Out to Launch
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Columbia Sportswear wants a director of toughness. Is Sleeping Beauty faking it? Let's launch!
  • Google launched a phone, dubbed Pixel, in six major markets, including Australia, Canada, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and the United States. Since the brand name is synonymous with a search bar, a 60-second intro ad, created by Droga5, changes the shape of the search bar to that of a phone.

    "Introducing Pixel, Phone by Google," begins with two kids, staring at an unknown object. They defer to Google to find out what said object might be. Viewers throughout the ad watch the iconic search bar shape hide varying objects, which the viewer can figure out on their own. There's a telescope, limbo bar, highway and new baby hidden from viewers, but what's clear to them is the changing shape of a the search bar, which goes from long and thin to a chunkier rectangle or the shape of a phone.

    "Life By You. Phone By Google," closes the video, as hidden faces and objects are revealed. The phone can be preordered at madeby.Google.com.

  • Instagram users who are obsessed with food porn can do a world of good by deleting pictures of their last supper. Land O'Lakes launched "Delete To Feed" as a way to combat hunger in the United States. The concept is so simple, even I could mange it. For every food post deleted, Land O'Lakes will donate 11 meals to Feeding America, until the brand's goal of 2.75 million meals is reached. All you need to do is log into Instagram, select the photos you'd like to delete, and Land O'Lakes starts donating. Users receive a badge after deleting photos that can be shared on social networks with friends and family. The Martin Agency created the campaign.

  • NFL launched an amusing 60-second TV spot to promote using its Ticket Exchange program to guarantee buyers are purchasing verified NFL tickets. Carolina Panthers Coach Ron Rivera, New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton and former Coach Mike Shanahan went undercover to pose as shady ticket sellers and offered some fatherly advice to buyers excited about scoring football tickets.

    Even in disguise, Rivera was recognized immediately. Payton and Shanahan explain that it's smarter to use the NFL ticket exchange rather than meet a potentially shady person who might sell fake tickets. Lesson learned, for the most part. The man who recognized Rivera was more interested in scoring a selfie than anything else.

    Grey New York created the campaign.

  • Talk about an on-the-spot test for a potential job applicant. Columbia Sportswear is looking for a Director of Toughness. The new Director of Toughness will travel the world for nine months to test out Columbia gear in some harsh weather conditions.

    Prospective employees were interviewed at Oregon's Timberline Lodge -- and, just when applicants thought the interview was over, they were given a backpack, told to hike to the top of a mountain, and not be late. T

    Once atop the mountain, candidates are interviewed by Jason, a laid-back guy full of witty comebacks. The best one came when one man described how he and his girlfriend make their long-distance relationship work. Jason asked him: "What's your biggest fear, other than commitment?"

    Additional "tough" interviews will be held in New York, Toronto and Scotland/UK. New York's is Oct. 13. Who is with me? North created the campaign.

  • Even Sleeping Beauty needs some alone time, meaning all that slumbering might be a ruse to catch up on reality TV. In the latest "It's What You Do" ad for Geico, the spellbound princess receives a visit from a dashing prince. Sadly, his kiss does not break the powerful sleep spell that she's under... because she's not under one.

    Sleeping Beauty is faking it, in an effort to binge-watch her favorite trashy reality TV show. "If you want someone to leave you alone, you pretend like you're sleeping. It's what you do." Come back later, Prince Charming. The Martin Agency created the campaign.

  • Some people prefer to drink their calories, but I am not one of them. It didn't stop me from enjoying this ad for Nutchello, a dark chocolate, walnut beverage that's less than 90 calories.

    "You Time" plays like a cheesy high-end perfume or fashion ad. A breathy voiceover says outlandish lines like "slip down into a silky blanket fort of dark chocolate walnut possibility," then a breathy female voiceover responds, "Nutchello." This banter goes on for 30 seconds, coupled with weird imagery like a walnut inside a flower, fiery almonds entering the Earth's atmosphere and a butterfly with a message. Fallon created the campaign.

  • The Blue Point Brewing Company updated its packaging for the first time since the brewery was founded in 1998. To celebrate, the company launched "Patchogue’s Got It All," a not-so-subtle nod to Blue Point and the place where it's made: Patchogue, Long Island, NY.

    A friendly tour guide shows us the sights of Patchogue, none of them being the Blue Point Brewing Company. However, each frame has an obvious nod to the company in the form of signage, beer bottles or a company truck. Just when you think the guide will mention Blue Point Brewing, he talks about other Patchogue gems, like a working phone booth, water tower and printing company. I love it when he happily describes the town water tower while sitting on a keg outside the brewery. VSA Partners created the campaign.

  • Sugarlands Distilling Company, producer of moonshine in Gatlinburg, Tenn., recently added two new flavors to its offerings: root beer and peppermint.

    I love that moonshine comes in reusable mason jars, and I had the chance to try the root beer flavor. The site describes it as something that "will bring you right back to the soda stand of your childhood. It is simple, almost bubbly, and has the perfect touch of sweetness." I clearly did not live much of a high-octane childhood because the moonshine, while sweet and root beer-esque, hits your throat the way one would expect moonshine to taste: strong.

    The company's website is chock full of easy recipes to create funky drinks and foods using flavored moonshines.

  • Random App of the week:USA Network partnered with mobile messaging platform, Snaps, to create a set of emojis for its "Mr. Robot" series. I was obsessed with the first season but stopped watching season two. Is it worth revisiting? The emoji keyboard has all of the main characters, a full alphabet in Mr. Robot font and stickers with show quotes. The free app is available on both iOS and Android.