Gimme a Break!

This is one of my all-time favorite creative ads.  It really ties in with Kit Kat's brand capsule, "Have a break."  The top of the bench looks like the candy bar itself as well.  Though this is a little less eye-catching than the other examples I've included in this series, it's simple and ingenious all at the same time.  Have a seat, "have a break," and for goodness' sake, have a Kit Kat! 

Smooth Criminal

This is an extraordinarily inventive ad for Gillette.  In addition to being very eye-catching, it also demonstrates a key product attribute.  Like the Zamboni leaves the ice, the Gillette razor will leave your skin just like new. Though this razor obviously "cuts" through the clutter, it's also important to note the brilliance of placing this in front of an appropriate audience.  This is a men's razor and men are the primary consumers of sporting events, making this a match made in marketing heaven.  I would imagine many of the men that were exposed to this display of innovative advertising talked about it to their wives, buddies, and co-workers.  

It's All Downhill from Here

This is such a clever bench advertisement.  If the guy sitting on this bench wasn't considering going skiing before, he certainly is now.  The detail on this display is amazing.  They left nothing out; you really have to look twice to realize that it's actually just a bench and not a ski resort.  Note the shadow of the skis on the floor.  In a world where we are exposed to as many as 5,000 advertisements each day, it is important to find a way to stand out in all the clutter.  This ad fits the bill.    

So Fresh and So Clean

Being a marketing major, I love to see the type of ad that makes me think "I'd like to meet the person who came up with that."  This is one of my favorite examples of such an ad.  First and foremost, it is eye-catching.  It is also straightforward and simple.  Mr. Clean is a well known brand personality.  The ad, though clever and abstract, transmits the brand message loud and clear: Mr. Clean will help you keep everything sparkling white, crisp, and fresh.  I also think that this scene may get potential customers thinking about all the dirt and grime that they may be dragging into their homes on their shoes, thus reminding them why products by Mr. Clean are so important.  This ad is also something that would likely get a lot of word-of-mouth traffic after it has been seen.  If I had seen this crosswalk in real life, I would definitely be telling my friends about it.  I bet they would tell their friends too.  There's not much more a marketer could ask for. 

Take Five: Inspiring Blogs

Jessica Tierney Designs: Color Inspiration: khaki, creamsicle, papaya, cactus and slate

Jessica Tierney is a graphic designer; you can tell she has the eye for it.  Many of the posts on her blog boast lovely color pallets that she draws from select images.  Often, the colors do not seem as though they would go together, but somehow, they create striking combinations.  Other posts relate to outfit pairings and products.  Her blog has great content and a sleek design that makes for easy browsing.  


Ruffled: Boise Botanical Gardens Wedding

I am interested in getting into event planning at some point in the future.  Ruffled is a blog that features great ideas for weddings.  I especially like the design of this blog because it is professional while still being fun and whimsical.  I chose this post in particular because this couple had some really nice photos.  In addition to event inspiration, the site often features great photography. 

Bakerella: Cupid's Arrow Cupcakes 

One of my favorite pastimes is baking.  Bakerella is a great blog for inspiration in decorating sweet treats.  She has a ton of great recipes and innovative ideas.  I chose this particular post  because I love being festive and Valentine's Day is fast approaching.  Bakerella has really great photos of all the things she makes.  It gives the blog a really professional look.  The font and colors used are reminiscent of a bakery and coordinate really well with the theme of the blog. 

Packaging Blog: Northern Spring Water

I have always found the world of packaging to be very intriguing.  This blog features interesting package design for various products.  I chose this post because I love the design of the water bottles featured.  The idea of a corked water bottle feels very upscale.  I also really like the type on the bottles.  If I could change one thing about the blog, it would be to include more background information about featured products and more discussion about why the design is unique.  Not all posts include a written explanation; sometimes the design speaks for itself. 

Hello Bar: Make Your Website Message Stand Out with Hello Bar Textures 

                         

As a marketing major, I know that measurement is a very important part of advertising efforts.  The Hello Bar is a tool that can help make this process easier.  It helps guide viewers to important content on a website and allows website operators to view statistics.  This post is about different textures that can be used to make Hello Bar look at home on your website.  The tool is interesting, but the blog design is even more so.  The blog has a lovely vintage feel and is very easy to navigate.  The posts are primarily about Hello Bar.  I think they may see success in branching out and blogging about other related topics.

Images, Media, Links-Oh My!

This is one of my favorite images.  There are several similarly great photos on this website.



The company I intern for, Olson Zaltman Associates, was featured in Morgan Spurlock's latest documentary.  We specialize in helping companies to develop brand identities.  Morgan came to us to generate a personal brand for his movie.  

Hello There,

Thanks for visiting my blog.  My name is Jenna Hammond.  I am a senior at Penn State.  My major is Marketing and my minor is Economics.  I'm involved with Valley, Penn State's Life and Style Magazine.  I have been involved with THON since freshman year.  I've had the opportunity to experience three different committee positions: hospitality, operations, and merchandise.  I am already looking forward to THON 2012!  When I'm not busy studying or attending various meetings on campus, I enjoy baking, shopping, watching TV, and reading my Kindle.  Over the summer, I enjoy water-skiing with my family.  I am from a very small town outside of Pittsburgh, so there are plenty of rivers around for boating.