Aap! - Alternative Advertising Possibilities

Yup - there is indeed a Japanese  design company focused on the exciting niche service of designing creative, functional barcodes for products sold throughout Japan and the world.  The Design Barcode Inc. a Shibuya based graphic design studio has won several awards including a Cannes Titanium award for their work incorporating unique designs and motifs into conventional barcodes. Great example of some level of attention put into some products.

More @ Design Barcode Inc. [Japanese only]

Aap!Global will present and attend the annual Future-M

> Meet us and other seasoned entrepreneurs, top executives and professionals from some of the hottest Silicon Valley companies get together to create a forum for networking and learning.

The 3rd annual event from VSC Consulting and the Haas School of Business Technology Club brings together seasoned entrepreneurs and top executives from some of the hottest companies in Silicon Valley, creating a forum for interaction, networking and learning.

Speakers Include:

Nitin Bhandari, Founder & CEO, Skyfire – Skyfire offers the desktop PC experience on your mobile phone.  Whether you are viewing video, Java or any other PC-exclusive Web feature, Skyfire allows the exact same viewing experience on your mobile phone.

Tim Chang, Principal VC, Norwest Venture Partners – Norwest Venture Partners manages more than $2.5 billion in venture capital and has funded over 400 companies since inception. Tim focuses on investments in wireless and digital media as well as business development initiatives in Asia-Pacific.

Vijay Chattha, Founder & CEO, VSC Consulting (Moderator) – VSC Consulting is an award-winning strategic public relations and digital marketing boutique. VSC is ranked among the top tier of boutique agencies in the United States, according to PRWeek Magazine, and has won 16 awards for its work in consumer technology, mobile, gaming and advertising.

Jameson Hsu, Founder & CEO, Mochi Media – Mochi Media builds tools and services that monetize and support the creation and passion of casual game developers.  Their most popular product, MochiAds, is the world’s first advertising network for casual games.

Matt Marshall, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, VentureBeat - VentureBeat is a daily blog offering news and information concerning venture capital funding.  Intended as a resource for entrepreneurs and other interested professionals, it focuses on private companies in Silicon Valley, but also features news from innovation hubs around the globe.

Robert Patterson - Founder,  Aap!Global - Aap!Global is a global leader in alternative advertising mediums .  Aap! develops and manages high impact advertisings spaces in partnership with established media companies.

Wed 4/9 (6PM) at Faculty Club @ UC Berkeley , Berkeley, CA (Map) 

More info @ Going.com

Up, up and away… According to the recently released PQ Media Study on alternative media ”Spending on alternative media jumped 22.0% to $73.43 billion in 2007 and grew at  a compound annual rate of 21.7% from 2002 to 2007 … The momentum is expected to continue in 2008 despite a slowing economy, as brand  marketers scramble to stay in step with a rapidly changing media landscape. Total  spending on alternative media is forecast to grow 20.2% to $88.24 billion in 2008  and post compound annual growth of 17.0% in the 2007-2012 period, reaching  $160.82 billion. Digital and alternative media are forecast to command 26.6% of  total U.S. advertising and marketing spend in 2012. “   

Be careful - you can easily get lost in here.  Checkout FFFFound.com - masterly easy image sharing and tagging… Currently invite only but you can navigate and explore its treasures…

Today in the mail we got one of the most random packages in our company’s history.  We received a jet black mix-tape from Wieden Kennedy - those superstars up in Portland and around the world doing the ad work for Nike and other global brands.  Thankfully in our workshop we have a more than ghetto stereo with a deck to play the vintage format….  The contents are surprising… but we won’t share them yet…

Just the tape’s opening statement …  - “The Whole World Is An Educational Institute…” Roll music…

Great collection…

Escalator Step Advertising featured in Comunicadores, a great Brasilian online magazine dedicated to advertising.  Learn more about Aap!Steps and advertising on escalator steps and escalator step risers.

The Toronto Star recently featured coverage on various ambient media platforms including Aap!’s various platforms including escalator steps, handrails, supermarket checkout stands and passenger advertising straps.

Read the article online

Download a PDF Version

VIS.VC, a “Tokyo Video Magazine” covers the works of Tokyo-based video artists both in film, music video, and advertising/commercial work.  The site recently  launched in beta,  includes over 100 clips from some of Japan’s top creative directors.

According to an interview on HitsPaper on VIS.VC, the project hopes to bring attention to a creative class that is under appreciated in Japan or so feels to Rightning Inc. a studio based in Tokyo.

For those working in video content creation.  VIS.VC is a shopper’s guide to some of the best video director related talent in Japan.

Visit VSC.VC

When we’re taking breaks in our company lounge - strangely many of our staff seem to be addicted to RailFan - the rather unusual, but hyper realistic simulation game for the PlayStation 3 that lets you act out on your all time fantasy of being a train conductor. Well maybe this is a common fantasy for those living in or have lived in Japan.

The game emphasizes realism and allows you to drive trains in three different locations, including Chicago’s brown line, part of Tokyo’s JR system and Osaka. Your task in the game is simply, you need to run the train properly and make sure to stop on time at each station. Controls are pretty simple as well, you only need to control the train’s throttle.

Railfan differs from other train simulation games mainly by its graphics. The game’s graphics are displayed by a streaming video of the actual train lines. The camera shakes to give you the feeling of a moving train and cut-scenes will display additional overhead views of the train.

The game is extremely challenging and teaches among many things just how little margin for error there is in train operations. You think that being only 10 seconds behind schedule is minor but multiplied across say the Chuo line of Tokyo and you’ll be over 10 minutes late before you even get to Mitaka with angry salaryman late to work.

The game is addictive in strange way and perfect for the office lounge has you can take sips of coffee and dream up new ideas with co-workers.

Highly recommended. Only wish we could drive subway cars and see virtual tunnel advertising displays like our MetroVISTA platform.  Maybe the next version will feature these elements!

More on RailFan @ Wikipedia

PingMag - the great bi-lingual Japanese / English online magazine, today features the wonderful world of Japanese tape production with a focus on the branding elements of commercial and professional films.

Since we work with some of Japan’s and the world’s most specialized film extruders and converters we found the article of great interest. PingMag offers a great introduction on the production of different adhesive films along with a focus on the funky designs that are featured in these common and less common special purpose adhesive.

Like the article’s covered products - we also feature custom liners to help share with users our love and dedication to adhesive backed films.

Read more on the “Thrilling World of Tape Design“