Andrew J Kaplan

Many of California’s state parks are closing, and...

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:53:21 -0800

Many of California’s state parks are closing, and it’s tragic. The First 70 is a forthcoming film whose producers want to change all of that. Just a mesmerizing trailer that brought tears to my eyes.

"Advertising isn’t like some coat that you pull on and off depending on the weather. It has to..."

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:00:00 -0800

“Advertising isn’t like some coat that you pull on and off depending on the weather. It has to be an integral part of a brand and stitched into the very heart of a product. It has to touch a nerve end of what makes a brand or product tick and what makes it resonate with the public.”

- John Hegarty, Worldwide Creative Director for BBH. Hegarty On Advertising

♥ Typography. ♥ PBS.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:00:06 -0800

♥ Typography. ♥ PBS.

There aren’t that many amazing tech ads out there. Apple,...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:16:04 -0800

There aren’t that many amazing tech ads out there. Apple, of course, is a leader. Google’s made a big splash with “Dear Sophie” (Chrome) and its “Search Stories”. But I just love this PlayStation spot. It tells a story with the style and narrative panache of a Hollywood film. It subtly references all the biggest PS3 games, which any hardcore gamer will love but even a non-gamer might appreciate. It takes you on a journey, wondering who these various characters are, why they’re together — and who is this Michael? The ultimate revelation is uplifting, intelligent and humorous.

It’s interesting to see a brand like PlayStation target hardcore gamers in a world that’s constantly abuzz about casual and social gaming. Shows that the folks at Sony are in touch with their brand’s values and that they love their users.

Perhaps taking a page from the Apple playbook, Sony wisely avoids talking about the raw technicals of its product. The PS managers know that consumers won’t swoon for their system because of product specs like graphics capabilities, processor speeds, etc. They love the titles. They love the characters. These are the things that have made gamers fall in love with PlayStation and remain loyal to it. Sony has capitalized on that affinity — that emotional bond — and given the people what they want: A commercial that truly pays homage to gamers and the product itself.

"The things we make, make us."

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:00:05 -0800

“The things we make, make us.”

- Sergio Marchionne, CEO Chrysler/FIAT. You can also find this language in the company’s commercials.

My new favorite company: visual.ly. We all have heard how Big...

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:00:00 -0800

My new favorite company: visual.ly.

We all have heard how Big Data will surely be one of the leading tech trends of 2012. Companies of all stripes are coping with oceans of data about user and customer behavior, which is partly the result of the proliferation of all manner of connected devices both mobile and in-home.

So the challenge becomes, how do we parse this data and make sense of it? Infographics are a great way to distill data into creative, visually appealing and comprehensible analysis. Visual.ly is developing a platform to let anyone create a high-quality infographic, even if you aren’t trained in Motion, After Effects or Flash. The company already showcases some of the best graphics across the Web and allows pros to upload and promote their work, connecting with peers and receiving valuable feedback in the process. This firm is well-positioned to capitalize on consumers’ and businesses’ hunger for data, as well as the ever-growing DIY creative culture in America.

Also, if you like data and design, you better start reading FlowingData.com. It will be interesting to see how the business model for Visual.ly evolves. For example, FD offers yearly subscriptions for which users receive source code and monthly tutorials about how to design pro-grade data visualizations.

The International Academy of Web Television is streaming its...

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:46:00 -0800

The International Academy of Web Television is streaming its first awards program for excellence tonight at 9pm Eastern, 6pm Pacific. Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Iawtvorg

Above are a few of the nominees.

From Fast Company: “Researchers say infographics can save...

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:04:34 -0800

From Fast Company: “Researchers say infographics can save morons from themselves. Really?” Click above to read the article.

I recently produced this video for my friend Amit, who’s...

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:47:00 -0800

I recently produced this video for my friend Amit, who’s getting his MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Amit is an engineer by trade and he needed a video to enter into a scholarship contest. The organization awarding the scholarship was looking for positive role models for children interested in science and engineering.

It’s been awhile since I shined the spotlight on good...

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:35:00 -0800

It’s been awhile since I shined the spotlight on good branded entertainment. This ski film, sponsored naturally by North Face (and featuring a ton of North Face gear) is worth watching 10 times. As the filmmaker says, it’s really the antithesis of a normal ski film, in that the story is really about how this band of athletes hiked 10 days to the summit of a 17,000’ peak in Alaska, only to ski down after their grueling expedition up the trail with boards and skis strapped to their backs. The film is about the struggle, not so much about epic rides and big air. Though there’s a little of that, too. Fantastic camera work and editing, particularly on the motion graphics.

"The most dangerous thing is to be successful. You then think every decision is the right one...."

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 06:33:57 -0800

“The most dangerous thing is to be successful. You then think every decision is the right one. That’s why you have to review what you do.”

- Wong Wai Ming, CFO, Lenovo

"In a recent regulatory finding, Google revealed that it had acquired 57 companies in the first three..."

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:02:00 -0800

“In a recent regulatory finding, Google revealed that it had acquired 57 companies in the first three quarters of 2011, breaking its yearly record of 48, set in 2010.”

- Mercury News. As an aside: Holy crap.

Adobe makes wonderful products, but it takes great marketing to...

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:29:30 -0700

Adobe makes wonderful products, but it takes great marketing to distill all the product features into understandable customer benefits. That’s where video comes in. Adobe takes a compelling subject — Vanity Fair magazine — and leverages this client’s success to produce a slick testimonial that helps differentiate the Adobe brand.

How does Web technology help our lives in the tangible, offline...

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:17:22 -0700

How does Web technology help our lives in the tangible, offline world? Intel has some ideas about how technology can personalize the retail experience and make it better. Courtesy of the good people of SAY Media.

This video from Cisco is a great example of awesome motion...

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:37:45 -0700

This video from Cisco is a great example of awesome motion graphics and creative titles.

Last month Brad Keywell, co-founder of Groupon and Michigan...

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 06:53:58 -0700

Last month Brad Keywell, co-founder of Groupon and Michigan alum, came to our school to speak about entrepreneurship and risk-taking. I thought his points about embracing failure were good ones to keep in mind for anyone who strikes out on their own venture.

Here is a speech to pass on to our children, delivered by the...

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:24:19 -0700

Here is a speech to pass on to our children, delivered by the greatest, most creative inventor and businessman of our time. We’ll miss you, Steve.

Google Voice will transcribe your voicemails. Sort of.

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:03:00 -0700

Google transcription of a voice message left by my girlfriend (Christie): Hello and June. I love. I just wanted to say hi. Things to you a lot. My name is like what's going on,and I'm like oh my name is Angie, that's how I feel this Lance is so I just wanted to say hello andYeah, I hope we can talk soon, and they are you busy, tonight at the game. My father throwing in herand hills. The winter time here on those. I love you so much and I hope that you're having a greattime. 15. And I'll talk to you soon. Okay bye.

♥ Google Search Stories

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:01:34 -0700

♥ Google Search Stories

Ford’s new Focus “spokesman” is Doug the...

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 06:01:00 -0700

Ford’s new Focus “spokesman” is Doug the condescending orange sock puppet. Simply put, this is hands-down the funniest ad campaign I’ve seen ever. The core of the content is over 40 videos, all housed in a tricked-out YouTube channel, in which Doug and his hapless human coworker/sidekick embark on a chaotic and hilarious marketing tour. It’s a classic comic setup — Doug, the prankster, and John, the straight man.

The videos delicately interweave promotions for the Focus while building riotously entertaining storylines about the marketers’ adventures. The whole concept is very meta — it’s essentially Ford mocking the practice of automotive marketing.

Of course, you can follow the characters on Twitter and Facebook and every platform kindly directs viewers to the Focus website.

I respect Ford’s commitment to providing ads that function as entertainment in their own right. However, I wonder whether the Focus is even a little too peripheral to the story. I’m not even sure I could call some of these videos ads. Some almost feel like product placement. Intentional? I think so.