2009: The year for change?

I don't just mean Obama.

We've all woken up to the fact that capitalism as we know it, is over. Being greedy isn't sustainable, being mean to the environment isn't cool either, but being self-rightious and bragging about your solar-panelled greenhouse or new hybrid car is equally frowned upon. Understatement and quiet yet drastic change is in.

We've already seen the middle classes start flocking to the likes of Aldi, Netto and Lidl for 'essentials' (although buying their meat from an exceedingly posh butchers to make up for it). Luxury brands and discount brands will be the survivors of 2009.

Sadly there are brands which I believe won't make it through the year, I might be wrong, and for the sake of those employed by these companies, I hope I am.
Put it this way, I wouldn't be investing in this lot anytime soon.

WH Smith, Somerfield, DFS, Chrysler (that's a no-brainer) are likely to be doomed.

2009 will be a year of hard work but in the mean time, I fancy another mince pie.

Happy New Year x

"Mimosa is the like so totally the new black."

Whilst at work this week, a nice little update from Creative Review appeared.

Pantone, in all their infinite wisdom have decided that the colour of 2009 is Mimosa, a yellowy orange named after the orange juice and champagne drink so widely drunk when 'doing brunch' in Southern California (also known as Bucks Fizz in the UK, slightly less glamourous).

Mimosa is said to "symbolise optimism", which in an uncertain economic climate seems rather logical, although I don't quite think we'll all be painting our homes just yet.

What is rather ironic is that at the design agency I work at (Visual Assets), we're rebranding to lime green, losing our yellowy-orange.

Well, nobody wants to follow the pack.

Motion like no other?

There's news through the Grapevine of Sony's latest ad for the Bravia television range. Fallon have created a 'Bravia-drome' in Turin, Italy using Brazilian footballer Kaka.

In my honest opinion, I'm not very excited by any of these ads anymore, the bouncy balls were genius (perhaps the evocative Jose Gonzalez soundtrack had something to with that), the Glasgow council estate paint was good and the play-doh bunnies in New York were distinctly average. A recurring theme of the ads getting progressively worse, or just less effective.

However, for this new campaign, Sony have dropped the Colour Like No Other tagline, instead focusing on the Motion aspect of the Bravia range, although I'm struggling to get excited by the 'Bravia-drome' as I fell asleep listening to a TV salesman tell me the differences of 200hz (not sure what that is). I just want a pretty flatscreen TV, save the mumbojumbo for someone who cares.

Sony (well Fallon), prove me wrong and create something awesome.

I've gone all eco, for a week that is.

It might come as a surprise but I've actually done something slightly eco-friendly.

Being without a car for a week wasn't an option with work and university commitments urgently requiring a vehicle. So I've signed up to Streetcar, one of these city car clubs in which you pay an annual membership and have access to hundreds of shared vehicles across London. I had to get the train to Surbiton to pick "Ridley" up (yes, they name the cars, kinda cute) a grey VW Golf and I have to admit I'm really impressed.

Streetcar are really helpful, it's an ingenious idea for anyone living in London who can't quite cope without the occasional use of a car.

Ok, ok, so it's not the most green thing ever, but certain a big carbon-cutting step for me, until my new car comes that is...

Laters


Check out the vid which explains all... (excuse the dreadful yankee CNN-ness)