Print

While the film itself is probably terrible enough to offend, the Daily Mail reports on Universal's big UK marketing faux-pas for the Vince Vaughn "laugher" Couples Retreat. If you compare the British poster (left) with the US version (right), you'll notice a slight discrepancy, namely the deletion of the film's two black co-stars Faizon Love and Kali Hawk (who aren't done any favors to begin with having been relegated to the way back).

According to Daily Mail, the studio says the poster was changed in the UK to "simplify" it for the local and international market outside America, but they're now apparently regretting the offense and have abandoned plans to use it in other countries. So, does this "simplification" equate to racism?

Via Gawker and HuffPo

More: "Spec Corona Ad Sparks Immigration Debate"

65 More great campaigns via CreativeBits.

More: "A Movie Poster After Your Youthful Memories"

Since sushi is the most obvious choice when it comes to assuaging post-toke munchies, a Boulder-based chain called Hapa Sushi is capitalizing by launching the above print ad that promotes its lunch specials and was crafted by local firm TDA Advertising and Design.

The New York Times says Hapa's ad called "Hunger Rx," which is set to appear in today's Denver/Boulder editions of alt weekly Westword as well as The Onion and sixty storefronts, gives rise to a new marketing set called "ganjapreneurs." The ad features a Denver/Boulder map with 63 dots, four of which designate Hapa locations and the rest medical marijuana dispensaries.

Creative Credits:

CDs: Jonathan Schoenberg, Thomas Dooley
AD: Zach Shapiro
CW: Phil Van Buren

More: "Free Marijuana"

Halloween, the best day of the year, is Saturday, so expect a few of these things to pop up between now and then.

Old Gold, you so honest!

Via iMockery

There's a saying widely used in business, and elsewhere, that people use when they want to do something they know could potentially get them in trouble: "do it now, and ask forgiveness later." That seems to have been Ralph Lauren's m.o. regarding the use of a heavily-photoshopped image of Filippa Hamilton, pictured here (image via Snarkerati)

In a statement published by the DailyMail, a Ralph Lauren representative said,

"'For over 42 years, we have built a brand based on quality and integrity.

'After further investigation, we have learned that we are responsible for the poor imaging and retouching that resulted in a very distorted image of a woman's body.

'We have addressed the problem and going forward will take every precaution to ensure that the calibre of our artwork represents our brand appropriately.'"

Before I came to New York, I spent a very brief period at a small midwestern boutique where I helped digitally manipulate an image for a national beer campaign. The model we had worked with had an attractive figure, but to get the 'right feel', my CD said, her frame needed to be modified. The woman's silhouette would later be modified to look like a glass of beer, and it was my job to add some breast here, shave some hip there. The end result was a markedly curvaceous woman, not anything like the real thing, who would never have recognized herself as the glass of beer she'd later see on billboards. Thoughts?

Note: There were some heavy-handed legal tactics used against Boing Boing, who initially posted the image. RL attempted to claim copyright infringement, to which BB responded: fair use. They'll win. Click over to DailyMail to read about that.

More: "Ralph Lauren Gets a Bit Overzealous with Photoshop"

While Entertainment Weekly and CBS have taken an annoying route with their video-in-print promotion, InStyle magazine is taking a cue from Hollywood and hopping on the 3D bandwagon.

The celebrity/fashion rag is reportedly set to unveil 3D ads in its December issue, which you apparently won't need glasses to view.

According to the Women's Wear Daily blog, "Readers who have an Internet connection and camera within their computers will be able to tear a given ad out of the title's December issue and hold it up to the camera lens, upon which it will immediately come to life on the screen. A gift box will pop out of the screen, matching those seen in each brand's respective stores."

While the higher-ups at InStyle won't comment on who's specifically advertising or how much they're paying, the pub says that a dozen have signed up spanning luxury to tech brands. Each brand will in turn be allowed to feature 10 items for purchase.

More: "A Glance at CBS' Talky New Print Ad"

It's been maybe 18 hours since news of Senator Kennedy's death hit the airwaves and already Time magazine wants you to know they've got a commemorative edition of their fair publication ready for print in the man's honor. And look at the nice photo they found — it in no way looks photoshopped to create a halo around his head (Note: photoshop is not an action, it is a brand. So really I should have said this image in no way looks edited).

Time has probably had this thing in the can for months, given Kennedy's poor health during the last year. But come on; did anyone think Time wouldn't commemorate the man President Obama called the greatest senator of our time? Furthermore do we really need an announcement about it, hours after he died? Usually it's best to, you know, let the body get cold before "honoring" the person who used to occupy it. Some people might frown upon that.

Update: A Twitter commenter notes, "Time didn't fail with issue ready to go (standard news practice to have packages/editions prepared); timing of leaked cover=fail." We sort of agree, but it's a little creepy and definitely too soon. The issue is slated for release September 7.

More: "Sen. Kennedy Dies Exactly One Year After Historic DNC Speech"

You'll no longer have to covertly flip to the back pages of Time Out New York to satisfy your carnal cravings. With the launch of its new "Sex and Dating" section, the weekly rag is effectively slipping singles and sex-related ads into its editorial content. Now, TONY is making it easier for you plan your perfect evening where you can find showtimes alongside strippers, get concert listings and checked for STD's or scour pics of local singles who come with email contact info.

TONY's editor-in-chief Michael Freidson, who has seen his mag's newsstand sales rise almost 25% over last summer, tells the New York Times, "I want sex and dating to be another brand for us, just like we cover theater, music, film and museums. But I don't want it to be the dominant category."

Freidson is sticking to his guns there as TONY's controversial gallery of nude reader pics is being thankfully relegated to the back pages in September.

More: "A Glance at CBS' Talky New Print Ad"

Here's a looksee at what Matt and Jason were discussing in today's The Menu chat, CBS' pricey new print ad that for lack of better terms is popping up in Entertainment Weekly fall preview issues that are being sent to subscribers in New York and LA. An LA-based company called Americhip developed the technology used to create the video-in-print piece, which runs for 40 minutes, can be replayed for six hours, will include an ad within an ad for PepsiMax and could make EW readers hate Two and a Half Men even more.

More: "Domino's Ruins Tourist Experience with Extreme Delivery"

In response to President Obama's soon-to-be-signed anti-tobacco legislation, which includes the requirement that colorful cigarette ads be replaced with stark black & white only text, design mavens Pentagram have revealed several intriguing ways in which Big Tobacco can package smokes under the new marketing guidelines.

The mastermind behind these designs--subtle gems such as multiple stabbings and skull & bones--is Pentagram partner DJ Stout, who started the project after a proposal from the St. Petersburg Times to interpret how brands like Marlboro could comply with the new rules.

On Pentagram's site, Stout issues the following statement regarding the concept:

"Our marketing advice to cigarette companies in the new heavily regulated era is to fully accept the new aggressive anti-smoking restrictions and wallow in the government's apocalyptic health warnings. Don't make excuses or dance around the stepped-up marketing regulations, just transform the whole cigarette pack into a three-dimensional warning label."

Whether or not Marlboro and its embattled ilk will heed Pentagram's suggestions is uncertain. But Stout nevertheless has pulled off a notable faux-campaign that not only considers a smoker's awareness that cigs will likely kill them but one which doesn't alienate them anymore than they already are in society.

Via

More: "How to Make Your Billboard Work Again"