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Arty swimming dogs
Posted February 14, 2012 By Rachel in Vivid Blog With | No Comments
It’s probably because it’s Valentines Day and we are feeling all soft and squishy so when we saw these pictures, we coldn’t help but go ‘Ahhhh!’ Well, until we saw this one – then we went ‘Aghhhhhh!!!!!!!!’and made a mental note not to paddle in ponds where dogs, frisbees or tennis balls might be. Enjoy this collection of cute underwater doggies knashing away at toys and random old grannies, in a frankly sinister fashion. These photos were taken by Photographer Seth Casteel who spent hours underwater in Los Angeles taking pictures and risking the health of his legs. Twelve dogs took part in the shoot, including labradors, a border collie, a dachshund, a bulldog, a Belgian tervuren and a King Charles spaniel. A book, Ruff Water, is planned. -
Vivid LOVES you! Yes we do!
Posted February 13, 2012 By Rachel in Vivid Blog With | No Comments
Happy Valentines Day Gorgeous Wonderful Web Browser! We want to share this special day with you, with a selection of romantic and slightly naughty images, videos and products: Because we think you are… We give you our (Hidden) Heart (Cupcakes) -- ahh! We are wearing our heart on our…er…head… We would take you here on our Valentines date We promise to listen to every magical word you say tonight We bought you this cute little puppy and this 56 carat diamond If it gets cold on the Island, we can snuggle up… ..and dine out on some Vagina Cupcakes - ooh! Watch this video on YouTube and if all goes well, we’ll make you breakfast in bed and then who knows…. Watch the Lego Proposal video here -
Random Cool Products
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We are luvvin these, McDonalds stylee: What Happened? Plasters Muscle Leggings Little Men Carpet Ammonite Sink Smoking Bells, Japan Rainbow in my room nightlight Sound machine Interactive Turntable 80s Disco Style – Macbook Pro keyboard back light -
The award for the best dressed doll goes to…
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Barbie With a small waist, ample bust and legs that don’t seem to end, she has been the source of every young girl’s beauty ideals for more than fifty years. Often criticised as “too superficial”, Barbie has been a great marketing tool, which artist Jocelyne Grivaud celebrates on www.barbiemamuse.com Here you’ll find Barbie in an array of iconic poses, dressed in anything from Coco Chanel, to Picasso style or even as an Avatar (our personal favourite). The fashion retailer ASOS kitted out barbie in some killer LBDs and shoe master Christian Louboutin has designed a limited-edition collector’s set of Barbies sporting red soles for Net-a-porter.com. Say hello to Dolly Forever (wearing fringed boots and a safari dress) and Anemone Barbie (in a lime satin floor-sweeper) who both come with not one but three pairs of lust-worthy Louboutins. Yes, we can still lust over them, even if they are in miniature. There’s also Cat Burglar Barbie, who’s all leather catsuit and leopard-print thigh-high boots – these dolls aren’t for kids! Log on to Net-a-porter.com now to buy the über-collectable dolls for £100. http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/60586 -
Is your St Tropez in dire need of a top up?
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With the late rising winter sun shying away from warming our towns until we are well on our way into work and departing from our sky hours before we are thinking of leaving the office, it is to no surprise that Londoner’s welcomed Tropicana’s artificial sun in Trafalgar Square this month. This was thanks to an installation by Greyworld art collective, on behalf of Tropicana’s Brighter Mornings campaign. The artificial sun emitted light equivalent to 60,000 light bulbs and could be marvelled at and appreciated through dusty sunglasses. We pity the poor girl that had to sit in a deckchair in January wearing a cosy warm vest (!!). Tropicana initially launched this campaign in one of Canada’s northernmost towns where days go by without the sun rising at all. Despite the idea being more paramount and suited to this particular town, Londoners warmed to it nonetheless. With ad-worthy footage from the spectators along with nationwide press coverage, it has proved a success for Tropicana. -
Only for Girls?
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No I’m not talking about Tampax, skirts, or even lipstick – no, I am of course talking about Lynx and their current ‘ Unleash the Chaos’ campaign. Lynx is predominantly known, worlwide for its laddish advertising in which scantily-clad women flock towards men in their hundreds or fall from the skies in mockingly angelic costume at the push of an aerosol can’s button. With such a strong macho and frankly chauvinistic brand aesthetic and advertising some could say is demeaning to women, belittling them as nothing more than sexual objects, it is surprising to learn that they are currently launching a scent for women! At first it seems, with little change in aerosol graphics and an unusually dull advertising campaign it is unlikely to appeal to women. With a target market of 15-24 year olds, however, it is possible that young teens may be a major buyer due to the heightened sexuality and personal discovery experienced during this time. With Lynx often worn by young teenage girls as an attempt to affiliate with the opposite sex, it is probable that with a women’s scent this could become a more accepted ritual, which could span across into young adulthood. ... -
We heart Interns
Posted January 27, 2012 By Rachel in Vivid Blog With | No Comments
Our bodies are normally temples of absolute purity, but this morning we’re feeling a bit sick, having scoffed multiple sparkly cakes laced with copious preservatives, 2 foot of icing and edible glitter (could that EVER be good for one’s tummy?) before 10am. We’d like to extend a big thanks for this fat inducing ‘thank you’ gift to Us from Zack our Intern. Prospective Interns – take note! The bar has been raised…can you beat this? If yes, contact Seb@Vividbrand with your C.V . -
Mary Portas: The Future of the High Street
Posted December 16, 2011 By Rachel in Vivid Blog With | No Comments
Mary Portas released 28 recommendations for the Government’s Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to rejuvenate the high street this week. The purpose of the Portas review was to identify what the Government, local authorities, businesses and others can do together to promote the development of new models of prosperous and diverse high streets. For her summary of recommendations see the list at the bottom of the page below: Whilst we recognise that hard and cold commercials are without doubt preventing fledgling businesses from starting and flourishing on our local high streets, what is most interesting, is Portas’s focus on social engagement, community development and the ‘Neighbourhood plan’. High streets originally emerged from an essential need to visit the best vendors in your village or town to snap up fresh, organically grown vegetables (in the days when organic was not trendy, but meant vegetables went ‘off’ very quickly), hand kneaded bread from the village Baker and meat to feed the family. Knowing who supplied your food and who was the best vendor in your town was an essential part of the commercial transaction and it was implicitly understood by Mums that being friendly and building a relationship with your vendor ... -
Nokia Lumia Projection with Deadmau5
Posted December 14, 2011 By Rachel in Vivid Blog With | No Comments
To celebrate the launch of the Nokia Lumia 800 smartphone on Monday 28th November, the mobile phone giant teamed up with Canadian DJ and dance music producer Deadmau5 to create a spectacular 4d light show projected onto Millbank Tower, and the biggest show of it’s kind ever seen in London. Each of the building’s 800 windows were covered with vinyl as 16 projectors, beamed 4D images onto the structure, attracting aproximately 20,000 spectators who lined both sides of the River Thames to watch. With 1.8million hits on You Tube to date, this was a fantastic use of marketing budget. For the price of a low key press campaign, this digital activation raised awareness with a big bang, leveraged the cool factor and implicit endorsement of Deadmau5 and their loyal fanbase, targeted the young and hip crowd and social endorses Nokia need to build brand love and encouraged social sharing amongst those that were there or heard about it. For those who missed the evening’s show, here’s the video in full: Watch this video on YouTube -
Stunning Festive Displays
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It’s almost Christmas and retailers have gone festive crazy, with sparkles, glitter and amniatronics galore! Could this be the retail equivalent of ‘Keeping up with the Jones’? Whatever it may be, we are frankly loving this Christmas spirit of decadence and exhuberence! In times of economic harship and with online sales sky rocketing, this may look a tad extravagant. However if ever there was a time to create theatre in store to drive footfall back onto the highstreet -- then this is it. Check out our selection of the best from this year and Christmas’s past: Swarovski Window, Harrods, London A spectacular window display portraying an enchanted forest. Featuring thousands of sparkling Swarovski crystal elements of different shapes and sizes. Karl Lagerfeld’s Windows at Printemp, Paris An incredible display of imagination and fantasy featuring the Maestro himself and fabulous moving characters. Watch the amazing video too: Watch this video on YouTube Selfridges White Christmas, London Epitomising this year’s White Christmas theme, the Oxford Street windows create a true winter wonderland in the heart of the capital. Each pane of window has been transformed into an enchanting, oversized music box, some playing re-engineered carols whilst others provide eerie, magical sounds ... -
eBay descends on the high street as Philip Green announces he is closing 260 stores
Posted November 25, 2011 By Rachel in Vivid Blog With | No Comments
ebay announced plans to take over the High Street with its first “bricks and mortar” shop due to open on 1st December, in Dean Street, London. This will take the form of a pop up store offering a discount of 70% on named brands. Combining the best of both online and in store worlds, customers will benefit for the first time from the convenience of scanning QR codes on real products they can touch and feel and having them packaged up and sent home. This comes at an interesting time, with the news yesterday that Philip Green’s Fashion empire, The Arcadia Group plans to close 260 of it’s stores and it’s jewel in the crown Topshop, announced that profits have declined a massive 38% YOY. With more and more retailers focusing their ever decreasing profits online and on the growing mobile channel, this move really bucks the trend. So, why are ebay doing it? Ebay’s heartland lies in the democracy of the faceless, limitless internet: open access to all regardless of location, category (everything from a combine harvester to a teaspoon) or means. Your passport? A paypal account. It is this technology and ease of use that they are transporting over ... -
Remember remember it’s the start of Movember!
Posted November 1, 2011 By Rachel in Vivid Blog With | No Comments
The Fine men (and boys) of Vivid Brand will once again be participating in a moustachio’d love in, pruning and conditioning their manly hairs/bum fluff to compete to see who is most virile (or neanderthal), who most looks like Magnum (The P.I. for those young-uns who think I mean Ice Cream) and who is really a lost member of YMCA. Vivid Brand is joining many other Mo Bros in the UK/around the world in sprouting (mainly) embarrassing moustaches during the month of No/Mo-vember to become walking, talking billboards and raise awareness and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health and hopefully raise vital funds specifically for prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. The funds raised are directed to programmes run directly by Movember and their men’s health partners: The Prostate Cancer Charity and the Institute of Cancer Research. These channels work together to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programmes in line with Movember’s strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research. To see how our Vivid Brand men progress from clean shaven silky babies to scary moustache’d lotharios by the end of the month, ... -
Zombie-fy
Posted October 31, 2011 By Rachel in Vivid Blog With | No Comments
Watch this video on YouTube Rick Genest, aka ‘Zombie Boy’ challenges your sensibilities about what you believe to be beautiful. He has been hitting the headlines recently thanks to this amazing promotion for Dermablend, the ultimate cosmetic cover, which slowly reveals his incredible ‘real state’, which is a body that is 80% covered in tatoos. Starting his tatoo project at the age of 19, Genest has stayed loyal to Montreal artist Frank Lewis, who designed the majority of his body art over the next six years. These include intricate designs of an entire skeleton (skull included) and is thematically, the depiction of a body decomposing—complete with flesh eating insects. To date Genest has spent over $17,000.00 on tattooing his body and will continue until his tapestry is finished. His tattoos have equally intrigued and inspired a cult following—more than 30,000 followers on Twitter and 65 groups/ pages to him on Facebook. Read more about Rich Genest here -
What is it about TOM’s Shoes?
Posted October 25, 2011 By Rachel in Vivid Blog With | No Comments
by Seb Masih, Vivid Brand TOMS shoes have been doing the rounds amongst university campuses and on the feet of trendy east Londoners for a while now. At first I dismissed this new brand as a flash fad for hipsters and wannabes alike (myself included – hipster, not wannabe). But I really began to take note, when I saw that they were more frequently being donned complete with cuff-hem chinos – minus the white branded tab on the side and the blue and white striped flag on the back of the heel – a.k.a ‘the imitation TOMS.’ This brand was suddenly pervasive enough that it already had copy cats trying to steal it’s thunder. hmmm… So, I started researching TOMS in the hope of answering questions which I had been subconsciously asking myself over the past few months. How did this random canvas slipper infiltrate the hearts and minds of British urban youth? The same urban youth, who five years ago would not have been seen dead in anything other than the core four – Nike, Adidas, Reebok and Puma. If this wasn’t you then you were cool – even then. A bit too out there for some… Where did ... -
Do take a seat
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This chair is called the ‘Cut Chair’, and it’s the latest work of designer Peter Bristol’s wonderfully twisted imagination. A reinforced beam anchored to a plate beneath the rug stabilizes the cantilevered seat while three cleverly placed dismembered legs give the illusion that the chair has just been magically sliced apart. ’100 Chairs in 100 days’ is a project by Martino Gamper, that involved collecting discarded chairs from London streets (or more frequently, friends’ homes) over a period of two years, then spending 100 days reconfiguring the design of each one, in an attempt to transform its character and/or the way it functions. Gampers intention is to investigate the potential for creating useful new designs by blending together stylistic or structural elements of existing chair types. The Desile Chair is constructed of bamboo, folds completely flat in two places and measures just 0.8 inches when stored. Uros Vitas devises an easy chair that would roll-up so you can take it and use it at a picnic, festival or just when you want to have a nice sit down. The Chair is made from wood with a synthetic elastomer frame and can support the weight of an adult and also roll up for portability. -
Trompe L’Oeil Madness
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A little reminder to live for the moment (and he should stop smoking, or this will come sooner rather than later) Which way to Narnia?? Maison Martin Margiela Hotel Maison, situated on the famous Champs Élysées, in the heart of Paris, gives a completely different experience on the concept of living space. Maison Martin Margiela has created a dramatic world where reality and make-believe seem to blend. Redefining the rules and offering a luxurious but relaxed atmosphere, where minimalism of forms is served by incredible attention to detail, the hotel is entirely photocopied. Banksy: Maid Sweeping My other car’s a……..Jet Beer Advertising Julian Beever’s Street Art This way to hell…. Something Else shop in Emerald Street, London -
Cool Communication
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Spotted outside Specsavers I’m guessing ‘high fives’ Hanging about in a Hairdressers in Spitafield Market, London Who could resist when she asks so nicely? A modified ‘No Entry’ Sign in Stoke Newington, UK Moet IS so much more thirst quenching, let’s face it… -
“Michael, I think I am lost”
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Spotted outside the Vivid Brand office – none other than Kitt, Michael Knight’s car!!!! Kitt seemed to be slightly confused, so our Designer Seb and Intern Netta offered to help re-boot his sat nav and put him back on course for California. ” Sebastian, would you like to go for a Knight Ride, before I pick up Michael from Spearmint Rhino?” ” Identified: Alien object at close proximity. Protective shield activated” -
Monday Music Moment
Posted October 10, 2011 By Rachel in Vivid Blog With | No Comments
Following on from our controversial and much contested top 10 Artist brands, here is our list of album covers that have the ‘X Factor’. Which are your top 10? 1) Beck – Information Just when album covers where beginning to become obsolete in the world of dual packaging and downloads, this ‘do it yourself’ design refreshes the idea of an album cover altogether. 2) Velvet Underground & Nico – Velvet Underground & Nico The marriage of music and art has never been more apparent then in the collaboration of Andy Warhol and Velvet Underground. This piece feels very much as if the Cover has overseen the music. 3) Grace Jones – Nightclubbing Grace Jones’ persona always drifted between the worlds of music, art and fashion and it was continually reflected in her album covers which oozed dramatic, bold ’80s style. Outstandingly stylish. 4) Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon This minimalist image has been much copied since and is instantly recognisable, even without the bands name on the cover. Some stoner, college-age fans think that the rainbow is a hint that the album is synced to the Wizard of Oz. You decide. 5) Nirvana – Nevermind No one would ... -
In memory of Steve Jobs
Posted October 6, 2011 By Rachel in Vivid Blog With | No Comments
We are very iSad at Vivid Brand. In memory of Steve Jobs and the huge impact he has had on design and the integration of technology and User Interfaces in a relevant and stylish way to consumer’s lifestyles (was there ever a time before iPods and iPhones???), we look at other products that have changed the way we live. Before iPhones……there was the Polaroid Instant Camera. You needed big pockets in those days. Before iPhones …..there was the ‘Mobile’ phone from Motorola. Mobile, if you didn’t mind carrying it around with you in it’s own bag and were a trained bricklayer. Before the iPod….there was the Sony Walkman. Launched in 1979, this product was the hip product to be seen with in the 80s, providing mobile music on the go. Yo Yo!! Before iTunes, digital downloads and docking stations…… there was the Ghettoblaster which looked best when perched jauntily on the edge of your shoulder Before iPods……you needed a Sony Walkman, a Ghettoblaster AND a cassette tape. Your Maxwell or JVC Cassette would probably hold a scratchy recording of the Top 40, or a special mix from your girl/boy friend/admirer, recorded by pressing a combination of multiple buttons down at ...
