1. Ron Medellin A

    A visit to Young & Rubicam Brands in Bogota, reveals the agency has used the Primal Branding construct to totally reposition their client Ron Medellin Añejo rum. Using the icon of a spider, they created a new label and new attitude for the brand, then evaluated the origins, creed, rituals and other aspects of the primal code to develop creative and in-store (and in-bar) events around the brand. The result? A totally new brand that Ron Medellin CEO says is now up 10%.

    Category: New Ideas Blog Comments Off | November 27, 2007 by THINKTOPIA®

  2. Ich bin ein Berliner

    As Carnegie Hall artistic director Sir Clive Gillinson holds his culturefest celebrating Berlin, we note that one New Yorker has his own culturefest in Berlin. New York painter Tom Christopher, whose sole subject matter seems to be New York (specifically Times Square) street scenes, sells out his Berlin shows. Those who want to find irony will find it in the fact that while many Europeans frown at our political will as exhibited in the streets of Baghdad, scoop up Christopher’s painting of lithe Manhattan bicycle messengers skudding between yellow taxi cabs. Christopher’s freely drawn glimpses of New York street life can also be seen in Tokyo, Paris, and Frankfurt, where they are bought by art (and apparently New York) lovers. If Sir Clive can’t make it to Berlin to see Christopher’s work, he can stroll downhill from Carnegie Hall to the Conde Nast Building at 1 Times Square where Christopher’s paintings are on exhibit.

    Category: New Ideas Blog Comments Off | by THINKTOPIA®

  3. Martin + Osa

    Martin + Osa is my new favorite fashion concept store. Brought to us by the same people who created American Eagle Outfitters, M+O demonstrates great design, great fashion and a great story still untold. I first noticed the store at the Mall of America: a external finish of white with a streak of cobalt blue attracted my attention.

    It took weeks for my curiosity to get the best of me and draw me into the store. There are no pictures or other evidence of the store’s namesakes inside the store, so I had to ask, “Who’s Martin? Who’s Osa?”

    Turns out Martin and Osa Johnson were in the vein of Ernest Hemingway, Amelia Earhardt, Beryl Markham and other 1930s-style explorers. Google shows them seated next to a Sikorsky S-39 “Spirit of Africa”.

    And while you might expect a refreshed 1970s Banana Republic, with done-over safari gear and military surplus, Martin + Osa is anything but. This new “refined casual clothing” concept offers extra fine Merino wool sweaters that are soft to the touch and comfortable to wear. True, there are a smattering of obligatory white shirts and jeans, but with fresh styling and intuitive flairs that make it worth the visit.

    God is in the details. Check out the price tags. The material is something between cloth and plastic, even the safety pins are a fresh redesign of a classic. Some thinking went into this concept before it hit the mall concourse.

    Check it out

    Category: New Ideas Blog Comments Off | November 26, 2007 by THINKTOPIA®