Media & web

Dear blank, please blank

Dear blank, please blank is a site with an enigmatic name but a very simple idea. Imagine what people, animals, countries or even inanimate objects might write to each other in correspondence. The pithier the better. Two guys in Seattle, Jared Wunsch and Hans Johnson came up with the idea. The submissions are moderated by Jared’s cat Louie if you feel like ‘putting pen to paper’. Here’s some of our

The world according to stereotypes

Americans often get picked on when it comes to being accused of stereotyping. Yanko Svetkov’s maps don’t single out the United States; he even-handedly features the stereotypes held by Europeans as well. Relevant and topical for our Scottish readers is the Crystal Ball of Europe 2022 below which splits the UK into Kilt Republic and Passive Aggressive Kingdom. Bulgarian-born, Yanko Tsvetkov currently lives in Spain but has also lived in

Ribbons for Adult Accomplishments

For those of us afflicted with praise dependency here are some long overdue ‘ribbons for adult accomplishments’ from artist, Brittany Powell. First Place: Setting the Clock on the Microwave Champion: Refraining from Using Your Cell Phone While Driving Champion: Finishing this Month’s Book Club Book First place: Toilet Aim Champion: Tupperware Drawer Organizer Best: Cat-Bathing Skills Champion: Afghan Knitter Champion: Refraining from Using Sarcasm on the Customers First Place: Fastest

Toys get political

Very short plastic toys have been holding placards to protest over the recent Russian elections. Police in Barnaul, Siberia have asked prosecutors to check if the protest is illegal.   Photograph: Sergey Teplyakov/vkontakte

Smirnoff: the effect was shattering

Before the rules of alcohol adverstising changed in 1975, this legendary poster campaign seemed to suggest that a mere first sip of Smirnoff vodka was a life melting, transformative experience. Substitute the word ‘heroin’  for ‘Smirnoff’ and it still makes sense. The campaign was the work of the London-based Young and Rubican agency and was, in terms of sales, fantastically successful. Marketing Director at the time, Tim Ambler, recalls that

Avocado Sweet ad spaces now available!

‘Hello? Don? Is that you? Listen carefully darling because I’ve got something big for you. Avocado Sweet is launching its ad spaces – can you handle it?’  *** Ok so Don Draper isn’t on the case but we are delighted to announce that we at last have ad spaces available on Avocado Sweet, with special discounts for artists and makers. Just click on the ‘Advertise here!’ button on the right

Happy holidays with Banana Republic

The chattering classes may have deemed John Lewis’s seasonal effort a fail but here’s Banana Republic showing that it is possible to create a Christmas campaign that is unashamedly consumerist yet fantastically festive. Featuring the lovely Karen Elson and the (even lovelier?) Andrew Cooper, the campaign was shot by Carter Smith and depicts a Christmas to covet. And there’s no bastardised Smiths tune to assault the ears either. Bravo

Irina Werning: Back to the future 2

Argentinian photographer Irina Werning has produced a second series of her famous Back to the Future portraits which recreate childhood photos with the subjects as adults. Some of the first series are also included below in case you missed them first time around. The images are unnervingly exact in recreating the original, often period, details. To some the pictures may be melancholic but ultimately they are heartwarming; people change less than