MortarBlog

How Gold Happens.

"The Wilmer Shields Rich Awards Program for Excellence In Communications recognizes and encourages excellence in communications by foundations and corporate giving programs."

Looks like they recognized excellence when they saw Marin Community Foundation's shiny new Mortar-built website, since they gave it a Gold Award. Are we surprised? Not really. Good clients = good work = good results. Are we happy? Deliriously. But then, we're always kinda delirious.

Tune In, Turn On, Pass The Syrup.

There are no words.

Via Boing-Boing.

Bow. Wow.

We don't know what a Phantom camera is, but we want one. We also have a strange craving for dry dog food. Very nicely done.

Calling all very talented (and budding) Communications Planners and Interns

It’s not every day you get to reinvent the wheel. But here’s a shot. 

Readers of this blog should know we’re dedicated to shaping conversations between people and brands—out on the big, brave, slightly bewildering new frontier where social media, PR and digital/traditional marketing converge. We’re definitely not afraid to experiment (or to make mistakes along the way).

But that’s tempered by a grown up, buttoned down (well, sorta) approach to running our business.

The most important thing? Our business models begins and ends with communications planning (our own special blend of account planning).

So we’re looking for someone who’s part entrepreneur. Part evangelist. A little quantitative. Supremely intuitive. And every inch a change agent.

You’ll be at the rich, gooey center of an integrated team that includes account strategists, creatives, media consultants, and PR specialists.

To qualify you'll need at least 1-2+ years of relevant planning/market research experience, including demonstrated expertise in strategic analysis, market segmentation and consumer research.

Plus, you’ll need to be able to (behold the bulleted list):

• Provide leadership on brand initiatives
• Drive big ideas across multiple channels/platforms
• Experiment with/be inspired by social media
• Integrate new cultural trends and research tools
• Translate findings into clear, actionable strategies
• Write compelling positioning documents and briefs
• Envelop clients and consumers in your god/godess-like aura

Part-timers are strongly encouraged to apply--we're particularly keen to hear from experienced practitioners who are itching to get back in the game (you know who you are).

Oh, and you’ll need a sense of humor. Or, at the very least, be able to laugh in the face of intense pressure.

And be able to laugh at yourself. And us. Definitely. Too much to ask? You tell us.

Send a resume and brief email to: subject "Jnr. Planner" at thatsme@mortaragency.com.

Jump Around.

Check out this amazing spot from DieHard, featuring a fellow named Reggie Watts. It's just a product demo...but it's a really, really clever and imaginative product demo. Bravo!

We Did Not Wake Up Wanting To Buy A Used Mobile Home.

But now, we kinda do.

All kidding aside, (Well, not all kidding,) we loves us an honest approach.

Also, random whipcracks. Well done!

Think Different. Please Hurry.

"Looks like we're on pace for a twenty percent uptick in squiggly lines, hon."

Check out this gallery of Apple ads from 1977 to the present. At first, it's good, campy fun. Then, it turns into a house of horrors. You can actually tell from the ads precisely when Steve Jobs was run off the reservation, and when he returned. (That co-op ad with Quark? Eeesh.)
Taken together, the collection echoes a theme we always hammer on here - your audience controls the conversation, not you. The lecture-y, long-copy* ads make you want to claw your own eyes out. The ads that hint at what you could do if you had a Mac do not. In fact, they're still insanely great.

There's a cool exhibit of the technology itself as well.

*Long-copy ads are not automatically bad. But when they are.../shudder.

In Which We Kick It Old-School.

Pimpin' ain't easy.

Check out this collection of classics from DMB&B archives from the 1950's-1980's. It's amazing. We recommend starting with the Old Spice stuff, like this spot starring "Dave," who says one of his reasons for splashing on the 'Spice is, "Joelle...Mmmmmm." 

Or at least someone tell us what the hell "Fluffo" is.

It Was 40 Years Ago Today.

A lot of people will tell you that Apple's "1984" commercial is the greatest ad of all time. And hey, it is great. But 40 years ago today, something else insanely great happened. This ad, like "1984," ran just once; July 20, 1969. Timely. Truthful. And wonderfully self-deprecating. When a company has the guts to call its flagship product "ugly," yet still manages to tie it to one of humankind's greatest achievements, well, it's worth a mention.

Oh yeah, and Neil Armstrong and MHS alum Buzz Aldrin also did some stuff.

Apollo 11 Highlights from Todd Day on Vimeo.

Hey Man, Nice Shot.

A beautiful series of images paired with a beautiful song make this work for IANSA a lot more powerful and smart than it might have been. A solid example of the director doing the little things right. Nice work.

Via The Daily Dish.