Health and Lifestyle - Toxic Cycle

'Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable death in England, accounting for 80,000 deaths each year. One in two smokers will die from a smoking-related disease.'

Early 2014 the NHS stop smoking service, Smokefree, released a new advertisement to encourage smokers to stop smoking. As a smoker myself, I find it ridiculous when on a packet of cigarettes, they have to put warning like 'Smoking kills'. These visual reminders do nothing but annoy me. I know smoking can and does kill. Everyone knows this fact. If you want to get a smoker to stop smoking, one disengaging picture is not going to help. However, one thing that does make me think is the video. Actually seeing the smoke travel through the body and react with different organs makes people really think about what the product is doing to them. The latest video advertisement, 'Toxic Cycle' shows the reaction of smoke, in a way that almost makes you physically want to be sick. The grotesque imagery shocks viewers to think more about what they are actually doing to themselves. The video also ends with links as to where to get advice if you want to quit. More often than not, links to stop smoking sites or helpful advice is also withheld from the cigarette packets. The video ad seems to be the only consistent and effective way to encourage people to stop smoking. Although, if I'm being completely honest, I would love for the video to go into greater deepth and explore more issues, or contain even more grotesque imagery - this could really effect the behaviour of many smokers. 

As much as I wanted more from the video itself, it's made me think about smoking more - that's all they really want, is to get people to think about the damage it can do.

Information found via;

http://www.nhs.uk/smokefree/why-quit/smoking-health-problems

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Ul9QIfBno

Education - Connect With Plymouth University

Here Design is a small advertising agency based in East London, and have recently been hired by Plymouth University to re-brand the university. Only 2 years ago I had to make the decision as to where I would like to study for my degree - luckily I had fully researched the different courses offered by various universities and found my perfect one. However, many young people are unsure as to where to go.Plymouth University to me, being a local, has always been out of date, and almost a last resort to my educational future. However, with this new design, Plymouth University's image reflects the recent development and updating it has had done. 

Plymouth University has also taken a more active role with it's local A-level students, and potential Plymouth University students, by visiting local colleges and sixth forms. With this new typography type branding, the university looks more modern, and interesting. To further gain more awareness, and have a consistent bran image, the university has added this identity to their free gifts - bags, hats, pens, etc. - and also their website and university signs around campus. Well done Plymouth University for entering the modern world!

Information found via;

http://www.heredesign.co.uk/

http://www5.plymouth.ac.uk/

Technology - Apple - You're More Powerful Than You Think

I hope any Android fans are thinking the same as me on this one - Yet again more crap from Apple that  we 'need' to be able to function as normal individuals. Apple seems to release these different advertisements, where the focus is on daily life, and how you're apple device can make life that little bit easier. Maybe I'm a little cynical as a great hater of Apple and all Apple products - but I do seem to enjoy their videos. I like to watch them - but why? Why watch them if I'm never going to buy their products, and if their products mean nothing to me. It's because Apple knows people. Apple knows what's trending and what people really want to see and then integrate that into their advertisements. This TV ad for instance, focuses on fitness. Couple this with the hundreds of media outlets near obsessed with weight loss, and the recent government's attempt to get people active, creates a frenzy of consumers running out to lose weight and fast! So of course Apple is going to present their iPhone 5 with a range of apps, and training gear to further propel themselves into the minds of their audience. The advertisement sparked my interested so much, I actually paused it on live television and tried to download many of the apps that were shown. Truly proof that Apple are one of the most up to date brands ever!

Information found via;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTjejvnBJfU

Advertising - Ginsters #FeedTheMan

Cornish pastry company Ginsters, with the help of M&C Saatchi London have this year released a new advertising campaign called #FeedTheMan. #FeedTheMan features the Peppered Steak Slice and slaps in at the end of a rather poorly put together commercial. As much as Ginsters are connecting with their target audience, from the outside looking in, the commercial looks as if it's trying to create some sort of comedic response from the audience. In my honest opinion, it's a little too much and too confusing for just a simple steak slice.  However, when delving on M&C Saatchi London's website, it appears they fit Ginsters brief well. Only a few years ago, as part of a school project, I had to research into Ginsters, and from then to now, you can see Ginsters has changed it's target audience slightly. Instead of trying to please the masses with a healthy nutritional way of presenting their steak pasties and numerous pastries - they have done the near opposite. They are targeting the hungry, working men of Britain, the men who are far too busy, or 'manly' to care about nutrition. They want something to satisfy them, and Ginsters appears to be the product for them. Even in my personal opinion, they are truly the most disgusting pasties ever! 

Information found via; 

http://www.ginsters.co.uk/

http://www.mcsaatchi.com/london/news/new-work/ginsters-fills-and-fuels-the-men-of-great-britain-with-celebratory-campaign2/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuEz6UYZvvk