WWF: Elephant

Text on ad: Give a hand to wildlife.

Allianz Insurance: Elephant

Text on ad: Less funny, but just as heavy: 20 centimeters of snow on your roof.
Real estate insurance from Allianz. Covers against the consequences of snow loads.

Kayaking Jumbo Peanut: Choking

Olympus: Elephant

Text on ad: Ultra Zoom SP-570

Madrid Zoo: Elephant

Text on this: Elephants never abandon the elderly. Animals teach us how to be people.

Nissan: Elephant

Los Coches: Elephant

Text on ad: If it’s not an original spare part manufacturer, be very careful.

Nicolas Hulot Foundation: Elephant

Text on ad: There’s an easier way to get the environmental debate into City Hall. You’d better download the eco-voter’s guide and sign the Environmental Pact.

WWF India: Elephant

Text on ad: Plant more trees. Plant more lives.

Yamaha X-City: Elephant

Mundo Estranho Magazine: Elephant

Volkswagen Touran: Kidnapped

Text on ad: Volkswagen Touran. Space for your every need.

Honda spare parts: Elephant

Text on ad: Use original parts.

Reporters without borders: Elephant

Sony Microvault Tiny: Elephant

Text on ad: Fit the impossible.

Comcast High-Speed Internet: Elephant

Text on ad: We make big fast. Gigantic downloads dart through at speeds up to 16 megabits per second.
Introducing Blast! from Comcast High-Speed Internet. It’s Comcastic!

Global Warming

Optimedia: Mosquito

Text on ad: More mediapower. Optimedia.

AirExpress

C.A.L Cargo Air Lines: Sizes

Text on ad: Flixeble cargo sizes

Animal Planet: Elephants

Text on ad: Authentic wildlife documentaries.

DHL Express: Elephant

Text on ad: No size limits.

Hey people, if you make something in flash make sure it’s fast. It took me several weeks and hundreds of various flash websites to prepare the small collection of websites you can see below. They are simply perfect so be sure to check them and I also described in brief what’s so great about them.В  Don’t let your website visitor leave just because you think that all flash websites work slow, the experience is completely different with the websites below.

Eco Zoo

Website: www.ecodazoo.com
I was amazed how quickly the website loads and it never showed any type of the preloader or anything when playing around. It’s a great interactive thing, drag the “tree” with your mouse up and down to see different characters, you can also rotate it with the mouse. Choose a book from the small pop-up of the character and you’ll be taken to a separate small charming website! Don’t forget to use your mouse there as well, you can rotate every scene. This is a real piece of flash art and papervision!

***

Troyt Coburn

Website: www.troytcoburn.com
This is a flash portfolio of a Troyt Coburn, photographer. Things that I like about it:
- it loads quickly
- it’s obvious where to click to get inside ( what I don’t like is that it opens in the new window)
- you can click anywhere on the page and the menu shows up- pretty convenient
- you can choose the full view or the thumbnail view
- click anywhere on the photo to get back to the main menu or move to the next previous images. I was kinda missing the arrows for the next and previous on the right and left of the image but, without them you simply pay more attention to the photo itself.

***

Capsulecreative

Website: www.capsulecreative.com
Quick, bright and smart. You don’t have to click anywhere on the home page, just roll-over and the needed info will show up. To go to portfolio click on Part One or Part Two. I don’t like that portfolio opens in the new window but the photos load fantastically quick. I hate waiting while the images load and this portfolio is perfect in this sense. Perfect stuff! While you wait for a few seconds for the photo to show up they show you another photo so you are not getting bored.

***

Tom Nagy

Website: www.tomnagy.com
First thing that I was surprised with- they offer you two version of the website- one with the large supercrisp pictures, the other one with the photos in portfolio presented in 1024*768. Isn’t this a nice ad on photographer’s portfolio website? I have chosen the usual photos and the next page that loaded was the first photo in the portfolio and the menu over it. If you want to see the pics and don’t need the menu, simply click anywhere on page and the menu will disappear. The icons on the right give you controls over portfolio and you can call the main menu back if needed.

***

Artpartner

Website: www.artpartner.com
You know what I like about this one? It’s working exactly in a way as if it was an HTML website with some super effects. You’ll know what I mean once you check it.

***

Tali Kimelman

Website: www.talikimelman.com
Another flash portfolio but with the special usability approach to viewing photos. Chose some category to browse. I could never imagine images can load so fast. Now, just scroll with your mouse anywhere on the image area. See what I mean? You don’t even have to click to see the next image. Take a note of this one.

***

Pylinsky Eugeniy

Website: www.p-e.kiev.ua
Portfolio of a Ukrainian flash designer. Though it irritated me a bit to wait while it was loading, the content inside is definitely worth the waiting time. It’s funny, user-friendly and shows the skills of this developer.

***

Normann-Copenhagen

Website: www.normann-copenhagen.com
A very user friendly website with nice navigation and great portfolio. Images load fast and it’s it’s pretty convenient to jump from page to page. Love this one, great example of usability.

***

VaryWell

Website: www.varywell.com
This is the sudio of Ryan and Jason Hickner. When you enter the website simply use the wheel in your mouse to scroll through the projects. Roll over the colored sphere ( colored squares on the gray earth background look very attractive and you intuitively know this is something interesting to click on) to the the short project info and click on the square to get the pop-up with details. If you want to get back to the list of projects, just scroll a bit. And what’s most important for me, there’s no waiting time anything on the site! Great work!

***

Burton design group

Website: www.burtondesigngroup.com
I don’t like the style or design of this website but I can’t help saying that this is a great example of a GOOD flash website. No special effects but menus, submenus, images and info areas helped this website not to loose a visitor in my face. I’m fine with images taking 1 second to load with the preloader showing, 1 or 2 seconds is the time that I can allow to wait.

***

Publicis Macedonia

Website: www.publicis-mk.com
Damn, how beautiful this website is! Roll-0ver the arrow on the right to get the main menu, click bottom right to get the portfolio thumbnails. Choose services from the main menu and you’ll get 5 red shits to choose from, click on any to get the detailed info. Now roll-over the main menu again, the services pages will become almost transparent. Great feature, love it. They have video in portfolio but this doesn’t increase the loading time. One image on lots of websites will load longer than 15 videos from their portfolio! Chose some project to view. Simply click outside the pop-up area to get back to the list of projects.

***

Women Secret

Website: www.womensecret.com
Shopping has never been easier. This website is at the very top of flash perfection and user friendliness.

***

Xpolab

Website: www.xpolab.com
The site loads in just 2 seconds. Now roll over the commercials? Surprising, isn’t it? This is a website of a freelancer. I wonder is large companies can’t afford something that works quick not speaking about it being unique.

***

Style Station

Website: www.stylestation.net
Want to make a portfolio that someone would like to check? Ask these guys how. Adorable website, adorably quick flash.

***

Kitchen

Website: www.porcelanosakitchens.com
This website can’t leave you indifferent! Amazing intro, I have no words to describe how beautiful it is! Once you’ve had enough of wow roll over the kitchen word on the right of the screen and you’ll get the menu. Their gallery is fantastic - and I don’t mean the kitchens themselves only

***

Moment for Coffee

Website: www.momentocoffee.com
Moment of coffee website and time for a break for me. Great website worth your attention.

New ad value impressive and refreshing features have been added all the time since Gmail launch. And today they made me stare at the screen with the only thought: WTF?! LOL! Today they’ve launched the Gmail Themes as I’ve just found out on their official blog here.

Great stuff guys! Keep up the good work!

Now, changing your theme is very easy (like all the other smart things from Google). Login to your Gmail account, choose setting and choose Themes. Here’s the pic you should see.

Gmail Themes

Most of the Gmail Themes allow you to change the colorscheme of the Gmail interface like the samples below.

Shiny theme

Gmail team have called it Shiny, but I would call it serious. Inspires for answering tons of emails.

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Sunset Theme

Makes me feel relaxed… reminds me of sand and some good cocktail… not sure why?

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New Blue Theme

I would call it the “working mood”, it’s serious enough but gives the feeling the boss is out of the office today LOL

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The order Gmail Themes are even more cool, fun and fantastic!

Beach Theme

I imagine the beach in golden yellow color but still a nice try.

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Candy Theme

Green candy could be the winner on the market… just joking

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Cherry Blossom Theme

This one is my favorite! I looooove cherries

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Desk Theme

Resembles me of a college, what a good days these were

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Graffiti Theme

Not for me but I’m sure there will be lots of fans of this one

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Mountains Theme

I wish I were there…

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Ninja Theme

Ahhhh! This one is adoring!

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Pebbles Theme

I’m missing the fish next to them, don’t really know why…

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Planets theme

I wouldn’t change this one, somehow the planet takes away the attentionВ  from the inbox

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Tea House Theme

Just like it

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Summer Ocean Theme

I don’t like the beige color, the blue is nice, the waves are charming

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Zoozimps Theme

Makes me smile

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Terminal Theme

This might be a joke, how can one work with this one?

Masterfoods Bounty Chocolate: Back

Text on ad: Two pieces of paradise.

Masterfoods Bounty Chocolate: Ball

Text on ad: Two pieces of paradise.

Lancia Phedra: Chocolate factory

Text on ad: One thing is certain: driving has never been sweeter.

Kwality Wall’s ice-cream: Dotted

Text on ad: Pleasure up! Dotted

Bonux Ace: Chocolate

Shaw’s Candies: Teeth

Text on ad: Truly irresistible chocolates.

Not the chocolate itself….just the chocolate effect )

Rush: Cinderella

Text on ad: Rush Ultimate Chocolate. Just a little naughty.

Nestle: Lion bar

Nestle Lion: Statue

Cadbury Wispa: Quiet

Toyota Hilux: Chocolate

Text on ad: Eat the road.

Kit-Kat: Wife

Confiserie Seidl: Squirrel, Rope

Text on ad: All the nuts in the world in finest chocolate. Seidl Confiserie.

Confiserie Seidl: Squirrel, Gun

Text on ad: All the nuts in the world in finest chocolate. Seidl Confiserie.

Lava Bar: Flower

Text on ad: Liquid chocolate, glue for broken hearts.

Lava Bar: Dog

Text on ad: Liquid chocolate, glue for broken hearts.

Trendy: Easter

Text on ad: Less talk. More candies.

Cadbury Thins: Lycra

Text on ad: Invented 1959. Because one size will never fit all.
Cadbury Thins. Invented 2005. Because every woman deserves 100% Cadbury chocolate with only 100 calories. Now that’s clever.

Mars Chilled: Tongue

Cadbury’s Ulta Perk: Monster

Text on ad: Cadbury’s reverse bar. Wafer outside, chocolate inside.

Cadbury’s Ulta Perk: Fly

Text on ad: Cadbury’s reverse bar. Wafer outside, chocolate inside.

Fit Light Dairy: Marilyn Monroe

Text on ad: Forget about it. Men’s preference will never change. Fit Light Yogurt.

Ahhh..not actually about chocolate…but couldn’t stop from posting it!

Sans-Concept.com | The Art and Design of Eric Carl
Website www.sans-concept.com

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Yellena James, theВ  artist and designer
Website www.yellena.com

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Crappycat by the Beater (check Jamungo.com )
Website www.crappycat.com

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Tronic Studio. This made me say just wow and stare.
Website www.tronicstudio.com

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3D Character Design
Website www.pokedstudio.com

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Hook Studios - 3D and Interactive Design
Website www.byhook.com

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Invisible creature design and illustration studio
Website www.invisiblecreature.com

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Doctor Romanelli Studio
Website www.drromanelli.com

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Los Fokos
Website www.losfokos.com

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Nervo is a design and animation studio
Website www.nervo.tv

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JLern Design | the interactive freelance work of Justin Lerner
Website www.jlern.com

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Anima Logic Studio
Website www.animallogic.com

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Nickad. A true mess with the menu.
Website rel=”nofollow”www.nickad.com

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Bill Diodato
Website www.billdiodato.com

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Chris McPherson Photography
Website www.chrismcpherson.com

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Teague design
Website www.teague.com

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Vandal } Nick Delaney
Website www.vandal.nu

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Cactus design agency
Website www.sharpideas.com

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Turnstyle | Design, Graphic Design, Web Design, Information Design
Website www.turnstylestudio.com

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IAAH
Website www.iamalwayshungry.com

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Post Typography
Website www.posttypography.com

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MIKE AND MAAIKE
Website www.mikeandmaaike.com

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Firstborn
Website www.firstbornmultimedia.com

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M Studio, LLC - Web development
Website www.mstudio.com

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LitFuse Design
Website www.litfusedesign.com

Download the exhibitions here.

Underlying the concept of Wasara is the legacy of the Japanese aesthetic and value sence.

As the fate of paper tableware, a Wasara can serve its purpose only once. Yet, it is designed to minimize the environmental burden. They use reed pulp ans bagasse (sugarcane waste) for its material.В  They call Wasara the eco-friendly tableware complimented by spiritual richness.

Wasara is ephemeral, it will return to the soil in the end.

- Every day about 25% of Americans have launch or dinner in the fast food restaurants.
- Every year McDonald’s hires 1 million people.
-В McDonald’s gives job to teenagers.
- Every week an average American eats 3 hamburgers and 4 fries.
- Every eights person working in US was once working in McDonald’s.
- McDonald’s spends more on advertising than any other brand in the world.
- About 96% of American children aged till 6 will recognize Ronald McDonalds. More famous is only Santa.
-В  McDonald’s is a place to bring children. There’s a playground in almost every restaurant.

*****

Now, the McDonald’s one of the world most famous and popular brands with the largest network of restaurants all over the world. Several days ago McDonald’s opened up non-branded ‘Quarter Pounder’ joint in Japan.

There are no golden arches, no Ronald McDonald, no Big Mac and just a simple two-item menu: Quarter Pounder or a Double Quarter pounder. Quarter Pounder with Cheese Set costs 500 yen (about $5.15) and a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese is 600 yen (about $6.20) but the burgers themselves seem to be smaller.

The “non-branded” brand has a very simple logo and is designed in 2 colors-В  red and black which in no way remind of McDonald’s. The restaurant interior looks stylish enough and repeats same 2 colors.

The question is :Why?

The Quarter PounderВ  (click on the link to visit the official website)В  seems to be a Big Secret.

There was no any type of press release on McDonald’s official website at www.mcdonalds.com and the McDonald’s Search that they have on site gave no results as well ( except for the Quarter Pounder hamburger itself). The Japanese website at www.mcdonalds.co.jp has nothing resembling the new McDonald’s “non branded” brand as well.

***

Some say that’s a new marketing course. Word is, curious customers are lining up to get into Quarter Pounder’s stark black & red shops.

Others say that McDonald’s had to introduce new restaurants non branded because of the unhealthiness glory. Since no official info was provided by the company we can only guess. But these are the facts:

- In 1979 Americans were spending about 6 billions on a food a year, in 2001 this figure was over 110 billions. This is more than what’s being spent on education, computers, cars, books video and music taken all together.

- Every day about 25% of Americans have launch or dinner in the fast food restaurant. Obesity is number 2 in the list of diseases that cause death in the US.

- Every year McDonald’s hires 1 million people. They have the lowest salary in the country. They usually don’t spend there over 4 months.

-В  McDonald’s gives job to teenagers. 2/3 of the workers are younger than 20. According to the video files from one of Los Angeles restaurants they sneeze and spit into the food having fun this way. In May of 2000 3 teenagers from “Burger King” in NY were arrested as they were pissing into the food during 8 months they were working in the restaurant.

- Every week an average American eats 3 hamburgers and 4 fries.В  Since 1990 the taste of the fried fries is just the chemical additives. Your shower gel aroma and the taste and smell of the fried fries could have been produced on one chemical plant. Over 700 children caught the infection in 1993 having eat the hamburgers in one of the Seattle fast foods, 6 of them died.

- Every eight person working in US was once working in McDonald’s. They never eat the food they didn’t make themselves.

- McDonald’s spends more on advertising than any other brand in the world. Why?

- About 96% of American children aged till 6 will recognize Ronald McDonalds. More famous is only Santa. Children less than 2 years old drink cola same as their parents do. They eat hamburgers and fried fries. According to the recent studies the food likes and dislikes of a person form in the early childhood.

-В  McDonald’s is a place to bring children. There’s a playground in almost every restaurant.В  Playgrounds bring children, children bring parents ( and grandparents), parents bring money. A simple scheme to make the income 3 times higher.

***

We’ll leave it up to you do decide whether this is just a new marketing campaign or the crisis of the McDonald’s brand in progressive countries.В  From 5 new McDonald’s restaurants 4 open outside the US. What to expect next? What will be theВ  new McDonald’s style in USA and will we ever know this is the McDonald’s?

All of us might be more or less acquainted with the Russian Matryoshka, initially the toy invented at the end of the 19th century for the children and presently one of the popular traditional Russian souvenirs. First Matryoshkas were featuring Russian girls in their folk dresses ( there were no dolls in Russia at that time) and later on the painters started drawing holidays and different events.В  In the world of high technology there are still craftsmen that follow the tradition of Matryoshka design and painting but there are also new creators with the new approach.

The images that you see above were taken from “Matryoshka by designers” contest that was held in Milan back in 2007.В  That was a wonderful event and all the Matryoshkas were sold at a high pricing to collectors.

a) Will have a very clear and smart subject so that they don’t take us for spammers;
b) Will explain who we are, what we do and why we actually email;
c) Will describe the offer that we have in the best light;
d) Will work for all ( we have to admit that we are lazy enough, say when you have to email 20 companies offering your design services you will make just one email and send it to all)

As a result we make the cliche that will never work for anyone. You compose a perfect machine email.

So what’s the secret of a good email? There are some things that worked out for us during our email campaigns and when sending personal letters, they are pretty simple but they work.

1) Keep your subject line simple.

This is what we can’t prove but this is how people feel. The more simple the subject is, the more chances the email was sent by a human being ( not a spam and not an ad). If you email to the list of people who unsubscribed from your newletter, don’t call is “A survey for unsubscribed”, call it “We want you back”.

2) Keep your subject line short, 37 symbols is a perfect length.

There are about 3-4 words that human eyes can read at a same time while the brain is forming the letters into something that we understand. Let their brain focus on this 3 important words rather than receive some additional info making this words less significant.

3) Make the email personal.

Even with the standard email it’s easy to make it personal.В  Say you know that the company just got Page Rank 5. Tell them about it.

4) Segment your audience.

Same as number 3 but for the mass send.

5) Think why the company/person you’re emailing to might be interested in your offer?

Never say I need it and I want it. Who cares? Tell them how they can benefit.

6) Try to find the name.

If you are sending an email to the company try to find the name of the person in charge. People love to be known and hearing your own name from a stranger is a sugar.

7) Tell them how great they are.

You have chosen them just because they are so cool and professional, right? Most important here is to be sincere, if you are not, they will smell it.

Be persistent.В 

If you didn’t get any response, send a reminder. Ask them to say at least “no” if they are not interested.

If they didn’t open your newsletter, send them a short reminder telling it’s also available online.

9) Send a last call reminder. Focus on timing.

If you have some campaign running, send them a last call reminder. When you feel that you can miss something in a very short period of time, you are more willing to get it. Don’t allow them forget about it.