Open to Everyone

We are GOLD!

We're all very happy bunnies here are Public today. Why? Well we went over to the bright lights of Leeds on Wednesday night and scooped two Gold awards in the CIPR Yorkshire & Lincolnshire PRide Awards 2009.

Being shortlisted in three categories ' Best Use of Design and Photography', 'Best Newspaper or Magazine' and 'Best Publication' was an achievement in itself when we found out over 1,400 entries were received this year. But winning two Golds in succession was a unique experience.

Our brochure 'Same great recipe, just new packaging' took Gold for 'Best Use of Design and Photography'. We produced this for our long-standing clients, the Gilder Group, to communicate the opening of their brand new £15 million development to over 30,000 customers. Here's the first page to give you a taster...

 
And then came Gold No. 2 for 'Best Newspaper or Magazine' for the fabulous Spot On magazine that we produce with Susan Thomas, HR manager at Netto, for the discount supermarket's UK colleagues. This is the front page from the summer issue with Scottie the Dog checking out the deals...

 

Chris and Becky celebrated by having a little dance but were unimpressed by their fellow dancefloor competitors so Chris took us to a little Champagne bar in the city where we continued to bathe in the glory until the wee small hours. Our smiles say it all!

 
 
  

The future design of gaming? Let's hope so!

Forget all your Playstation 3s. Forget your Playstation 3 thin models with multiple lovely colors, forget even the earlier design by this same designer, Tai Chiem, that PSP 2 concept he whipped up last year, no! Check this thang out. It’s the Playstation 4. Tai Chiem’s Playstation 4 concept: that’s how you know it’s wild. And with clear material and minimalistic aesthetics in play, you’ve got one Tai-tastic amalgamation, to be sure.

Public creative gets a good review

Our Sleepmasters ad went under the critical eye of Nathan Milnes, Head of Marketing NCC Group in the Drum this week (25.09.09). Here's the clipping:

We're inclined to agree with his opinion!!

More Public loving from the Drum

Below is a clipping from the Drum (11.09.09):

If you've still not seen the ad in full, here's a link:

http://tiny.cc/vp9fA 

What a mug!

It's always good when a piece of creativity makes you chuckle, and this hits the spot for sure. Now, where can I get my hands on a set of these?

Munch back in time

Always on the look out for something retro, Darren spotted this little gem:

Walkers have taken retro one step further. Or is that one step backwards? When they re-launched Monster Munch, they didn’t just change the packs back to how they were in their 80s heyday, they also changed the actual crisps back to the original size.
The witty ‘OLD’ instead of ‘NEW’ flash is a nice extra touch too.

Public PR shortlisted for PRide Awards '09

 Public have been shorlisted for CIPR PRide Awards, yet again.

This time we're in for three!  Have a look at http://ciprprideawards.com/page14426423.aspx for the details.

The awards bash is in Leeds in November.  Hopefully we won't see a repeat of last year's dancing...

Public/Sleepmasters...

...enjoying some love from The Drum.

http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2009/09/01/11282-sleepmasters-goes-public-with-national-campaign 

Getting foodie

We're currently putting together a campaign for Kerrymaid Garlic Butter at www.garlicbutter.co.uk.  Why not blog your favourite garlic butter recipe using the product (and send us a link). We'd love to know what you're making.

We've also put together some cooking videos with Alex McKay.  Have a look at www.merchant-gourmet.com for exciting recipe ideas using their lovely products.

Belles and whistles

We recently helped Doncaster Belles Ladies Football Team celebrate their 40th anniversary with a film created to showcase the teams skill and football flair.

The filmed and created by two of our creatives - Martin and Nick - with the invaluable filming talents of Becky in PR. All music was written and produced by Erroll Rollins from Askern Road Studios.

You can see the finished product below:

 

Marketing Live

Here are some short videos from the Marketing Live event which Chris attended earlier in the year.

Enjoy! 

The second best job in Britain?

MI5, the UK's domestic intelligence agency, is set to appoint a chief scientific advisor.

Apparently, the role will involve "working with intelligence staff to combat terrorism and support counter-intelligence operations". Candidates will need to have world-class scientific expertise and outstanding communication skills.

There are a few people here at Public that could fulfill the second part of that requirement, unfortunately, our world-class scientific expertise needs a little work...

Those with more active imaginations are of the opinion that MI5 are actually on the look out for a real-life Q, the mastermind behind James Bond's life-saving gadgets such the laser beam Rolex and Aston Martin complete with machine guns and ejector seat.

Applications close on 24 April, so you'll have to be quick. Oh, and the best job in Britain, in case you were wondering, well that's '007 of course.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the team at Esquires Coffee Houses who opened their 26th store in Doncaster this week.  After two years of working with Esquires it's great to have a store on our doorstep!

Songs to say goodbye

According to a survey carried out by Cooperative Funeral Care, it would appear the songs we choose to say goodbye to are changing.

Fewer people are choosing hymns, down 6%, and plumping for songs that celebrate their loved one's life rather than mourn it.

The current Top Ten funeral songs:

1) My Way - Frank Sinatra/Shirley Bassey

2) Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler/Celine Dion

3) Time To Say Goodbye - Sarah Brightman/Andrea Bocelli

4) Angels - Robbie Williams

5) Over The Rainbow - Eva Cassidy

6) You Raise Me Up - Westlife/Boyzone/Josh Grobin

7) My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion

8) I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

9) You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry and the Pacemakers

10) Unforgettable - Nat King Cole

 

Whilst there's no accounting for taste, some of the more unusual choices include AC/DC's Highway to Hell and a schoolteacher who went on her way to Ding Dong the Witch is Dead from The Wizard of Oz - genius!

Getting to grips with a new client's products

We're currently in the planning stages with a very exciting new client and as part of that we're working our way through their product range. Good job all the stuff's really tasty!

Today's lunchtime effort got the thumbs up as you can see by the fact little was left...

Happy Easter

Looking for something suitably seasonal, we came across the world's largest Easter egg.

The Belgian chocolate producer Guylian made the chocolate egg with at least 50,000 bars on behalf of the city of St. Niklaas.

The egg measured 8.32 metres high and beats the record of Kwazulu-Natal in South-Africa in 1996. That egg was 7.65 metres high.

Twenty-six craftsman worked altogether 525 hours to build the egg. They needed 1950 kg of chocolates.

Alderman Urbain Vercauteren of the city of St.Niklaas said the egg wasn't meant to be eaten.

He said: "After a week outside in all weather conditions, I don't think it would be very tasteful."

Shame. We could've polished it off in, hum, all of half an hour...

Have you got the bottle?

Debenhams have launched a ladies suit, which apparently wouldn't look out of place in the boardroom, made from 50 recycled plastic bottles.

It comes with the tagline 'any woman can look good wearing rubbish'. Thoughts on a postcard please. In the meantime, we're currently working on a handbag made entirely from our stash of national newspapers.

What does one trillion dollars look like...

here you go.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Hollywood studios are bidding to turn a radical reworking of Austen’s most popular book, now called Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a parody to be published in April, into a blockbuster movie. More...  

Which famous novel would you turn into "monster-lit"?  How about Around the World in Eighty Corpses, Oliver Knife Twist or Werewolfs and Peace? Hmm...maybe not.

A face for radio

 

The Guradian ran an interesting piece at the weekend on some of the UK's best (and worst) radio DJs and presenters.  Lots of pretty pictures too, take a look here.