Shilo’s global recognition and evolution

The 2008 “Burma Viral” project produced by U.S. creative production company Shilo, together with Carl Le Blond, Executive Creative Director at Ogilvy & Mather Amsterdam, John Jackson, Director of Social Responsibility, MTV Networks, Suki Dusanj, Founder of The Burma Arts Board, activist Sam Roddick and others, is featured within the pages of “For A Good Cause,” a new collection of the world’s best socially conscious design. Recently released by Barcelona-based publisher Index Book, the book was conceived and authored by Cactus Disseny, and is now available through major booksellers worldwide. In other news, on Shilo’s recently updated website at www.shilo.tv, the company is now individually showcasing its directorial talents. Among the newest works presented are the powerful Under Armour “Protect This House. I Will.” films, and the FELA! project, all directed by Andre Stringer, with concept and writing credits going to Shilo’s sibling creative company, WMIG. In this story detailing Shilo’s latest developments, partner and EP Tracy Chandler explains that individually crediting directors Stringer, Jose Gomez, Noah Conopask and Evan Dennis, along with the growing importance of WMIG in much of their project work, are key components of the company’s successful evolution.

Webby recognition for Ralph’s BIMA-Winner “Walt’s Warning”

The immersive “Walt’s Warning” AMC “Breaking Bad” promotional project produced by digital creative agency Ralph for Sony Pictures Television, was an Official Nominee in the 14th Annual Webby Awards (“Best Use of Video or Moving Image” category). Read more

“Free Realms” Earns Outstanding Marketing Campaign Honors at MI6 2010

Global creative agency ATTIK is proud to announce that its collaboration with marketing executives from videogame powerhouse Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) promoting the family-friendly hit online game “Free Realms”(R) has earned the Gold Award in the Casual Game category for Outstanding Overall Marketing Campaign at the MI6 Conference. The fifth annual conference for MI6, an association dedicated to supporting marketing, promotion and advertising professionals in the video game and interactive entertainment community, was recently held in San Francisco, where “Free Realms” also brought home a Bronze Award for Best Online Advertising Campaign in the same category. For more information on this story, please visit this link.

Among many people I’m thankful for, my big brother Scott

We’re taking off to go spend some quality time with our families in the St. Louis and Milwaukee areas over the days ahead, and I thought I’d make a quick nod to one of the people I’m most thankful for, my big brother, Scott Darnell. Scott and his partner David Gotter established a company in 2003 named Further OPTIONS, as a developer of innovative mobility systems for wheelchair-bound individuals. After debuting its first product at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the company’s Patent-pending DMS-4 was unveiled at the 2009 National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association Annual Conference, where it was honored by NMEDA and the Adaptive Driving Alliance with their 2009 New Technology Award for Innovation in Engineering and Technology for the physically challenged. Read more

Editors from “Stand Up to Cancer” broadcast earn Creative Arts Primetime Emmy

Last September, “Stand Up to Cancer” (www.standup2cancer.org) was broadcast live and commercial-free simultaneously on ABC, CBS and NBC, and was seen in over 170 countries. During the broadcast, which was produced by Laura Ziskin Productions and Seligman Entertainment, and hosted by Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Sheryl Crow, Charles Barkley and Melissa Etheridge, the event raised more than $100 million in an unprecedented effort to end cancer’s reign as a leading cause of death. Meanwhile, last Sat., Sept. 12, 2009, Read more

A (inspirational) work of staggering genius…

Although I have so far been unable to stomach the full contents of author, publisher, philanthropist, designer and teacher-at-large Dave Eggers’ memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, this guy is truly one of my heroes. I am clearly not alone in my appreciation for this gentleman’s contributions to life on Planet Earth, as the organizers of TED — the renowned annual invitation-only event where leading thinkers and doers gather for inspiration and insight centered around the themes of Technology, Entertainment and Design — saw fit to name him one of three 2008 winners of their prestigious TEDPrize. For background, check out this TEDTalk where he accepts his award and invites the audience to personally, creatively engage with local public schools. For more on why I’m telling you all this, please read on below.

http://static.videoegg.com/ted2/flash/loader.swf

Earlier this week, TED’s organizers announced an open challenge in support of Dave’s wish to collect 1,000 stories of private citizens innovatively engaged in their local public schools. In short, you and I are invited to design and implement new projects for public school students, and then share the results at onceuponaschool.org for a chance to attend next year’s sold out TED Conference in Long Beach, California, on Feb. 4-7, and other extraordinary rewards which are probably fairly obvious. Thank you for the inspiration, Mr. E; your genius is staggering indeed.

Inaugural Digital Media Awards celebrate best campaigns from Asia Pacific…

I was introduced to the Hong Kong-based English-language magazine Digital Media last year and quickly came to appreciate the thoughtful contents and colorful insights contained in the pages of each monthly issue. You may be interested to see the results of the magazine’s inaugural Digital Media Awards, which reflect the opinions of a Who’s Who panel of judges assembled especially to curate the best marketing campaigns of 2007 from the Asia Pacific region. Presented below South China Morning Post’s “Best Viral Marketing” award-winning video, enjoy the top honoree for each awards category.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzmJJnn6FB8]

Platinum Award — and Best Innovative Approach: Pepsi Creative Challenge 2
Brand: Pepsi
Client: PepsiCo China
Agency: Agenda Corporation

Digital Media Award: Toyrama
Brand: HPxw9400 Workstation
Client: Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific
Agency: Arc Worldwide Singapore

Best Online Campaign: Sunsilk Gang of Girls
Brand: Sunsilk
Client: Hindustan Unilever
Agency: MindShare Fulcrum

Best Loyalty Campaign: The Chivas Life
Brand: Chicas Regal
Client: Pernod Ricard China
Agency: Agency.com Shanghai

Best Viral Marketing: “Bush and Hu”
Brand: SCMP.com
Client: South China Morning Post
Agency: OgilvyOne Worldwide Hong Kong

Best Activation Campaign: “Pago”
Brand: Pago virtual wallet
Client: ASB Bank New Zealand
Agency: OMD New Zealand

Best Email Marketing Campaign: “Virtual Stalker”
Brand: Axe Vice
Client: Unilever
Agency: BBH Asia Pacific

Best Use of Mobile: “Say Goodbye”
Brand: Razr
Client: Motorola
Agency: The Hyperfactory and Ogilvy Hong Kong

Best Search Marketing Campaign: “Hong Kong: Live It, Love It”
Client: Hong Kong Tourism Board
Agency: e-Crusade Marketing

Top design picks from the original coolhunter, Wallpaper*

Last year I posted a piece on the emergence of websites that help us keep track of what’s new, hip, noteworthy and fun in the international world of design. Of course, one of the original sources of global design coolness is London-based Wallpaper* magazine. The gorgeous February issue features their 2008 Design Awards coverage, and it’s my pleasure to provide info on their major winners, as determined by judges Tadao Ando, André Balazs, Wong Kar-Wai, Langlands & Bell, Patricia Urquiola and Donatella Versace. Be sure to check out the issue itself for more info on their selections — and on brilliant designs in 55 other categories as culled by the magazine’s staff. By the way — sincere congratulations to my friend Jean-Francois Lepage for his photographic contributions to the issue — and for nailing the cover.

Best City: Los Angeles. Second place: Berlin.

Best New Private House: Ring House, Karuizawa, by TNA. Second place: Villa NM by UN Studio.

Best Fashion Collection: Jil Sander autumn/winter 2007. Second place: Lanvin A/W 2007.

Furniture Designer of the Year: Tokujin Yoshioka. Second place: Barber Osgerby.

Best New Hotel: Riva Lofts, Florence. Second place: The Bowery, New York.

Most Life-Enhancing Item: $100 laptop by Yves Béhar. Second place: Communal bicycles (link 2).

Best New Restaurant: Mathias Dahlgren, Stockholm. Second place: Scott’s, London.

Best New Grooming Product: TweezLight tweezers. Second place: Nude skincare.

Best New Public Building: New Museum, New York, by SANAA. Second place: Bruder Klaus Field Chapel, by Peter Zumthor.

Best Domestic Appliance: ‘Katamari 01′ speaker by Gyanze. Second place: ‘L10′ by Norbert Wangen.