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Pass the time with this Street View Hyperlapse
Wednesday, 17th April 2013 at 11:50am
If you've managed to tear yourself away from the last time-waster we shared with you, Google's 3D Marble Maze, then perhaps it's time you had a play with another Google favourite; Google Street View Hyperlapse.
Developed by the team at Teehan + Lax, a Toronto based digital utility designer, the hyperlapse works by taking images saved on Google Street View, then speeding them up.
To create your own, you choose a location, select starting and end points and then a focal point, the focal point is the icing on the cake, it will allow you to see an image as the camera approaches and passes, simply recreating a car journey as you pass a point of interest.
Watch the video from Teehan + Lax below, then have a go yourself here.
Google Street View Hyperlapse from Teehan+Lax Labs on Vimeo.
Google Chrome experiment creates perfect time-waster
Wednesday, 3rd April 2013 at 5:12pm
Google's latest innovation in time-wasting fun is the Chrome World Wide Maze, and it isn't an April Fool's joke.Coming from Japan, it is a browser experiment that turns any Web page of your choosing into a 3-D maze. You guide a marble via a smart phone synced with your computer (and, of course, installed with Chrome for Mobile for this to work properly). The aim is to collect 'power-ups' whilst completing the maze, and avoiding falling off.
The mobile-phone-as-game-controller idea has promise and isn't much different from the Wii U's current setup. It isn't the first time Google has played with this idea previously releasing Chrome Super Sync Sports and hopefully won't be the last.
Take a look at the promotional videos below.
Tagged Google, Chrome, World Wide Maze, Super Sync Sports, time-wasting, game, fun, marbles
Build a paper model of student housing with this free download
Tuesday, 5th March 2013 at 3:26pm
Architecture and design company Murado & Elvira has released a free download that allows you to build your own paper model of the Teknobyen Studentboliger, a student housing project the company built for SiT in Trondheim, Norway.
The building has been nominated for the Statens Byggeskikkpris 2012; the Norwegian National Building Awards and has won the Trondheim Kommune Energispareprisen (Energy Saving Prize 2012).
The company also has a free desktop pet available to download- there are five to choose from, representing the belief that buildings as objects can become like pets due to an empathic relationship people build with them.
Download the Free Paper Teknotoy here.
Tagged Architecture, design, free download, paper model, Teknotoy, Teknobyen studentboliger, diy, fun
Pantone song titles
Friday, 15th February 2013 at 1:30pm
Pantone is a brand that many will recognise and the folks at Chic & Artistic have created this innovative and clever idea of matching the colour swatches to songs.
The series, called "panto'n'roll", replaces the name of a colour in a song title with one of the famous Pantone cards, for example 'blue suede shoes' or 'yellow submarine'.
Very simple yet wonderfully creative, we love it, and they mention on their website that they will producing some posters of these too, just email them at pantonroll@chic-artistic.com with the one(s) you like.
You can see all of the series here.
Can you think of any songs they may have missed?
Top 10 public spaces
Wednesday, 13th February 2013 at 12:30pm
Boca Do Lobo has featured on their blog the Top 10 public spaces, architecturally speaking.
The feature has some amazing examples of innovative design and amazing engineering from all over the globe, including the Floating Movie Theatre, Thailand, El Bosque de la Esperanza, Colombia and possibly our favourite the170 foot Trampoline in Russia.
The list is a great representation of architecture from 2012 that is accessible to all, and helps to make the world a better and more fun place to live. Enjoy!
See the full list and read more about them here.
Counting with fingers takes a new meaning
Monday, 11th February 2013 at 6:01pm
In a new publicity campaign, Leo Burnett Toronto has created a countdown for the start of the new series of popular zombie TV series "The Walking Dead".
They have installed a hoarding in Toronto Union Station, featuring two zombie hands, that countdown to the start of the new series. To add to the gore, when a day passes a finger is physically removed from one of the hands and left there to "rot". The company also arranged for some actors to dress up as "walkers", the name the show gives to the zombies, and wander around the station during the build-up whilst chained to cement blocks. They also gave away t-shirts and set up a competition via Twitter to win one of the digits from the hands.
This is a great bit of fun and will have an impact but alas it could put a few commuters off their breakfast.
The show starts again in Canada and the US Sunday 10th February, and in the UK on Friday 15th February.
Looking for love? Doughnut company has the answer
Monday, 11th February 2013 at 12:57pm
If you're looking for love on this Valentine's Day then Krispy Kreme may have the answer: they have once again released their Love Roulette game on their Facebook page and website.
The game is a bit of fun, matching you with one of your Facebook friends, regardless of gender, preference or relationship status (we were matched with married people and those of the same gender on some attempts), and then it offers you a voucher to get a free doughnut when you buy one of their new Valentine's Day doughnuts.
A clever idea to help promote their new doughnuts and inspire you to buy one for that special person in your life!
Play the game on Facebook here or the website here. Enjoy!
Get the latest weather from Comfortable Weather Guy
Friday, 18th January 2013 at 2:45pm
Have you seen the Southern Comfort ad with the tanned and rotund guy wearing Speedos and drinking, of course, Southern Comfort? No, then you can see it here then come back and see the brand extension. Right now you’re ready for this, the New York based office of Wieden + Kennedy has now given this character a new lease of life, as your own personal weatherman. The idea is simple, go to comfortableweatherguy.com, type in a location and the cheeky chap will be whisked to an environment with the same weather as that location, it could vary from a beach, or a foggy cityscape to a snow covered landscape. The premise of course is that regardless of the weather he is suitably comfortable in just his Speedos.
This campaign is a great example of taking a memorable ad with a simple protagonist and transferring them into a digital marketing campaign. There are even some videos to help with the campaign, which can be viewed below.
Tagged Marketing, advertising, southern comfort, comfortable weather guy, fun
Not your normal tube announcements
Thursday, 17th January 2013 at 11:00am
Time Out London's blog, Now. Here. This., has teamed up with Annie Mole, writer of the Going Underground blog, to present some of the best announcements heard on the London Underground.These announcements vary between being heard on the trains or on the platforms, and are not the usual "mind the gap" or "stand clear of the doors" you would normally encounter whilst circumnavigating the tube network.
Here's a selection of our favourites, see the rest here.
“Ladies and gentleman, I’m sorry for the delay. I have just been informed this is due to people on the ROOF of the train ahead. Yes, you are probably thinking some of the things I am, but that’s what I’ve been told by my control.”
“Ladies and gentleman, I do apologise for the delay to your service. I know you’re all dying to get home. Unless you happen to be married to my ex-wife, in which case you’ll want to cross over to the Westbound and go in the opposite direction.”
“To the hilarious gentleman that just showed me his bum. I suggest you join a gym or go on a diet before waving it around in the future”.
“Would the lady going down the escalator please lower her umbrella. It doesn’t rain underground.”Tagged Time Out, London, Underground, Tube, Announcements, Going underground, now here this, Funny, fun
Creative Distraction - Draw a stickman
Friday, 4th January 2013 at 11:02am
If like us, you're back at work this week, then you may find this a welcome distraction.This site has two interactive episodes and a game which allow you to express your creativity, even if you are not the most artistic of people.
The idea is simple, you start by drawing a stickman, and it develops from there into your very own animated story.
Why not give it go here.Tagged Design, Animation, fun, creative, film, website, game, interactive
Dangerous times at the office party
Saturday, 8th December 2012 at 10:33am
The office Christmas party gets nasty in this new ad for Harvey Nichols.This is the sequel to an ad we featured on our blog last year, 'The Walk of Shame' and was created by Adam & Eve/DDB.
It is very funny and suggests 'How to avoid a same dress disaster this season'.
Enjoy!
Tagged Harvey Nichols, Ad, Advert, TV, Christmas, Funny, Office party, Fun, Creative, Nasty
Gravity defying device by 2D House
Saturday, 8th December 2012 at 10:03am
Be amazed by this gravity defying chain reaction Rube Goldberg device created by 2D House - Rube Goldberg vs. Isaac Newton.
Using magnets and visual trickery it will blow your mind - which way up and how do they do that!
You can see more of the devices they have created here.
The corner shop comes to life with Red Stripe
Sunday, 2nd December 2012 at 5:57pm
This stunt for Red Stripe by ad agency KesselsKramer (along with Stinkdigital director Greg Brunkalla and creative technology consultancy Hirsch&Mann) popped up in a convenience store in East London.
They rigged up loads of products in a corner store to suddenly start dancing and making music whenever a customer picked up a Red Stripe from the fridge.
It's a great bit of fun but knowing these types of stores well the late night crowd may get a bit freaked out!
A great gadget for Christmas
Sunday, 2nd December 2012 at 5:28pm
If you're looking for the perfect gadget for someone with an iPhone then have a look at The Pinball Magic accessory.
Apparently it is a very realistic experience with a machine cabinet that holds the phone and folding legs for easy transport.
You can get hold of it for around £25 from various retailers - find it here.
Darren the Bear tells his story
Wednesday, 24th October 2012 at 7:29pm
You may have seen the new IKEA ad 'Playing with my friends' on TV recently featuring over-sized toy characters sitting down for dinner.
But have you seen the 'making of' film featuring one of the lead actors, Darren the Bear?
A great pseudo-documentary featuring the store cleaning bear who gets his big break in the ad that changes his life.
We like the subtle humour, especially the bus.
Enjoy!
Ad by Mother London
From mono to colour
Wednesday, 24th October 2012 at 7:10pm
Here's a fun video by film maker Eran Amir.
From Black and White to Colour.
The entire film was shot in one go without any colour correction and at the end you can see how he went about making it.
Coke gets interactive
Sunday, 21st October 2012 at 8:08am
Coke Zero has been getting interactive with the latest Bond movie. In a live marketing stunt at a railway station they invited Coke purchasers to take a challenge to win exclusive tickets for the latest 007 movie, Skyfall. Having to rush across the station to beat the clock Coke didn't make it easy for them.
A fun interactive marketing stunt that has gone viral with more than 2 million views.
See the video below:
Tagged Coke, Skyfall, 007, James Bond, Film, Movie, marketing, Interactive, Stunt, Viral, Fun, Zero, Challenge, Creative
Spotted in Rotterdam
Thursday, 11th October 2012 at 7:21pm
Things have gone a bit dotty on the streets of Rotterdam.Dutch art studio Vollaerszwart has created a new installation called Let’s Stick Together, that has livened up the city streets with 50 000 fluorescent pink stickers as part of the De Wereld van Witte de With art festival.
See more here on Boredpanda.comTagged Rotterdam, Design, Spots, Dots, Installation, Fun, Creative, Studio
A little 'Hangman' distraction with the Guardian
Sunday, 23rd September 2012 at 4:59pm
If you fancy a little distraction then check out The Guardian's weekly Hangman game - simple, vintage fun!Click here to get started.Tagged Guardian, Hangman, game, Fun
A car chase without the cars
Tuesday, 4th September 2012 at 8:08pm
In a bid not to lose any of their beer these bank robbers head off around town in a police chase without the cars. All the classic moves and a few spills and thrills from Carlton Draught.Very funny and worth a watch.
Tagged Advert, advertising, funny, beer, car chase, fun, Carlton draught
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Soap Box
- How will the new EU Directive on Internet Privacy affect your web site?
- Dispelling the myths of Social Media
- Increased Return on Investment from Centralised Integrated Marketing
- Putting PR in the Communications Mix
- Making an Impact Face to Face
- Marketing Through Event and Exhibitions in a Recession
- Intelligent Marketing When Times are Tough