Pushing Buses

Group hug for the De Lijn campaign

2012-01-03T00:02:00.005-05:00

It is amazing to see a campaign go from strength to strength with every execution but that's what happens when you start with a great idea, a single idea, that you stay faithful to, every single time.

I've posted two previous commercials for Brussel's De Lijn bus transit, but then our clients Ivana Tomas and Kim Moser of Brampton Transit sent me a third - the excellent Anteater spot.

I went digging and found more - here are all four of De Lijn's spots.

The message couldn't be simpler - it's smarter to travel in groups.
A deadly simple thought that transforms the humble bus commute into simple, entertaining fables about the empowerment as enjoyed by a community of riders.

If I met the creative team responsible, I'd give them a hug.

There's even an iPhone and Android app game based on the campaign.

Enjoy.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2012.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada

SNCF. Not your granny's railroad.

2011-12-28T03:33:00.001-05:00

Equal parts corporate video and transit brand ad, this piece for SNCF pulls out all the stops in this brilliantly animated video. It's a trip. Produced by animator ChezEddy and directed by Maxime Bruneel for Elephant at Work.

Christmas bells or warning bells?

2011-12-27T01:29:00.004-05:00

This admittedly nicely produced ad for Network Rail attempts to be all things to all people.

I hear the client's voice rather clearly.

"I say, we have some rather inconvenient news to deliver. Construction may slow things a tad for people trying to get in and out of London this Christmas. But we do owe it to the public to let them know. Public accountability and all that rot, y'know.

And oh, let's keep it positive this time, shall we - let's have no apologies for the inconvenience or any such pre-Thatcher public sector claptrap. Excellent!

And oh dear lord, I nearly forgot, make it all nice and Christmas-y would you?

Good lad! Excellent!"

In the immortal words of of Seth Meyers, "Really? Really?"

To sell transit-in-development, sell transit-on-the-move

2011-11-02T11:17:00.000-04:00

It is tough to do a good job selling transit-in-development or transit-oriented development, but this big budget, slickly produced spot does a good job of exciting the imagination of the viewer, whether urban-plan-fan, anorak/trainspotter or regular commuter Joes.

"Building tomorrow's network while running today's", says the voiceover.

The English version offers "Tomorrow on track today" as the tagline that closes the spot which sounds rather corporate mission-statement-ish. For communication value, I much prefer the French version which in spirit, says "we have big plans for you." capturing the vision angle with a lovely light touch.

Réseau Ferré De France is the company that builds, maintains and runs the French national railway network. This advertising campaign seems to be well ahead of its website - which while not too badly designed, is a touch dated, and a little too corporate to be effective. Pushing Buses, which has a proprietary Rayon-Polyester-Microfibre-Carbon dating process to estimate such things, dates it circa 2006.

You can watch the "making of" video here, if that's the sort of thing that turns your crank.
http://youtu.be/1JHN0GXePXg

Bon voyage mes amis!

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2011.

The Joy of Riding

2011-07-18T20:10:00.000-04:00

San Francisco's BART has long been one of the best transit marketers in the world.

They get it right pretty consistently every time they communicate, whether it's through social media, their website or plain old-fashioned advertising.

A good example is this guerilla marketing effort - a swing installed on BART trains, a few delicious seconds of childlike freedom on your daily commute.

Found on The Inspiration Wall.

Extra, Extra: Kids Paint Bus Green

2011-07-04T22:29:00.000-04:00

Most adults think school kids should be kept away from spray paint. But when they do take a chance they discover there is no energy cleaner than youth energy. In San Diego, school kids were set loose on this San Diego Transit Bus. They left their mark: beautiful images promoting planet friendly activities.

The grass is greener?

2011-07-04T20:49:00.000-04:00

Grass-bus: Mobile lawn spreads environmental awareness at Thessaloniki

Created for Thessaloniki's Innovation Festival, this urban bus takes a leaf out of the suburban lawn to promote green living, clean energy and energy conservation. Inside the bus other greenovations are displayed. The bus itself was moved around, showing up in city squares and other festival venues to surprise, entertain and educate.

Via GreenDiary

Relax, don't drive!

2011-06-26T20:36:00.000-04:00

The second of those elegant, eloquent, utterly seductive Intercity commercials.

It's a train come true.

From A to Zzzz

2011-05-21T15:42:00.000-04:00

This post is first in a series of classic 80s ads for Intercity in the UK, that bring back the romance of travel.

This is persuasion and communications at their best, reminding us always that it's not about the destination it's about the journey. Enjoy it.

Pay for the Subway Using Your iPhone

2011-05-07T09:58:00.000-04:00

Pay for the Subway Using Your iPhone

This new technology being tested on the NYC subway system could make boarding even more rapid on BRT.

via mashable.com - link to article above

Mad Fast Trains.

2011-03-15T00:02:00.000-04:00

Pushing trains should be easier if you're one of the Mad Men, no?

It's my car and I'll cry if I want to

2011-02-02T22:11:00.000-05:00

To all promoters, champions and fans of transit and public transportation. Spread the word. Another winter reason to ride, courtesy Statoil.
Will post credits and kudos when I find out whodunnit.

Hey slow coach!

2011-01-01T14:36:00.000-05:00

With 705,000 views, this video went viral a while ago. You don't need to understand Mandarin to appreciate the brilliant simplicity of inventor Chen Jianjun's concept: a train that never has to stop at a station. Designed for use on the high speed Wuhan-Guangzhou corridor, the concept uses detachable (and dock-able) disembarkation pods for on-the-go passenger transfers. In eliminating just 15 three-minute stops on the 968-kilometre stretch it would save 45 minutes. The Wugang Passenger Railway, as the line is also known, is already the world's fastest train service (313 km/h average speed impress you much?). It opened for service in December 2009.

"The Train that Never Stops" was a fascinating idea in the first place as its viewership attests, but now it has hit the big time - it made it into the New York Times Magazine's The Year in Ideas - an annual celebration of extraordinary thinking.

T. It's for Transit

2010-11-22T02:23:00.000-05:00

It's a big week for transit and sustainable cities in New York Time's T magazine. No less than five different travel and transportation innovations were mentioned in this travel issue. Teague's barebones stripped-down vision for high fuel efficiency flying - labelled Flight 2.0. A nod at Inspiro, BMW Group DesignworksUSA exciting new subway train design for Siemens. Joey Ruiter's Inner City unchained unicycle-based back-to-basics bicycle. Priestmangoode's double-decker bullet Mercury Train. And Thomas Heatherwick's modern icon for an old one - a replacement for London's classic, red open-platform, Routemaster double-decker buses. Woohoo.

It's Züm time in the GTA.

2010-11-11T12:51:00.000-05:00

Our creative for Züm, Brampton's new rapid transit service is on the road and in the press with some very positive attention - and in the Toronto Star and the Metro. As we like to say, we just make ideas. It's the ideas that make the news.
Take a look at the Star article by clicking here.

Or take a gander at these ads to see what all the fuss is about.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2010.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence.

Monster Bus Derby.

2010-08-03T20:23:00.000-04:00

So is this what it's coming to?

Because we can't convince people to choose buses over their cars, we'll just drive buses over them cars!

Yee haaa!

via @huffingtonpost: China Plans Huge Buses That Can DRIVE OVER Cars. No, it's not a monster bus derby. http://huff.to/a3ZDUx

How To Chat Someone Up On The Train, Bus Or Tube

2010-07-28T13:05:00.000-04:00

This little low-budget video has probably done more to promote ridership on transit than many rubbishy advertising campaigns.
Enjoy.

Dating Humor:
How To Chat Someone Up On The Train, Bus Or Tube

How To Chat Someone Up On The Train, Bus Or Tube (Love & Dating: Dating Humor)

LA Metro Marketing Compares Well

2010-07-24T20:43:00.000-04:00

A simple smart advertising campaign can go a long way towards converting drivers to riders.
Luck led me to this posting on sustainable urban transportation blog, The City Fix.

One campaign in particular caught my eye - the comparative, good vs. bad, cars vs. buses Go Metro ads made their point with clarity and immediacy. I went hunting for the rest of the campaign and found a treasure trove at another blog Long Winded and Proud.

Check out the Naughty vs Nice t-shirts they distributed to baristas - a lovely grassroots touch.

Images via The City Fix and Long Winded and Proud.
Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2010.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence.

Züm. A closer look at Brampton's new rapid transit brand.

2010-07-07T21:47:00.000-04:00

Züm is Brampton Transit's new bus rapid transit brand, carefully developed through a year-long process that included stakeholder interviews, best practice reviews and town council approvals. Appropriately enough for a transit service, Züm has an origin and a destination. Züm began its journey in the idea of a speedy, urban, world-class, rapid, modern, forward-looking, cosmopolitan rapid transit system. Züm sounds like zoom, the sound of something moving fast, something speedy. Zoom also means to move closer in, to zoom into something for a close-up. Züm’s graphics evoke speed, linkage, modernity, world-class, a certain euro-style sensibility.

Client: Sue Connor, Kim Moser, Brampton Transit
Agency: Barrett and Welsh

Designer: Rob Segovia

Creative Directors: Gavin Barrett and Mike Welsh.
Art Director: Mike Welsh

Writer: Gavin Barrett

Society in motion: how riders are drivers - of change.

2010-06-28T23:07:00.000-04:00

For years, I've been shouting (I believe that's the polite word) into the wind that we need to create a movement of transit supporters. It's only when riders who care passionately are recognized, thanked and recruited that true conversion really happens. Well here's a start from Montreal (Thank you for showing us the way). This beautiful little papermation video for Montreal's public transit system, the Société de Transport de Montréal is 1 part cheerleading, 1 part exhortation, 1 part acknowledgement, and all parts the joy of the journey. The video is supported by a series of graphic poster-style ads that make it an elegant, fun campaign. Well done Montréal!

Video made by Karim Zariffa, assisted by Pascal Brousseau for Sid Lee agency.
Photography by Simon Duhamel.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2010.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence.

Pushing all the right buttons

2010-03-30T22:01:00.000-04:00

Are Torontonians lucky to have the TTC? Or is it the other way around? In 2005, Spacing magazine introduced a series of buttons commemorating Toronto's subway lines - featuring tiles and type unique to each of the stations. Believe it or not, the TTC actually opted not to market these pins. The TTC's loss was the city's gain. Smart, hip and city-proud these buttons show Toronto at its best: in the hands of its citizens. Available at Swipe books.

Textual healing.

2009-10-07T23:55:00.000-04:00

I happened upon this ad for Minnesota's SouthWest Transit, just as the law in Ontario against handheld cellphone use kicks in. The timing is perfect and the advantage that transit offers the multitasking addict is driven home in busloads.

image via metro-magazine.com
Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009

Transit and taking back the street

2009-08-29T23:51:00.000-04:00

From time to time Pushing Buses happens on a link or nugget of information or page that just happens to help us all push buses - or trains or LRT. This simple interactive page from the outstanding online mag GOOD, shows us the difference of between the impersonal car-centric streets of the past and the vibrant people-focused streets of the future. Every transit planning site should be able to illustrate the benefits of transit as effectively. This one really rocks my boat. Click here to get the full experience.

Image via visualizeus
Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009

All together now!

2009-05-25T17:53:00.001-04:00

In a campaign that builds off its first spot, posted earlier on Pushing buses here De Lijn continues to promote buses in Brussels as vehicles of social good.

It's turning out to be a light (no pun intended), likeable campaign which does more to increase ridership than most transit advertising I've seen in a long, long time.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009

York Region Transit ads scale Summits again.

2009-05-07T00:36:00.000-04:00

Rao Barrett and Welsh, submitted 5 entries in this year's Summit Creative Awards, an international award show that recognizes the creative work of small/independent agencies.

All five entries won.

Four of them (2 gold, 2 silver) were for York Region Transit's summer "dump the pump" campaign featured in an earlier posting on Pushing Buses - the winning entries are shown here again.

It's only possible to do good work when you have good clients and good suppliers.
To both, thank you.

You won't be able to stop... laughing

2009-04-27T15:24:00.000-04:00

C'mon folks. Admit you've been here. You've got the t-shirt.
Now ask yourself, on which side of the table were you?

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009

News from Toronto: The Better Way gets even better.

2009-04-26T21:40:00.000-04:00

"Sweet ride promised in $1.22B streetcars" says the Toronto Star.
"Bombardier wins massive Toronto streetcar contract" says the Globe and Mail.

Yes indeed, this is good news - good news for transit, for manufacturing in Ontario (the new cars will be made in Thunder Bay) and for Toronto.

Can transit be sexy? When it looks like this, it can be. (The livery shown in Bombardier's handout could use some design though).

The new streetcars are great example of what the "product" on the street needs to be, in order to steal the glamour that cars have always had in North America and to convert drivers to riders.

Bombardier's The Streetcar Redefined website does a pretty good job of showing off the Flexity streetcar in use around the world - but I think it could do a better job of showing the world exactly how sexy public transit can be.

Images made available for download by Bombardier.
Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009

I, Brand

2009-04-25T13:22:00.000-04:00

Brands began as marks burned onto rumps of rawhide.
Many brands are still that today, and, often enough, even less than that:
just marks minus the life they were imprinted on.

The most successful brands step beyond the boundaries imposed by design.

Even in intellectual property law a brand is no longer just mark or a unit of design.

In fact, a brand is as much about a logo or mark, as a marriage is about a wedding.

Logos and weddings represent nothing more than beginnings.
Whereas brands and marriages represent the continuum. They represent relationship.

Today's brand, is exactly that: a relationship.
And all good relationships are built on communication.

The moment a brand leaves the chapel of design and crosses the threshold into communication,
it stops looking in the mirror and saying, "I, brand."

It instead begins looking at you, the consumer and says "Us, brand."

copyright 2006 Gavin Barrett All rights reserved

Painful to see.

2009-04-21T12:21:00.000-04:00

This is a good example of bad advertising that I recently stumbled on. (Tripped over?) What was OC Transpo thinking? A bad visual pun, a poorly executed ad. Tacky. Whoops - did I just say exactly what I felt? My wife would be so proud of me.

All works shown on this blog are the copyright of their respective copyright owners.
Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009

Pushing Poetry for National Poetry Month

2009-04-13T17:04:00.000-04:00

As a long-time poet and poetry promoter, I thought I'd use the excuse of April to nod at the odd appearance of buses and trains in verse. This excerpt of Philip Larkin's spectacular The Whitsun Weddings begins on board a train. Click on the title to go to read the entire poem at www.poetryfoundation.org.

The Whitsun Weddings

BY PHILIP LARKIN

That Whitsun, I was late getting away:
Not till about
One-twenty on the sunlit Saturday
Did my three-quarters-empty train pull out,
All windows down, all cushions hot, all sense
Of being in a hurry gone. We ran
Behind the backs of houses, crossed a street
Of blinding windscreens, smelt the fish-dock; thence
The river’s level drifting breadth began,
Where sky and Lincolnshire and water meet.

Photograph of Philip Larkin outside the Hull University library via weblink from the Melville House Press website.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009

10 out of 10 birds prefer the bus.

2009-04-11T01:23:00.001-04:00

Here's a spot from Brussels that pushes buses in a way designed to appeal to the social animal in all of us.

Advertising Agency: Duval Guillaume Brussels, Belgium
Creative Directors: Peter Ampe, Bottez Katrien
Creation: Hans Kerkhoff, Raoul Maris
TV Producers: Emily Rammant, Marc Van Buggenhout
Production Company: Creative Conspiracy
Director: Guionne Leroy
Producer: Luc Van Driessche

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009

2009-03-15T20:16:00.001-04:00

Understand a fraction. Know zero. See India Reborn on CBC. Tonight at 8 pm and again at 9.

Transit takes pole position

2009-03-02T14:53:00.000-05:00

This hilarious ad (seen here in situ) from Dublin sells safety with a smile if the reaction of riders is anything to go by. Yay Dublin.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009

Students love to connect. Viva loves to connect students.

2009-02-24T19:00:00.000-05:00

A couple of years ago we were handed a challenging assignment by Viva.
They wanted to make university students a core rider group, and make transit a behavioural choice for a new generation or riders. And oh, while doing that, they also wanted us to change the image of the bus as a loser cruiser.

No pressure, clearly.

Our single, unifying idea pivoted on transit’s promise of connectivity - its very reason for being. But we placed it in the context of the student’s world.

Viva connects you with the world you live in, we told them.
Yes, Viva gets you there on time, reliably, efficiently and comfortably.
Yes, riding Viva is good for the planet, but as importantly, when you ride Viva, you continue to make friends and meet people.

In a car you shut the door and cut yourself off.
On Viva, life goes on. Love goes on. Fun goes on.

The ads simply showed you how.

The campaign went on to win awards at transit and mainstream advertising award shows and was a huge success with students. We extended the campaign with an SMS marketing promotion in which students could win an iPod. If you'd like a case study with more details, write to me here.

Client:
Viva

Creative Directors:
Gavin Barrett, Mike Welsh

Art Director: Mike Welsh
Copywriter: Gavin Barrett

Photographer: Don Dixon

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2008

Pushing Cable Cars?

2009-02-20T15:08:00.000-05:00

Barrett and Welsh is heading out to San Francisco.

Gavin Barrett, Creative Director | Partner, Rao, Barrett and Welsh and Pushing Buses author, will be attending the APTA Marketing and Communications Workshop at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District.

We're looking forward to meeting the other APTA "Bus/CableCar/Train Pushers"!

Photo (c)Tomo.Yun http://www.yunphoto.net/en/

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009
All creative work shown is the property of its copyright owner(s) unless otherwise specified.

Pushing Buses makes an LA appearance.

2009-02-19T22:08:00.000-05:00

I'm proud to announce that Los Angeles Transportation Headlines, one of the world's most comprehensive aggregations of daily news on transit, transportation and urban planning, has included Pushing Buses in its Selected Blogs list.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009

Train? What train?

2009-02-19T18:08:00.000-05:00

This lenticular poster from Australia promoting safety around rail lines and rail crossings is a perfect match between idea and medium.

One second, there's nothing there. The next...

Now that's creative that hits you like a train.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009
All creative work shown is the property of its copyright owner(s).

Underground uses its noodle.

2009-02-17T11:40:00.000-05:00

This 1999 poster from the Underground's advertising archives shows that great brands weren't born yesterday.

An evocative precursor to the now well-established Making London Simple positioning, the poster makes the case for the Jubilee line with a single, intelligent sentence and great big serving of graphic wit.

Designed by Michael Johnson for the London Transport. From the collection of London Transport Museum.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009
All creative work shown is the property of its copyright owner(s).

Logos with wheels on 3: Bus transit

2009-02-15T09:18:00.000-05:00

#3 in my series of Transit Logo Posters. This one's a collection of bus transit logos from around the world - and by no means is it the most comprehensive. As always, if you'd like a high resolution version (for free) write to me here.

Article, poster and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009
All logos and trademarks shown are the property of their owners.

Acela aims for mode shift

2009-02-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

In the advertising and media section of today's New York Times, Stuart Elliot features Acela's brand new campaign. In the wake of Amtrak's high-profile celebrity endorsements from the likes of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, its high speed rail service, Acela, is stepping out smartly and reminding fliers and drivers of the creature comforts afforded by rail travel.

The commercial, by Arnold DC is slick; high production values are evident throughout. Though mass transit needs all the help it can get in gas-loving North America and while I'll put my money behind the morality of the common good any day, I have to be honest: good solid marketing? Yes. Mind-blowing creative? Nope. Pull down your skirt Arnold. Your briefs are showing.

Image from Amtrak's Acela campaign produced by Arnold DC, via the advertising and media section of the New York Times.
Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009

Logos with wheels on 2

2009-01-26T13:45:00.000-05:00

Another logo "poster".
This time it's a poster of the logos of a few major international rail transit brands.
If you'd like a larger version, simply write to me and request a copy.
Coming soon, reviews of individual logos and brand identities.

Article, poster and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009
All logos and trademarks shown are the property of their owners.

Logos with wheels on

2009-01-14T17:12:00.000-05:00

We've been very busy of late, redesigning brands or creating new branding for transit services. The process is usually elaborate and painstaking, and in order to do it right, I've had to traverse the universe of transit and transportation brands several times.
I must report that I've been horrified by the poor strategic and creative quality of most transit branding.

On occasion however, I've been thrilled by truly intelligent and iconic work.

I thought that I'd share both kinds from time to time. I'm kicking it off with a "poster" image of the logos of most of the major transit service brands in Canada. If you'd like a larger version, simply write to me and request a copy.

Article, poster and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009
All logos and trademarks shown are the property of their owners.

A merry Christmas and a happy 2009 to all!

2009-01-05T00:55:00.000-05:00

This exceedingly simple TV spot for German Rail says it all without words. Stille Nacht indeed!

Agency (& City): Ogilvy Frankfurt
Creative Director(s): Christian Mommertz, Dr. Stephan Vogel
Copywriter(s): Dr. Stephan Vogel, Alexander Haase
Art Director(s): Christian Mommertz, Kirsten Rosenberger, Marco Weber
Production Company (& City): Telemaz Commercials GmbH
Film Director(s): Eugen Stemmle
Production Company Producer(s): Eugen Stemmle
Agency Producer(s): Julia Staerkel
Other(s): Director: Eugen Stemmle, DOP: Michael Krauter, Editor: Daniel Reusch, Sound Design: Christian Schneider (Pearls Musik)

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2009

Word up.

2009-01-05T00:18:00.000-05:00

A billboard headline is typically 10 words.
Where on earth would an 82 word headline work on a billboard?

On a Mumbai street of course, where the traffic crawls.
Oh yes, Mumbai gridlock gives you plenty of time to reflect on the cleverly written copy: an exhortation to ride transit more and drive cars less. I should know. I lived there.
Copywriter: Sonal Chhajerh, Art Director: Sanket Pathare
via Ads of the World.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2008

Canadian Police Chase

2008-11-01T20:11:00.001-04:00

This Midas commercial really doesn't belong here.
Still, I couldn't resist including it as it persuasively makes the point about why it's better to use transit instead of driving in a Canadian winter.
Nicely done, DDB Vancouver.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2008

Underground art movement

2008-10-23T12:25:00.000-04:00

A classic from my archives, this 1986 poster is an excellent example of destination-focused marketing. Here, it's the London Underground (affectionately - and in this case, playfully - called the Tube), promoting the Tate Gallery. Fine White Line was the design wing of CDP, the agency that produced the fine Intercity campaign I posted earlier in this blog. This piece was voted one of the 20th century's top 100 posters by Campaign Magazine.

Credits: David Booth, Malcolm Fowler, Nancy Fowler.

Agency: Fine White Line

Driving costs you more than you think

2008-10-10T09:29:00.000-04:00

The summer of 2008 saw the highest gas prices in Canadian history

The CAA's 2008 Driving Costs Brochure, estimated the total annual cost of driving to be somewhere between $8500 and $15,000 a year.

The time was right to remind York Region's residents that their car habit costs them a lot more than they think. An online calculator at yrt.ca which let residents compute those costs based on their own lives (car model, distance driven and so on) really drove the message home.

Client:

York Region Transit

Creative Directors:

Gavin Barrett, Mike Welsh

Art Director: Mike Welsh

Copywriter: Gavin Barrett

Photographer: Garth Grosjean

Studio/Print Production/Design:

Deb Cochrane, Patrick Stolk-Ramaker

Thought of trains

2008-10-05T21:14:00.000-04:00

A truly classic UK campaign from the late 80s produced for Intercity Rail by (I believe) Collett Dickenson Pearce. Intelligent, articulate, persuasive. It will never seem dated. Apologies for the poor resolution however. My time machine has a screw missing.

2008-10-05T21:02:00.000-04:00

A pretty cool, guerilla campaign to announce the launch of Google Transit for Vancouver's TransLink.

Agency: Grey Vancouver Canada
Creative Director: Craig Redmond
Art Directors: Leah Moy, Wayne Low
Writer: Mike Leger
Photographer: Hans Sipma

Can the car

2008-10-05T19:09:00.000-04:00

This dramatic, effective guerilla stunt makes it rather clear where you should park your car. By Chris Wareham for Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Transit's "Drive Less" campaign. Via Behance.

Does it get easier?

2008-10-05T16:52:00.000-04:00

This charming spot by Brooklyn director Keef, sees New Yorkers get creative in order to get around. A quirky, hooky soundtrack makes it light and likeable - my god, can you believe that? In transit advertising! The sign off is so simple. MTA. The easy way to get around.

Director: keef :: Editor: Matt Shapiro / Crew Cuts :: Online Editor: Alexander Serpico / Crew Cuts :: DP: Joshua Kraszewski :: Colorist: Sean Dunckley / Company 3 :: Audio Mix: David Papa / Buzz, Inc.

A big hand for those who ride

2008-08-09T15:26:00.000-04:00

Perth's Department of Environment and Conservation went out of their way to show their appreciation of riders who are helping the planet by taking public transport. Riders entering bus shelters activated a motion sensor which triggered recorded applause.
Simple, effective, immediate.

Advertising Agency: Marketforce, Perth, Australia
Creative Director: Andrew Tinning
Creatives: Andrew Tinning, Ryan Albuino, Andrew Chu, Danielle Glenister
Released: June 2008

Via Ads of the World and YouTube

How the competition says it unlocks gridlock.

2008-06-23T17:59:00.000-04:00

This one comes from sunny Australia. Damn them for their summer in January. And, oh yeah, their good advertising.

Consider this simple immediate ad - for scooters.
Not buses/brt/lrt.

Still, I thought it illustrated perfectly the advantage of the vehicle over the kind of gridlocked traffic that is becoming ubiquitous the world over. And as such, worthy of pushing buses.

Article and blog copyright Gavin Barrett 2008.

Hit the rails, Jack.

2008-06-18T17:28:00.000-04:00

A funny, direct campaign for the French national Railway SNCF.
A classic technique: exaggerate to make a relatively ordinary message memorable.
Mind you the train looks nice enough to make you want to believe the claim: you won't miss the road.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2008.

The power of understatement.

2008-06-15T10:17:00.000-04:00

A spot with no words, accompanied by a beautiful piece of classical music, makes the Madrid Metro rise below it all. An elegant, restrained, stunningly filmed spot, with a message that's crystal clear.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2008.

Way to go, TTC.

2008-06-12T02:13:00.001-04:00

A simple, effective campaign done in 2002 by Aaron Kwapisinski, a young art director friend of mine, for the now defunct agency Flavour. In his own words "We took the cost of all the things one would fork out annually in order to maintain their vehicle and compared it to the cost of riding the TTC for a year. The difference was enough to illustrate the benefits." Thanks for sending this in Aaron.

Art Directors: Aaron Kwapisinski & Drew Pautler
Writer: Karin Djelaj
Creative Directors: Craig Cooper & Briony Wilson

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2008.

YouTube v 1.0?

2008-06-03T01:42:00.001-04:00

From a campaign for the Tube in London.
Four tubes to sell the Tube.

Brilliantly simple. Simply brilliant.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2008.

Take a Pass.

2008-06-03T01:40:00.001-04:00

A now-classic (late 80s), edgy, award-winning TV spot for Oslo transit, promoting monthly passes.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2008.

Rapid. Transit. Get. It?

2008-04-08T09:57:00.000-04:00

Somewhere else in northern climes (Copenhagen?), they're doing good advertising for public transit.
I give it ****.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2008.

Bumper sticker is bang on!

2008-03-14T21:28:00.000-04:00

An intelligent, immediate bumper sticker, from London Transport.
BTW, feel free to vote on your favourites by way of the asterisk (shift 8) key.
Ratings should be on a scale of 5 stars.

My rating for this is ***.5 (3.5 stars).

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2008.

Unstoppable!

2008-03-06T10:01:00.000-05:00

A bus wrap from our current winter campaign for York Region Transit.
Snow mobility. Now on a street near you.

Article and blog, copyright Gavin Barrett 2008.