SKAGGS

This is TV advertising at its best.

At the beginning of the year we were approached by TOTO USA to conceptualize, create and execute their green campaign. TOTO are no strangers to sustainability having practiced sustainable manufacturing processes for over 40 years and pioneered some of the most eco-efficient products available today. With many companies also advertising their sustainability and social responsibility, we knew that the messaging for the campaign was no walk in the park.
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It took almost 2 months of planning, 1 trip from El Paso to Dallas and back, 1,000 - 5 gallon water bottles, 3 trucks, 2 tractors, 1 buggy and a whole lot of man (and woman) power to show that TOTO’s High Efficiency toilets are all about saving water—lots of water. It’s proven that TOTO’s HET’s can save up to 24,655 gallons of water, in just 1 year. A fantastic amount, but just how much is that visually? That was the first question we asked ourselves and one that drove the concept behind the photoshoot.

We needed a large expanse, preferably one with a mountainous backdrop. The Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah are flooded every year, unbeknown to us. The next best thing?…The Salt Flat just outside the Guadalupe Mountain National Park. The national park described the location as “An alligator sat on a sand castle.” due to the contrast of the mountain backdrop on the Salt Flat. We knew then, this would be the perfect location to shoot our 1,000 water bottles.

Bradley and Sam headed out to El Paso, TX with a stellar crew to shoot what was set to be one of the most memorable on location shoots SKAGGS has partaken in.

In case you’re wondering what happened to the bottles and water? The water was non-potable and was given to the rancher for his cattle and all of the bottles were recycled in El Paso, TX.

For a behind the scenes visual diary go here and here.

We’d like to thank the following for helping to make this shoot rock!

• Tait Simpson and Annie Powers (Tait Simpson Photography)
• Manuel Norena (manuelnorenastudio.com)
• Kevin Haverty
• Michael Charske (Highway Man)
• Jacob Cena (Classic Auto Finder)
• Eric, Robert and Nico
• Manuel Ramos (Continental Batteries, El Paso TX)
• The Salt Flat Cafe

In advertising and design you’re constantly told by the client and your inner Mad Man to think like the audience…It seems in their pursuit of ultimate audience thinking Via Group really did go the whole hog. Their work on the new Maidenform backless bra ad seems to prove this. I’m not sure what bothers me most…The dudes in bras, the fact that their “bras were too small for interns” comment was a little sexist (I don’t think I got the joke) or that the creative group seemed to be all men - working on a women’s ad. Maybe the “chicks” were off that day?
Joke sexism aside, it’s good to see creatives so passionate about thinking like the audience.

A detailed look at the design process behind the creation of the ubiquitous Google logo.

The NY Times on Sunday had an interesting article about retailers making their bags “cooler” more luxurious and durable, so that consumers would use them again and again, thus the consumer becoming a walking billboard for the stores. Scoop and Lord and Taylor both have new bags whilst Bloomies and Bergdorf Goodman both have extensive “top secret” redesigns underway.
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CNN Money ran a recent article on David Ogilvy, one of the most influential people in the creative world and in my opinion, probably the most and the best. His ideals are still very, very relevant today and his book, Ogilvy on Advertising, is a must read.

On of the best ads I’ve seen in a long time. Hats off to Leo Burnett for such fantastic work.

The last screen translates as: “Every 10 seconds, someone dies of AIDS in the world. Protect yourself.”

This ad has already been pulled from YouTube, so watch it while you can… It’s brilliant.

Sony Bravia ads are doing “it” again. What’s “it” you ask‚Ķ well “it” is being awesome. Check this awesomeness out.