A meter of African culture.

Vuvuzela. The word reminds me of African smells, colours and moods. I find it fascinating that a whole world gets so upset over a one meter long piece of plastic. The vuvuzela was not, despite what many people might think, invented for the world cup this year, but has been used for years. Freddie ”Saddam” Maake claims to have invented the vuvuzela in 1965, and it has been popular since th 1990's on football games to annoy the opposite team and its supporters.

I don't mind a ban in other countries, but when in Rome… Or South Africa…

Royal theme.

South Africa and royal weddings – it's the shit (pardon my French). For a weekend the wedding between Swedish princess Victoria and her now prince Daniel yesterday overshadowed the Football (Soccer) World Cup in South Africa. At least in Sweden, Germany and a few other countries i suspect.

Even I found myself in front of the TV to watch the king hand over his daughter to Daniel (you might know my feelings towards that detail…) and in today's paper wedding was the theme of the day, even for adverts. Here is one. (Congratulations to the bride and groom. Hope you'll soon be 3.)

Slow Brands 1.1

A while ago I wrote about Slow Brands, admiring the famous but soon to be extincts advertising murals painted on walls in major American cities, such as New York. Like slow food is becoming increasingly more popular as people start putting value on their time, perhaps we're seeing a new trend of advertising murals appearing.

Design and brand agency Hedlund Noodapera has painted the walls at Helsinki International Airport, Vanda, and Kastrup in Copenhagen for client First Card (payment system for administering travel costs for larger companies). The choice of painting the walls instead of printing on another material was chosen to achieve the brilliant colours that are impossible to get when printing. But Clear Channel, in charge of the advertising space at Helsinki Airport had first to be convinced through example screens made in scale 1:3.

The murals now cover a total area of about 100 square meters. Perhaps a good reason to travel via Copenhagen or Helsinki this summer?

Read article (in Swedish) about the project.