CREATIVE REVIEW: Alan Harvey, Cravens

Did I miss something? I was left confused. If the Zen-like music and slo-mo images were to reflect the calming influence of the product, it fights directly against the excellent line ‘it works where it hurts’. Action images of impact or pain would be more appropriate. No pain, no gain…

UBER

Bafta awards tickets, parking and menu

Why do some designers find an off-the-shelf cardboard structure and shoe-horn a basic idea into it? They could have at least used the extending mechanism as part of the idea of ‘extending an invitation’. Sadly, gloss varnish and foil blocking do not automatically give the style and elegance needed.

THE LEITH AGENCY

Diet Irn Bru poster and press ads

I think this is an opportunity lost. To just grab two interesting images that have no relationship to the product or its benefits and then add a copy line is disappointing. Spot the difference? I certainly did... Irn Bru posters used to be quirky and compelling, this work falls short.

THE UNION

STV Recruitment TV ads

Strange one this. I get the group of men and women representing different industries, but what has a version of the New Zealand ‘Haka’ got to do with job seeking? Unless being able to sing and dance is a CV requirement in Scotland. I’m left like the guy at the end of the commercial, looking on in disbelief.

SMILING WOLF

(Photography by Dan Kenyon)

Liverpool Sung and Unsung book

Beautiful. Well designed and the photographs have captured the soul of the subjects with insight and integrity. Crafted with love and attention to detail, this was a book that I wanted to keep. Unfortunately I was informed that, as they were in short supply, I had to return it. I’m not surprised, it’s captivating.