UGH. More terrible concepts and execution.

Let's be realistic here.  So you walk into your house and notice that everything you own has been stolen.  Would you honestly be that calm as you walk around and investigate?  And then when you come across something that they didn't steal, would your first thought be, "Hmm, maybe it's time for a new one?"  Coming from someone whose house was robbed when they were 9 years old, this would NOT be the first thought and the owners would NEVER be this calm.  But not only the concept, the execution sounds so commercial and unrealistic that it really makes what they're selling unappealing.  And I swear, you almost see the guy smirk when he comes across the computer.  Stuff like this just simply cannot be taken seriously.

A bit of an easy concept, but still a great one.

The common reason why anyone would wash their hands or use hand sanitizer is to prevent the spread of germs from other people onto yourself.  So, with a hand sanitizer, there is really know other way to go in advertising and campaigning for it.  However, this ad and the whole campaign does a great job of translating this in a funny and clever way that has the stopping power to make you read and understand it.  I tried to look up some other sanitizers, like Purell, to see a comparison and the concept is pretty much the same, but they are not executed in as clever and humorous of a way as these are.

Hey, I know HTML now, too.

The School of Communications and Theater offers study away opportunities in London, Dublin, Montreal and Los Angeles, which provide enriched academics as well as valuable work experience. Gain a new perspective on your academic studies, experience a different culture and develop skills to give you an edge in today’s competitive environment.

Take advantage of Montreal’s unique position as a hub of video game development in North America. Courses available specialize in the video game industry. Programs available in the summer.	Immerse yourself in a rich culture of musical and literary brilliance, and experience a modern metropolis on the cutting edge of film, design, music, and architecture. Programs available in the summer.
Experience a cultural melting pot and leader of modern styles and trends. Rich in cultural and intellectual life, London is a mecca for students of the mass media and theater departments. Internships are also available. Programs available in the spring, summer, and fall.	Los Angeles offers students an opportunity to study and work in the heart of the film industry. Internship opportunities span from film, television, advertising, public relations and entertainment management. Programs available in spring and summer.

To learn more about the programs, set up an appointment by contacting sctsa@temple.edu.
Or to apply, please visit the program website and contact SCT Study Away Director,
Erin Palmer at erinj@temple.edu.

Right now I'm in a class/student organizations called Diamond Edge Communications in which we act as a full service, student run advertising agency and do work for local clients around campus.  My particular account is the School of Communications and Theater's Study Away program and this is a email I wrote to send out to their Listserv.  Originally, the email the were sending out were about 4 sentences long and contains no HTML, links, images, or descriptions of individual programs.  So, after doing a little research on other successful study abroad programs in the nation, we saw how other school were successful in promoting and tried to mock and tweak theirs a bit to fit our program.  If you click any of the images, it will take to you directly to that part of Study Away's website.  I was very happy to learn how to do this because it gave me another skill to help me in my further professional copywriting endeavors.  Hope you like it.

You're really letting me down, Apple.

Anyone who knows me well knows I have somewhat of an Apple bias, but I really can't stand this commercial.  The concept itself is a good one because the App store is amazing and the things an iPhone can do are pretty remarkable.  However, the execution of the copy is horrible in my opinion.  It's almost reached the point that it is condescending and that asyou're seen as lesser for not sending a lot of money on Apple technology.  Though, my biggest issue with the commercial is the last line.  "Yup, if you don't have an iPhone... well... you don't have an iPhone."  Honestly?  That's the tagline that they're going to end you with?  Well let me be the first one to say it, I TOTALLY want to buy from you after you make me feel inferior for not already doing so.  I simply can't believe Apple actually paid someone for that line.

These are too good.

 I think the one in the hospital is my favorite.  I recently found this on StumbleUpon and, needless to say, I was throughly impressive.  They're just too funny.  And the concept is flawless.  It is a common perception that it is difficult to be approve for a loan by a mortgage broker unless you have excellent credit history, so to position themselves as an tolerant, understanding brand is a strategy that will really attract customers.  And to display this in a clever, funny way that is memorable to people in their advertising makes it even better.  Very, very well done.

Other than AXE and Abercrombie, there are few things worse than American Apparel ads.

C'mon, honestly? What are the creative director's reasoning when he pitched this? "Well, we all know sex sells so we just threw up a picture of a cute girl with her ass hanging out, a headline that simply says 'Hello,' and a list of store locations as the body copy."  And it almost makes me hate advertising to know that he and his team got paid millions to make this crap.  This is the same exact problem I have with Abercromie & Fitch, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, and so on: a clothing brand that is promoting themselves by displaying a lack of clothing and an overall sexual ostentation.  It's almost like they're selling how great it feels to take off your clothes after you buy them.  Other than senseless sex appeals, I don't really know what they're going for, but, like I've said before, I don't get it.  And I really really hate it.

This is a rough draft, but I'm liking the concept.

However, I do think it needs to be somehow improved a bit.  What I was going for was having the driver in the car ignore all signs of updated technologies because he's too interested in all the incredible new features of the car.  I am still working on it and the entire campaign, but your feedback would be much appreciated!