Milkographics

Infographics on milk cartons. Now your over-the-top cool friends finally have milk to pour into their morning bowl of trend flakes.

Sandpit

I recently watched Sam O’Hare’s ‘Sandpit’ video, where over 35,000 still images were transformed using the ’tilt/shift’ tool in Photoshop and woven together to create an incredible miniature perspective of New York. If you haven’t seen it, check it out! The project itself is incredible, but the music choice, by Human, brings the movie to life. When showing the video to a group of friends one person rolled their eyes with disapproval. When I asked what was wrong, the person proceeded to ask ‘what’s so cool about this?’ and ‘why would anyone waste so much time on something like this?’I wouldn’t say that my blood began to boil, but if I was Bruce Banner, The Hulk would have tossed her out my fourth story window.

This video is incredible because it takes such a unique perspective to viewing such an iconic city. People say New York is the biggest city in the world, but the Sandpit shows it’s all about how you look at it. I’ve only lived in New York for a few weeks, but I’m already realizing this island isn’t that big. Sure the building tower over the streets, and the subways get packed like sardines during rush hour, but you still run into people who you know when you least expect it. There are still strong communities everywhere you look. Sandpit’s creativity rests in its ability to alter the common perspective, and show the city in a new way. Sandpit isn’t branded, it’s not trying to sell anything, it’s not overstepping its purpose. It’s a creative project that caught people’s attention because it’s unique and well executed. I’d never call a creative project like this a waste of time. I’d call it a breath of fresh air. Creativity for creativity’s sake is still very much alive. We need more Sandpits.

Lifesavers

The project was to revitalize the Lifesaver brand by creating a widget that could be personally customized and installed on your desktop to remind you about important dates and events, tell you the weather, provide horoscopes and anything else that you could think of to make your Lifesaver widget unique.

The design and creation of the site never fully came together, but the writing was quirky. Check it out:

Saver your inner flavor. Rip into a roll…

What you eat defines you. Who you choose to eat with, the snacks you consume and your favorite tastes all encompass the individual that you are. You are the product of a world that challenges you to be different, and your flavor is the answer to its call.

Each time you rip into a roll of Life Savers you expose your flavor to the rest of the world. They are as unique as the taste buds on your tongue. Life Savers can deliver a Tropical kick or soothe your cool, Cryst-O-Mint desires. Your love for Wild Cherry, Butter Rum, Spear-O-Mint or Classic 5 allows you to flaunt your flavor for the world to see.

Now it’s your turn to let us see what you’re made of. Choose your flavor, make a Saver, and show the world who you are.

AND the dirtier version:

What you eat defines you. Personify your hole and share it with the world.

Throughout time the hole has revolutionized the candy isle. While other brands added nuggets to chocolate bars or threw sugar onto a gummy bear, only one candy dared to explore the hole.

When you rip into a roll of Life Savers you’re not only embarking on a mouth watering adventure, you’re making a statement about yourself. Are you bizarre Butter Rum or a Wild Cherry? Sexy Spear-O-Mint, or a Classy Classic 5? The hole is a portal into the essence of personality, a window into your inner workings.

There are over 6 billion people in the world, but only one you. Give your hole a personal touch and let us see who you really are.

Rip Into a Roll and throw your taste buds a lifesaver

2009 Election Project

Gearing up for the summer before the 2009 presidential election, it became clear that the two parties were polarized and issues would not be at the core of the historic election. Whether it was the words of a sermon at a church you attended, or the number of years spent in captivity behind enemy lines, the true impact of the election was diluted with fluff to distract the American people from what was truly at stake. What resulted was a realization that the younger generation, the people whose lives would be shaped the longest by the decisions made by career politicians twice our age, did not have a voice to demand a focus on the impact of  the election.

Here is my manifesto for the voices of our generation that got lost in the political circus:

What is fundamentally at stake in this election is the ability for our country to move forward. The past 8 years have lead so many members of our generation to lose faith in the benefits and possibilities that government can afford us. In this election we finally have the chance to decide what change truly means. We have the chance to allow our voices to be heard. We have the chance to be the DARK HORSE in this election.

Katrina, four dollar gas, a trillion dollar war, rising unemployment, deregulated housing market, global warming, people of all ages dying without health insurance. It’s time for all of this to end.

WE care about the war that our generation is being called upon to fight.

NOT the adults who send us into these foreign countries.

WE care about the cost of education as we are the ones who are attending these institutions.

NOT speculating about the costs of education by adults who haven’t stepped foot inside a school for 30 years.

WE care about the abortions that are/are not being allowed to occur to our bodies.

NOT old infertile women who will never have to worry about having another child.

WE care about the ability to find a job after graduating college/find a job directly out of high school.

NOT how we can perpetuate jobs and skills that will be inconsequential in 10 years

WE care about the environment and how it is clearly changing.

NOT the easy way out, getting enough oil or energy to last through the rest of YOUR life.

WE care about preventing sickness and illness

NOT slow diagnosis and funding corrupt pharmaceutical companies.

For too many years career politicians and old male and female broadcasters have speculated about the issues that are important for the future. ENOUGH speculation from out of touch adults. It’s time for us to speak up and identify what matters to us. This is our country just as much as theirs, and it will be our country long after they’re gone.

Portfolio

Check out my online portfolio at hiretyler.wordpress.com

Pound it, Prez

Not sure if anyone’s checked out The White House photostream on Flickr, but there are some absolutely amazing images of Barack during his day-to-day operations as president. From Air Force One to The Oval Office, the Flickr stream provides a transparent, behind the scenes view of our government at work.

Here’s one of my personal favorites. Gotta get those ‘knucks, Pete Rouse.

For the rest, go to:

Sustainable Sun Chips

What a creative way to show the new 100% compostable Sun Chips bags. It’s not easy to change the world, but when  everyone takes small steps we have the power to make a real difference.

Kudos, Sun Chips.

SXSWi

Myself and Alex Kniess have arrived in Texas for the 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival. Follow our journey at ducksxsw.wordpress.com!

You Can Advertise Whatever You Like

While flipping through some old issues of the New York Times, I found an article about an Atheist advertising campaign that is using double-decker buses to deliver their message. The message, “There’s probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life,” was met with responses ranging from utter disgust to amusement. Even more entertaining were the ads Australians unsucessfully tried place on buses saying “Atheism: Sleep in on Sunday mornings.”

While the offensiveness of these messages is debatable it isn’t why this article caught my eye. I never thought Atheism would need to use branding strategies to recruit disbelievers, and it reminds me how much I love advertising. Anything in the world can be advertised for! While there are millions of people that hate the traditional beer, cigarette, sex and Slim Jim approach, it reminds me that there are great brands out there with the potential to change the world that no one has properly explored.

The industry is changing and strategies are transforming.  Watch out world.

Digital

An eye opening look at how digital culture is changing our world.