1950s and 60s, Bass virtually invented film titles as we know them today, and he was the first to synthesize movies into compelling brand images.

In a period when imagery is so easily manipulated electronically, Bass reminds us that a strong idea is always at the heart of great design. His work is as refreshing today as ever.

The exhibition is on at the Kemistry Gallery, London untill 17 March.

www.kemistrygallery.co.uk

Wow - this is a truly beautiful website created for the 'Monet 2010' exhibition in Paris. I recommend following the 'Journey' route. A masterpiece.

www.monet2010.com