White with two sugars and a revolution please

So according to Gaddafi "protesters… fueled by milk and Nescafe spiked with hallucinogenic drugs" are responsible for trying to drive him from power.

The Twitteratti went into overdrive and Nescafe began, unusually for it, trending.

So how did Nescafe respond? How should they have responded?

What is social media for? Is it just a vehicle for brands, as so many do, to post something about a new product, an ad campaign or sponsorship every few weeks?

Or is it a chance to give a wider audience a better sense of the brand’s personality. If we go back to the brand architecture, a brand's tonal values are a key component. Tonal values are the brand's personality - a much broader definition than just what words and pictures the corporate identity guidelines allow us to use.

So doesn't social media give a unique opportunity for a brand to give its audience a better sense of its personality - its sense of humour, its agenda, its politics?

A great opportunity yes, but equally a great risk. To do it right, it needs treating with the same care, and messages crafted with the same skill as any other media - with brand at their heart.

Let's see what Nescafe do about it. It's interesting to note that they've been the first brand to take advantage of the new UK product placement rules with their £100k investment placing their Dolce Gusto coffee machine on the set of This Morning today.

Perhaps we can expect to see a big 'P' on future coverage from Libya.

How words divide and pictures unite

I've just realised I'm in love with infographics - you know, they say a picture is worth a thousand words but just take a look at the mother of them all - ISOTYPE.

International System of Typographic Picture Education was created by Otto Neurath and designed by Gerd Arntz in the 1920s. Neurath believed that since a considerable part of the information to which we're exposed is optically processed, information must be visualised and data transformed into pictures in order to be seen at all.

The system of typographic picture education they developed uses repeated, consistent graphic "'pictograms", to represent numerical data. The higher the number, the more times the pictogram is repeated. Isotype made statistics and facts available to the whole population. It became a tool for social reformers – and propagandists – throughout the last century.

I just love its elegant simplicity. Take a look here at the absolute classic beauty and simplicity of the vast array of graphics, all originally made as linocuts

http://www.gerdarntz.org/isotype

There's an exhibition all about it at the V&A (Room 17a) until 13th March 2011.

Class outing anyone?

Musically baffled

My Creative Director has taken it upon himself to educate me in music. He dislikes my musical taste.

On my musical journey I've discovered how some songwriters must of had writers block during the creative process and subsequently packed out the song with yeah’s, na’s, woo’s and doo’s to fill in the gaps. Or they just repeat themselves over and over again.

For example, ‘Strangers in the Night’, Frank Sinatra. I’m listening to a beautiful tale of two wondering strangers falling in love and then suddenly Sinatra goes off on one and works himself into a dooby-dooby-doo frenzy. Confused!

Another example is ‘Na na na’, Cozy Powell. Twenty whole seconds of na na na’s before the lyrics kick in. They even titled the song na na na. It’s completely meaningless.

‘Lovely Day’, Bill Withers. How many times does he want to tell us it’s a lovely day? We get it Bill; it’s a lovely day.

Now let’s quickly move on to the Princesses of vocal athletics, namely Christina and Mariah. Yes girls, you’re vocal range is astounding, but understand less is more. More lyrics, less yeah’s and ooh’s please…

On This Day........

Too often we are looking onto the next best thing, the latest X and the recently unearthed Y.
I take great pleasure in looking back at events, people, days of note, great historical periods, as that is as much about who we are and where we have come from, as to where we are going - lets just hope huge shoulder padded jackets aren't coming back into vogue for the chaps.
Here's a slection of birthdays and interesting things that have happened On This Day in History....

1630 - Quadequine introduced popcorn to English colonists at their first Thanksgiving dinner.
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1819 - Spain ceded Florida to the United States.

1879 - In Utica, NY, Frank W. Woolworth opened his first 5 and 10-cent store.

1885 - The Washington Monument was officially dedicated in Washington, DC. It opened to the public in 1889.

1920 - The first dog race track to use an imitation rabbit opened in Emeryville, CA.

1924 - U.S. President Calvin Coolidge delivered the first presidential radio broadcast from the White House.

1956 - Elvis Presley entered the music charts for the first time with "Heartbreak Hotel."

1969 - Barbara Jo Rubin became the first woman to win a U.S. thoroughbred horse race.

1978 - Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen were arrested in New York and charged with drug possession.

1984 - The U.S. Census Bureau statistics showed that the state of Alaska was the fastest growing state of the decade with an increase in population of 19.2 percent.

1989 - Milli Vanilli won a Grammy for Best New Artist. It was admitted later that they were not the vocalists on the album.

1993 - Radiohead's first album, "Pablo Honey", was released.

1997 - Scottish scientist Ian Wilmut and colleagues announced that an adult sheep had been successfully cloned.

Born on the 22^nd February….

George Washington (U.S.) 1732 – legend of cherry trees and axes

Robert Baden-Powell 1857 – dib-dib-dib

John Mills 1908 – The 39 Steps amongst his 120 films!

Robert Wadlow 1918 – very tall chap

Edward M. Kennedy 1932 – the successful Kennedy

Jonathan Demme 1944 – ‘..you won’t find what you are looking for in those cheap shoes Clarice..’

Julie Walters 1950 – surely a Dame before long?

Kyle MacLachlan 1959 – Twin Peaks fame

Drew Barrymore 1975 – back on the straight and narrow

My No.1 inspiration

It's my daughter's first birthday this week and as this blog looks at those things that inspire you I couldn't not mention my little girl at this time. Such milestones do force you to consider what has been and gone and although I am constantly exhausted, have a variety of baby related stains over everything I own, have a trashed house and stomach muscles that will never be the same again it is so totally utterly worth it and she is without doubt the biggest inspiration in my life.

How something so small can completely change the way you look at the world is amazing and all she has to do is give me one of her cheeky smiles and all of the day-to-day niggles and troubles get put straight into perspective. She makes me want to be the best person I can be and give her everything that I was so fortunate to have growing up. Everything I now do is for her and I wouldn't have it any other way.

So a bit on the cheesy side and very gushing (for which I apologise) but happy birthday to my Ava.

My big fat ever-so-slightly-confused society

Can someone explain? I am perplexed, puzzled, put out and all manner of other 'Ps'.

I have read the papers, listened diligently to Radio 4 and watched the news. Alas still I am none the wiser. What is David Cameron’s Big Society? What’s the elevator pitch? What does it stand for? What’s in it for me? What the hell do I need to do? Someone market it to me please.

In my view they’ve made the classic mistake of coming up with a big idea but without having done their homework first. The building blocks for the ‘Big Society’ brand simply are not there. It’s smoke and mirrors, it’s the PM’s new clothes.

Brilliant brands don’t just appear, they are carefully crafted based on truths and benefits and a real understanding of what people want. They are easy to identify with and articulate by the people whose job it is to deliver it, they have resonance and meaning in the lives of the people they want to target, they create engagement.

I really want to buy into it as I love fresh ideas, but only those with some substance to them. I am kind of on board the idea of us becoming more society minded, but am unclear about my part in it all or anyone else’s for that matter.

Listening to the Conservative MPs waffle as they struggle over articulating the proposition time and time again is becoming embarrassing and they are in danger of totally switching off the British public big time if they don’t put some series effort into marketing the Big Society.

A rose amongst the weeds

Now I'm not going to get myself worked into frenzy about the dreadful 2011 Brit Awards I saw last night, because despite the fact that most of it was about theatre not music, I witnessed what I consider one of the most moving musical performances ever on the Brits. Adele.

The reason it almost moved me to tears was it was so simple, a voice and piano (live); no idiotic dancers dressed as riot policeman, no self indulgent muso's massaging their egos, no fireworks, just a magnificent, natural and passionate performance from a singer who was actually acting out the most beautiful and meaningful lyrics she had written herself. Stunning and certainly inspiring.

Not so for that little pip-squeak Justin Bieber, what was that all about? Him and the hugely in-sincere James Corden drooling over him. Embarassing.

Please take a look at Adele's memorable performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQIQ-1vpWfs

Perception - can you see with your hands?

I was really interested to see on the news last night that a new exhibition celebrating 100 years of the Secret Intelligence Service is being exhibited. James Hart Dyke spent a year recording their work in a series of paintings and sketches, they don't identify actual SIS agents or events however they illustrate this unusual and secretive word.

I am going to try and visit the exhibition as I am interested to see what James' perception on the SIS is. We all have our own personal view on the SIS, whether it be from watching 'Spooks' and seeing all these extremely fast packed episodes on MI6 saving the world, to those who view the SIS as the calm and collected observer building relationships with all manners of people. To see someone's perception of this world through art will be extremely interesting.

My fascination with perception came from a little boy I was looking after last summer, he was playing in the garden and found something, he came bounding up to me and thrust it into my hand, "See Catherine, look look look what i've found" his fingers moving mine over a small snail whose shell was broken.

This was the first time that I noticed that Jack thought everyone 'saw' with their hands. My first instinct was to throw the slimy little creature to the ground, however Jack is blind, his perception of the snail was intrigue not fear like mine, its amazing how your perception of something can change in an instance depending on the circumstances.

Happy V Day to all you lovebirds

How could I not blog about this particular day........

Having two teenagers in my home (well one nearly thirteen and the other fifteen going on twenty five years old) talk this weekend was of, you've guessed it 'Valentine's Day'.

Oh how to be young again with the excitement of 'Will I, Won't I' receive anything. I am pleased to say my eldest did get a 'Valentine's' but via text messaging. It wasn't even secret because the sender's name appeared on her phone and the poor boy doesn't even stand a chance because when I asked her who it was from she just shrugged her shoulders and said "It's only ???"

My niece (who is ten) had already bought her present and it's been wrapped all week long and she's going to secretly place it on her beloved's desk with a card and according to her "He won't know who it's from, Aunty Shell as I've written my name in code 'Ol??ia?' ". She did wonder why my sister and I were having a little chuckle to ourselves ....

I hope you have all sent your card(s) (even if it's to your mum) and will you have gone and bought a 'Special Meal for two' ranging from £15.00 to £20.00 with a bottle of wine included from one of the many larger food retailers that have been advertising this weekend or are you going out somewhere romantic?

What am I up to?? I have a lovely evening planned at the local Judo club watching my girls train for 3+ hours....

Who says romance isn't dead.........................................

When to blog? What to blog about? What's on and what's off limits?

I was going to blog about something truly dire, something which appalled me so much that it plumbed the direst depths of direness. But then on reflection I decided that not blogging about it was far better, far better to deny such direness the oxygen of publicity. So what, pray, can have caused me such offence and such soul-searching?

A report on BrandChannel that the so-called Food Liberation Army (a group of activists against all things fast-food and corporate) had 'kidnapped' Ronald McDonald and were holding him hostage subject to receiving satisfactory answers from the fast-food giant. A bit naff you might think but not exactly offensive. Ah but it gets worse, because the whole concept is a viral film showing aforesaid RM with a bunch of hooded captors behind him in the style of a public execution video. Worse than dire.

So instead let me talk about brands. How for a brand to be successful it has to have a truth which matters and a tone of voice which resonates with a target audience.

What do you think is the most popular flavour of Kit Kat in Japan?

Yes, that's right what flavour of Kit Kat? Believe it or not, there have been over 80 flavours created to date including strawberry, green tea, golden peach, custard pudding, grilled corn, sweet potato, jacket baked potato with butter, earl grey tea, camembert cheese and, in a strange nod to my opening rant, caramel macchiato McFlurry.

The secret to the success of the Kit Kat brand in Japan is part marketing and part linguistic coincidence. Kit Kat is very similar to the phrase "kitto katsu", or good luck (Kit Kat literally means "You shall surely win!"). Because of this, Kit Kats have become a small good luck charm.

The other half of the Kit Kat success story has to do with marketing. Capitalising on the Japanese tendency to "Catch ‘em all" varieties of Kit Kats are quickly introduced and then pulled from the market to increase demand.

Oh and the answer to what's the top-selling variety of Kit Kat in Japan? Soy sauce!

Brief, clever and very memorable

One of the many things I enjoy is reading epigrams. Not only are they thought provoking, they’re hugely inspirational and often very funny.

Literary genius Oscar Wilde has delivered some of the best epigrams. Below are a few of my favourites:

"Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future."


"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."

"I never travel without my diary. One must always have something sensational to read on the train."

"Women are made to be loved not understood."

"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."

"Men always want to be a woman's first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a man's last romance."

Please share any epigrams or even idioms that you enjoy reading.

In the words of Peter Griffin from Family Guy...OMG it's everywhere!

I am all for packaging designers coming up with inventive ways to package our food, but I wonder how much time has actually gone into research and development, even more importantly testing!

Cardboard boxes that have been glued with 'industrial strength' adhesive that ensures you have to destroy the box to get at its contents!!

Boxes with 'kiss' cuts that are barely there, forcing an explosion of cereal bars all over the floor!!!

And as for juice cartons...plastic spouts that have NOT been glued with industrial strength adhesive and fall off if you even so much as look at it. Foil strips that you can't get a hold of, designed to make sure you get your very own orange juice 'fountain' in your kitchen!!!!

To all budding packaging designers out there...

Please, please, please, make sure it works!

Signed

Flabberghasted of Tunbridge Wells

The Unseen Stars

It's not what you think - but I am a fan for one real reason. Dame L.Spence esq may have the wiggle of a camp jellied eel, but it's the atmosphere that is held together by one thing, and one person.

Without this one element, shows like Pineapple and indeed Dancing on Ice, etc etc would fall apart.

For me, the casting of the narrator is fundamental. A kind of yin-yang needs to exist to play up, and in more cases play down what your eyes are actually seeing.

Michael Buerke. Obviously. Obviously? That's the point. Brilliantly flat lining, he brings the show to life by bringing it back to basics. Using an incredibly familiar voice in a place where you would least expect to hear it can work a treat. Dancing on Ice anyone? Tony Gubba. Tony who? Ex football commentator brings exactly his skill set into a positively opposite area of the pitch. Tom Baker. THE Dr Who for me - and who lives in T.W, when not being a Time Lord. Without whom, Little Britain would have been little less than a drag show.

Sometimes more time needs to be spent thinking about how things sound, than just what is put in front of you visually - and sometimes the obvious is totally the wrong way to go.

I am More TH>NFreeman anyone?

Lovely.

Big ideas do exist in the most unlikeliest of places!

So there I was driving was driving over the East Sussex border into West Sussex, gaily whistling my favourite Fairport Convention jig when I passed a small lay-by where several burly lorry drivers and other hot dog fans were crowded around this very greasy burger van, grasping huge meat pieces in one hand and cups of tea or Coke in the other, jovially discussing how lovely their purchased food was.

Then something very strange happened: I noticed the name of the food outlet painted rather clumsily on the top and on the rear of vehicle, but didn't start thinking about it until a few minutes after.

But when the snapshot slowly took form in my brain I suddenly realised I'd seen a very witty, clever and creative brand name. It was:

"Snack wagon and pops"

Perfect for the target audience, perfect descriptor of the product offering, cheeky and appropriate to breakfasts (it was, and still is I think the Rice Krispies strapline).

And what made it more endearing to me, that it was applied with an old paintbrush with no attention to detail what-so-ever. It it just wouldn't be the same it had carefully been produced by a £1k a day London typographer!

Sisters are doing it for themselves


My blog today is in celebration of women who inspire me with their energy passion and creativity.

Becoming a mother, wondrous though it is, throws up a conundrum for those women who have spent their 20s battling their way up the career ladder. It’s hard to go from full on career chick to mother hen. Once you have got to grips with those crazy things called babies you are kind of left thinking what about me? my brain? my ambition? my much depleted bank account? Will I ever own a pair of Manolo Blahniks?

Of course it’s not as simple as popping your babes into your briefcase and hopping back on the rung you left, and actually nor would many of us honestly want to do this. Juggling full time mothering with full time work is no fun. Unless you are lucky enough to be able to work your old career around your children (and you need a major support team to be able to do that) or have a partner who elects to stay at home, what to do?

This is where women get brilliant; unleashing their innate creativity, communication and marvellous mutli-tasking skills for which us womankind are renowned and actually doing the things they really wanted to do in the first place. The result are businesses that are not only successful but also work round their families with awe inspiring aplomb.

I have heaps of examples, but two examples from friends of mine who totally rock my world are my best friend Bianca’s business www.thebespokegiftcompany.co.uk whose stunning products have been reviewed by Fern and Phil on ‘This Morning’ and my friend Claire’s company www.unstuck-thinking.co.uk where she has developed, amongst other things a fusion of dance music and hypnotherapy on the go to help women achieve their life goals and get fit at the same time. It's called 'hypnogogo' and is launching on i-tunes soon.

Please do check them both out

Human Inspiration....

I have become an avid fan of the new BBC One documentary - Human Planet to the extent that Thursday nights are now my night infront of the TV and nothing will persuade me otherwise! I have always loved watching programs about the natural world however I have found myself re-watching these episodes on i-player, perhaps because for a change this series is treating the human race as any other curious species clinging to survival.

In the first episode the jaw dropping scenes of fisherman diving to depths of 40m relying on long plastic tubes hooked to very rickety boats for air in order to catch their food was difficult viewing especially when watching them struggle with the bends. There were awe inspiring scenes in the second episode of the Tubu Tribe ladies trekking across the Sahara Desert with their camels for days in order to reach the market to buy their food. Oh and not forgetting on the way they must find the only well in 80km for water. 'Miss it and they die.' And then heart stopping scenes in the third episode of the Inuit's digging through the ice, waiting for their 30 minute opportunity while the tide was out to go under and pick the mussels on the sea bed, all the while keeping an eye on the tide very quickly reappearing and making sure they were not trapped, had me hiding behind my cushion!

As well as acts of inspirational bravery, there are astonishing stories of adaptation. This series has definitely put into perspective how lucky my life is, within 10 steps I can be at my kitchen tap or water cooler, if I run out of milk I can nip to the corner shop and if I fancy fish for dinner I'll go to the supermarket. Amazing and inspirational human stories from around the globe.