Love. Angel. Music. GRAPHICS.

The integration of live action continues to be a trend as we noted in an earlier post in an Adidas spot. Check out Gwen Stefani's new music video directed by Sophie Muller. Thanks for the links, Erica!

UPDATE: Gwen is giving us a two-for, and who are we to resist? Much like the Katy Perry videos before her, she's taking on the way her audience is communicating - emoticons of course!!! Bring on the live action and emoticon graphics! Thanks for the link, Susan!

Plus more graphic treatments from TARGET:

MARCOM Represents at Kitty Con

Leanne and Diane teamed up to attend this year's Kitty Con in downtown LosAngeles where they met the designers, got temporary tattoos and got caught up in the red bowed kitty of it all! Who needs Halloween??!

The Ultimate Love Letter to Barbie

At this season’s Milan Fashion Week, Jeremy Scott wrote the ultimate love letter to Barbie through his Barbie-inspired Moschino Spring Collection! Any nerves of how our favorite 11 1/2inch doll would be interpreted by Jeremy Scott were absolutely evaporated in an animated poof the moment the first model set foot on the runway. I was blown away. With kitsch, humor and a playful use of scale, Jeremy Scott nailed it! Every plastic, Barbie detail that captured the hearts and imaginations of little girls, were amplified and connected – with equal zeal – to their now grown-up selves.

 Every piece was injected with whimsy and Barbie heritage, with a generous splash of Scott’s humor. And the styling, oh the styling… When the first model emerged with a massive platinum blond wig and bubblegum pink lipstick…my cup runneth over with glee. In what other show could a model take command of the runway in roller-skates??!! Pool-floaty handbags, inflatable-bra top, oversized accessories, chain link necklaces and belts, super small purses, oversized buttons and sequins – every detail was pure joy. I giggled with happiness.

 While Scott clearly enjoyed his role dressing his favorite doll, the models embraced their role of “Playing Barbie.” You could tell their little girl selves were reveling at the opportunity to bring to life the doll they too had played with and adored. According to Jeremy Scott, he and Barbie share the same driving force: “We just want to bring joy to people.” Scott certainly brought joy to me with his new collection, all my 80s childhood fantasies coming to life on the runway like a candy-coated, pop-plastic dream. With each model who took the runway, I recalled each doll I played with. Every day, I played and dreamed with those dolls, I dreamed of wearing that oversized sequin dress to prom or to my wedding – seems hardly far fetched with this new collection!

 Thank you, Jeremy for your love letter to Barbie. And thank you for celebrating childhood dreams and imaginations of boys and girls everywhere! Clearly this doll was designed to inspire. Congrats to the Barbie organization on such a triumphant and proud moment for the brand! Talk about legacy!!.

Make sure you follow Barbie on instagram where her fashion authenticity is brought to life everyday!

Taking the Helm at Tiffany with a Capital T

In continued celebration of the designer's hand, we must take a moment to recognize Francesca Amfitheatrof, Tiffany & Company's first female design director. She's just the eighth person to hold the position since the company was founded in 1837. Her first collection for the storied jewelry house is the Tiffany T, an offering that might be called a Brooklynized take on fine jewelry, with mix and match pieces, plus a sly wit and sensibility. In her own words, "For the Tiffany T, I was inspired by the letter T, which is sculptural, bold and linked to the architecture of New York." YES! To learn more about the new collection, the new design director, and her design process, check out the video and links below.

Further Reading:
Brunch at Tiffany's, New York Times Style Magazine

Francesca Amfitheatrof Interview - Tiffany's Hires First Female Director - Elle

House of Karl Goes Plastic

This week, Barbie’s love of all things Karl came to luxuriously black lacquered life with the Barbie Lagerfeld doll. Exclusive and in-demand are paltry descriptions of the doll that sold out in mere moments. This Barbie Lagerfeld video by Net-a-Porter.com will have to suffice. DE-LIGHTFUL. Fortunately my tears of fashion admiration are hidden behind my blacked out, signature Karl sunglasses. Cheers to you, Karl.

http://www.karl.com/karl-daily/

Get Fired Up!

Q4 is on the horizon, MARCOM peeps!!! GET FIRED UP!! For more inspiration from the USPS redesign by Grand Army, a New York-based design studio, click here. Oh, the typography of it all! Delightful! Thanks for the link, Mike!

Remembering Deborah Sussman

Deborah Sussman, a great pioneer in our field just passed away yesterday, August 19, 2014. I was first introduced to the work of Sussman/Prejza in college, and was immediately obsessed! Their worked was consistently referenced by many of my design professors. They are most famously known for their colorful branding and environmental design work for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Other works I’m sure you’ve all seen is the branding for the City of Santa Monica and the Culver City bus systems. And a more recent work of theirs is the yummy green and pink signage and redesign for Grand Park in downtown. Deborah was also one of the original founders of the Los Angeles AIGA chapter, continuing to inspire and mentor others in the field.

I moved out to Los Angeles the summer of 2001. Sussman/Prejza was the first phone call I made as soon as I got out here. I begged and begged for them to interview me or give me a portfolio review even though they had no job openings at the time. I was no where near qualified to work there straight after graduating, and clearly had no environmental design experience under my belt, but the agency was kind enough to give me a portfolio review. Appointment made, palms sweaty, and Deborah walked into the room. My mouth hit the floor. I will never ever forget meeting her.

Thank you, Deborah, for giving me my first professional portfolio review after graduating. I will always be truly grateful. To learn more about her, click here.

#MonsterMadness

Congrats to the MH team for this awesome video – concepted, produced and distributed in record time!! I mean! Check out that beautiful photography – props to the photo team!! Being a Monster has never looked so good!

Barbie Represents at New York Fashion Week

Congrats to the Barbie team on making another splash at this season's Fashion Week in New York! Looking GOOD!! Make sure you keep up with all the Fashion Week fun on Barbie Instagram. Go, Zlatan!! We're cheering you on!

Sig Style gets the Chanel Treatment

YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!! Sig style and branding come to luxurious life in this Chanel video – the colors, the texturs, the typography, the WHY.

 Yes! Yes! Yes! Get inspired, branding peeps!

Entrepreneur Barbie Debuts in Times Square

This week, Barbie continues to spark cultural conversation as she announced her 150th career as an Entrepreneur. This latest career speaks to recent conversations around the lack of women in Silicon Valley. Congrats to the Barbie team for the big slash made in Times Square, New York, with the stunning graphic above. The drama of the lighting and background, nodding to the cover of Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In, has gained attention from media outlets including Fast Company (below). Way to go, everyone! Thanks for the link, Eric! 

 http://www.fastcompany.com/3032172/strong-female-lead/can-entrepreneur-barbie-change-girls-career-ambitions

Extra Credit Link:
In the event you missed my favorite issue of the year - Fast Company's Annual Most Creative People in Business is on shelves this month. Make sure you take some time to check it out and get inspired!

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/186/june-2014

UPDATE:
Check out the shout out in Ad Age, "The campaign's creative was handled by Mattel's in-house marketing and and media was done by Starcom, the respective agencies of record." Congrats to the Barbie team!
http://adage.com/article/news/mattel-pushes-barbie-model-empowerment-young-girls/294755/

Fire Drills Don't Stop MARCOM

While many of us were anxiously waiting for the all clear to return to our floors, Kristi was undeterred. Instead of losing valuable time with the client, Kristi continued with her brand presentation. Fire drills and unreasonable winds are no match for our Kristi Atkins. Props to you, KA!

And These Two Shall Never part

Check out the original love story of Jenna Lyons and her shoes. Here, the J Crew Creative Director shares her personal story and obsession with shoes. Not only does the video showcase the latest J Crew collection and the craftsmanship that goes into each shoe, but this peek inside the mind of their creative visionary, creates depth, relatability, and authenticity for a greater emotional connection to the brand.

The Barbie Project: A Mermaid's Magic Potion

The Barbie Project continues! In this video, we meet Bianca, a budding scientist who shares her recipe for a magic potion custom made for a Mermaid princess. For more Barbie Project stories and continuing conversations, visit the Barbie Tumblr page. Barbie

Ditch the Dreams, Be a Doer

Check out this commencement speech by Shonda Rhimes, screen writer, director, producer and show runner of tv hits including Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal. In this speech she speaks about the value of doing over dreaming, "My dreams did not come true. But I worked really hard. And I ended up building an empire out of my imagination. So my dreams? Can suck it" (She starts digging into her thesis at the 6:40 mark). On the Barbie brand, we spend a lot of time talking about dreams, but she make a darn good case for doing.

If you prefer to read the speech, check out the link below. Thanks, Kristina!
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~commence/news/speeches/2014/rhimes-address.html

Extra Credit Links:
Any commencement address immediately leads me to the Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address. It may be nearly 10 years old, but it's still uniquely powerful. And that link, of course, always leads to the original Apple Think Different ad. Just as inspiring as the first time I saw it.

The Barbie Project: Playing Barbie Dolls with Dad

Check out the latest Barbie Project video where a single dad share why he's willing to "play Barbie" with his daughter and what they both gain. For more Barbie Project stories and continuing conversations, visit the Barbie Tumblr page! 

Countdown to The World Cup

WINNER STAYS, 2014

This summer's Nike spot showcases kids playing a soccer match. In the midst of trash-talking, they each turn into their favorite soccer star. The shots of the transitions are really elegant, nothing overt, just enough to get the viewer to play along. Before you know it, you're in a soccer stadium of screaming fans. Of the many cool things in this video - the music, the shots, the concept - I love how Nike pairs humor that's authentic to them (even with a dash of the absurd) alongside aspiration. Proving, in a playful way, no matter how wild a kid's dream, it's direct reflection of their aspirations.

WRITE THE FUTURE, 2010

This has long since been a favorite of mine. So let's dig in!  If the 2014 Nike spot was a reflection of kids' dreams, 2010 was a reflection of the players' dreams (and sometimes fears). SO AWESOME. And as over the top as they may be, the fact that these professional athletes continue to dream big, makes them surprisingly more relatable. The track and humor (along with inside jokes) is a perfect reflection of their demo. It's the stories and ending cliffhanger lets any viewer play along and imagine what happens next. Hold on while I watch it yet again – the problem is, if I catch even a fraction of this video, I am compelled to rewatch the whole thing.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, 2008

First person, anyone? What's it like to sign with Aresenal, train with team, get the goal, get the girl, dominate the Champions League, get called up to the National Team, and drive a sports car? Glad you asked. Imaginations run wild in this one – the first person is so convincing, I swear I just had a work out. Talk about brand experience. Intense. Another awesome soundtrack to boot, Eagles of Death Metal, in case your itunes is in need of a shot of adrenalin this morning.

HOLY.3D.AMAZINGNESS.

We continue to challenge ourselves to evolve the look of barbie. What is the hand of the illustrated icons? How much to you dial up plastic? While researching what's next, we came across this video that makes an amazing case for plasticized 3D graphics.