Red Bull experience concepting

Here's a couple of ideas we wanted to share just as concept thinking.

The Red Bull Snowstorm is a human snow globe snowboarding simulator that would be used as a live bar experience in the winter. Participants enter the storm to see if they have the skill and co-ordination to catch a winning Red Bull snowball being blown around the globe! Winners will then get a full on snowboarding trip to Red Bull's home in the Austrian Alps.

Second up is a new interpretation on the humble bar fridge. Ordinarily the problem is that Red Bull branded fridges end up with all kinds of drinks stored inside, so this bespoke little number solves the problem and creates permanent POS on bar.

Sneaky peak

What's orange, big and very loud?

Our latest project for Jägermeister, very nearly ready to be unleashed on this summers festivals circuit.

Watch this space...

Bombay Sapphire global project

We're pretty lucky folks here at Open. We get to work with some of the greatest brands in the world, with genuinely lovely clients and exciting projects.

The latest of these is a new client for us in the shape of Bombay Sapphire premium gin.

Our initial brief is for a global interactive project for the brand team, thanks guys.

Does my bum look big online?

What's with the high street these days? Apathetic sales consultants and pushy charity reps pacing the pavements outside. And the warm and fuzzy 'in between'? It's probably been eaten by the pigeons. Nothing's grabbing me right now. If I could; I'd get everything online, where I can design my own trainers, make my own card and add all those little personal touches that turn a purchase into a treasured possession. Trouble is, my derriere forbids net shopping for bottoms. Humbug.

I'm in search of the holy grail in jeanswear. OK, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. Just a pair of jeans that fit and look pretty damn cool would be nice. Perfectly achievable, if you have all the time in the world that is, to shop. Big sigh. This is depressing stuff!

I know what I want and it's not just about the jeans. I'm not after just a pair of blue denims. I want something to wear so I can be me, not a catalogue clone. And let's face it, there's nothing worse than that 'sick to the pit of my stomach feeling' when, in the corner of your eye, you catch a glimpse of someone wearing the same thing as you.

I'd like to be able to walk into a shop and get a friendly but natural reception. They ask me what I'm looking for, but they're not in my face. They take my bags and put them behind the counter. They know which brands I like straightaway without asking much. They know what will fit and suit me best. They even guess my size...right. I get to chose the colour, the buttons, the stitches and all the little design bits. And if the jeans are too long, they take them up that very day and drop them into my office. Think Rigby & Peller for the modern age. There's a lot to be said for Saatchi's Carlsberg ideals. If Open were a jeans shop, I reckon it'd be just like this. And if it was, I'd be in there every week!

Life is what happens while planning for other things

Agency planning has always been a contentious subject. Research and rigour vs. insight and instinct.

There was an article in this week's Campaign with various industry big heads (ie. thinkers I guess), each seemingly following the same line - The days of brand death by analysis are over and planning should be a fluid evolving process.

About time too! Though it does seem like rather than this being the genuine belief of planners united, it is just the pop trend in the Ad shops at the moment.

Our perspective on this has always been to start with the point of inspiration in communications planning, not research on consumer behaviour.

By understanding humour, curiosity, imagination and all of the prompts that lend themselves to gauging consumer interest in an idea or entertainment piece we'll build a stronger connection, inspiring a consumer around an idea and their positive brand behaviour change will be the reward.

The focus group is dead long live inspiration!

Newbies

Ahhh spring, season of new life! And here we see two fresh daisies pushing up new shoots through Open's rich compost.

Nina has joined us as Business Development Executive, a well travelled lady, English graduate and recruitment consultant and partial to the odd drinkypoos here and there!

Rebecca has joined as Account Exec working on our Pernod account. Rebecca is a design graduate and a film maker among other things, but to her close friends she is simply 'Beast'??!!

Wish them much fun and frolics in their new home here!