Aap! - Alternative Advertising Possibilities

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“

The Pecha Kucha Night(PKN): A Celebration book is finally available online for international order.   Pecha Kucha Night for those new to the series is where presenters take the stage to present 20 slides, about which they will speak for 20 seconds each.

Pecha Kucha is now running in over 100 cities around the world in which over 3,000 people have presented their views of design in 20 slides x 20 seconds.

Featuring some amazing presentations by Toyo Ito, Marcus Fairs, PKN founders Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, Strange KInoko, Namaiki, Mark Dytham, Mark’s mum and Sebastian Conran + even Aap!Global, the bi-lingual montage covers the history of the event, and shares with the world this is amazing design “show and tell”.

Aap!Global’s PechaKucha Presentation in San Francisco is available for those curious to see the interaction between Graffiti and Outdoor Media > Watch Now.

We highly recommend the book for fans of the series at 2800 Yen with global shipping.

Even better - we recommend those creative individuals share with the world at their next local Pecha Kucha

Make way for the King of the Road. From the “Decotora” photo book. © Masaru Tatsuki

We’re big fans of Decotora - the fun and wacky line of Japanese pimped out buses and trucks. From estranged Godzillaesque monsters to stylish low riding styles with Samuri themes - from Kansai to Hokkaido - count yourself lucky to see one of the pimped out rides in Japan! . They are one of the wonderful elements that make Japan great.

Masaru Tatsuki has just finished a whole photoseries on the topic and is holding a gallery opening and exhibition Until February 3rd. Highly recommended.

Masaru Tatsuki’s “Decotora” Photo Exhibition
Venue: Little More Chika gallery, Tokyo.
Until Sunday, February 3rd.
Open: From 12 to 7pm.
Entry: ¥200.

Via PingMag 

Japan lags behind most of the world in its attitudes to those with “different capabilities.” Some fairly positive adverts from the JDSN aim to bring attenion to those living with down syndrome in Japan.

Wonder if this will keep families from “hiding” their challenged relatives in the outskirts of major cities?

See the JDSN adverts in their full glory

At Send A Message , a collaboration between Dutch advertising professionals and creative Palestinian youth, web goers can purchase “real world tags” on the 620 Kilometer fence separating Palestinians from Israel.  For a mere 30 Euros, users can elect to have their personal messages spray painted on the fence. Purchasers are given 3 digital photos of the completed work for personal usage.

The revenue from the tagging goes to build new schools, soccer fields, youth centers and other humanitarian projects in the area.

Be it a proposal for a lost love, a web url, or a humorous message this is a great project that brings the world closer to this complex situation in a peaceful and non threatening way.

More @

Al-Jazeera’s Video Report “Painting peace on Israel’s concrete canvas“ 

Send a Message Project Website

“Advertising is a tax you pay for unremarkable thinking.” -  Robert Stephens of the Geek Squad and head of one of the growing number of brands that have been built without the help of major advertising agencies or budgets.

Read more in BusinessWeek’s Re-cap on Advertising and Branding 2007