Brands

The CP+B-aided reinvention of Domino’s continues as the pizza chain is heralding the launch of its new Facebook platform called Think Oven, which serves as both a suggestion box (or “Idea Box” as they’re calling it) and an outlet for Domino’s to dish out projects for its consumer base to take part in.

First up to bat on the Think Oven project list? New uniforms. Yes, it appears that Domino’s is looking to update the ol’ blue and red-based outfits and is looking for your best ideas. The two best visual and written submissions will each win a cool $500, so why not channel your inner Project Runway designer. If you need a prettier explanation of what Think Oven is, see visual presentation above. Deadline for the uniform project, by the way, is March 4. In conjunction with the Facebook launch, Domino’s has also rolled out a new TV spot that tells the tale of how the brand’s new Parmesan Bread Bites came to be. Hint: The product idea wasn’t hatched at corporate HQ. Check it after the jump.

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Create a social media strategy, launch your campaign, and track the results in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. The online event and workshop will feature speakers including The Onion‘s Baratunde Thurston (left), Facebook’s Morin Oluwole, and bitly’s Tim Devane. Register now.

The University of Phoenix has confirmed that it’s  ready to review its creative account and expects to issue an RFP for national advertising work later this month. Since the end of 2008, the Apollo Group-owned higher learning institution has worked with San Francisco shop Pereira & O’Dell, which beat out the likes of Mullen, Arnold and EVB for UofP’s AOR duties at the time.

We’ve been told by an Apollo/University of Phoenix spokesperson that P&O’D has been invited to participate in the review, though some spies are whispering that the agency will not defend the account. We’ll keep you posted as things develop.

One day after the Super Bowl, brands are still fighting over what commercial “won” the big game in regards to social media, buzz or USA Today-ness. Unfortunately, one spot that won’t be part of the “best of” conversation, mainly because it wasn’t technically a “Super Bowl commercial” per se, is NYC-based production company Hungry Man’s pregame mini-musical promo for NBC’s various TV lineups.

“Brotherhood of Man,” passes the mic between shows’ stars, from Jane Krakowski and the 30 Rock cast to Kenan “Goodburger” Thompson and the SNL cast, from Ed Helms and the The Office crew to Will Arnett and the ladies of Up All Night. Hey, we even get to see that Alec Baldwin‘s voice lessons he took for his role in Rock of Ages paid off after all. Credits follow after the jump.

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At first glance, there’s not a lot to hate about an ad depicting John Stamos getting headbutted in the face. But, aside from rapper M.I.A. taking a moment to give America the finger during the halftime show, Dannon Oikos’ debut Super Bowl spot was the most controversial part of the Super Bowl XLVI broadcast, and it has nothing to do with making light of domestic violence.

Instead of Dannon calling on longtime AOR Y&R for the ad (Y&R only played a “consultative role”), “The Tease,” was actually crowdsourced into development. Fun trivia: At 21 years old, the ad’s director, Remy Neymarc, could be the youngest Super Bowl ad director in history. However, as one tipster suggests, Dannon’s frugal crowdsourcing methods may be costing the brand more money in the long-run.

First, consider the track playing in the background. Some on social media are saying that the song sounds an awful lot like the John Butler Trio’s “Zebra.” A look at the JBT’s Twitter page shows that the band is in agreement, and probably isn’t too happy about the “coincidence.” Compare below.

Second, the spot looks pretty similar to a 2001 Canadian 7-Up spot. We ask you, dear readers, was Dannon guilty of a concept and a song ripoff during the Super Bowl? If so, will this affect later viewings of Full House reruns?

Judging by the fact that millions of people have probably called in sick today (and millions more are probably just showing up to the office), we can’t say we disagree with a new Coke Zero campaign calling to make the day after Super Bowl Sunday a federal holiday dubbed, er, Magnificent Monday. Well, the name could use some tweaking, but we’re on board with this effort from CP+B. On the social media front, the beverage brand is asking the Twitterverse to log on and submit ideas on how to make this holiday happen using the hashtag #magmonday. We have faith that this could become reality in the coming years, folks, so let’s get to it already. Credits after the jump.

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Each week, we’re sent hundreds of pieces of advertisement-y work that falls into the fun-to-watch-video category. There’s not enough time in the day to think up copy for all of them so here’s a round-up of the best ad-related video we’ve seen in the last 7 days. You’re welcome.

11. Just four days after the internet found out about people flying over New York City, 6 million views have been racked up on the YouTube clip for this campaign for the upcoming film Chronicle.

10. The second season of HBO’s Game of Thrones is coming on April 1, and this trailer gave more than a few of the show’s fans something to look forward to.

9. Augmented Reality flashed its toothy head this week in this AR world tour for National Geographic from Appshaker.

8. Acura is pushing its new NSX super car with the help of Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno, the car world’s biggest celebs.

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The E*Ttrade baby has been a divisive figure in advertising. As marketers, it can be easy to hate the cocky, talking infant. But, many in the financial industry can’t seem to get enough of the little guy (close relatives of mine included). It must be working for E*Trade and Grey NY, because five years after the baby’s first appearance, he’s still being used at the company spokesperson in all-important Super Bowl ads. It seems much longer than five years, doesn’t it?

Anyway, one of two Super Bowl spots for E*Trade from Grey NY finds the baby giving his father advice about planning for the future. It’s part of a push from E*Trade to highlight the company’s other, non-trading products and services. As the baby reps his favorite brand’s new offering of financial consultants, he’s interrupted to see a toddler acquaintance “speed-dating” newborns. It’s kind of an unsettling image, no?

In a statement, E*Trade Financial Corporation CMO Nick Utton previews the baby’s new direction away from pixelated webcams. “We’re focused on building on our momentum by ensuring the campaign remains memorable and iconic, and also says something new about E*Trade’s offerings,” he says. “This year’s approach features the Baby interacting with people facing important real-life events that trigger a need to consider investing.”

E*Trade’s second Super Bowl spot, “Best Man,” follows after the jump.

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We guess our pal Isiah Mustafa is on vaca, as Terry Crews takes over once again for Old Spice. Dude is jacked and he’s ready to jet ski into the most mundane of adverts for Procter & Gamble from W+K’s Portland HQ. We thought Kenny Loggins‘ “Danger Zone” was diabolical on its own, but today marks the agency’s first-ever co-branded television advertisements with P&G brands Bounce and Charmin.

For the all screenshots I’d seen of a scantily-clad Adriana Lima holding a checkered racing flag, I didn’t have very high expectations for Kia’s Super Bowl spot. But, I was wrong, and David&Goliath definitely delivered on this :90 vacation to a fantasy world driven by the Optima.

What happens when a man is accidentally given access to the sweetest of sweet dreams? He enters a world of super models, Mötley Crüe, giant sandwiches, fire, rhinoceros rodeos, MMA fighting (featuring a cameo from Chuck Lidell) and, of course, fast cars. But, even a perfect world can’t stand in the way of this hero and his significant other. With his Optima, he breaks into his lady’s dream, “rescuing” her from a white horse-riding hunk who looks dull compared to our protagonist. It’s the kind of “manly” everyman story that beer brands somehow continue to fail at telling with each new ad campaign.

Going into the Super Bowl, the majority of hype is undoubtedly surrounding VW’s sequel to last year’s “The Force” and Honda’s homage to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. After the big game, we hope to see Kia and D&G receive due credit for producing a commercial better than those from their more talked-about competitors. Credits after the jump.

Update: For a play-by-play on how this spot came to life, see D&G copywriter Justin Bajan’s blog post on Adpulp.

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From Absolut and SapientNitro India comes a new, interactive experience that turns empty liquor bottles into audible art.

Now, we know it hasn’t been long since we covered an Absolut campaign that aimed to align the popular vodka brand with a distinct culture. But, while EVB took Absolut Miami to the web for an interactive experience, SapientNitro India settled on a more tangible means of bringing India to life. The art installation, which debuted during the India Art Fair at NSIC Grounds Okhla from Jan. 25 to Jan. 29, emits sound when a person “eavesdrops” onto  a bottle.

As the release suggests, one’s experience with the installation is dependent on what cultural norms they bring with them. “The work draws inspiration from the ‘unseen’. The Indian ideal of a spiritual quest that is not visual or outward looking, but seeks to create an experience within.”

For those techies wondering how they did it, SapientNitro used “open source micro controllers with custom electronics, ultra-sonic range sensors and monaural speakers. The bottles, ten in all, are mounted on a 17.3 ft 1.2ft shelving structure of wood, glass and resin.” Now that you have the specs, feel free you create your own similar empty bottle display in your garage. After all, it’s art. Credits after the jump.

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