oxblood

JONATHAN ON MASTERCHEF

2012-01-20T16:09:00.004Z

The word is out. Yes, our very own Account Director, Jonathan Dale, appeared on MasterChef last night.

For those of you who missed it, here's a little taster (scuse the pun):

Comfy gift boxes

2012-01-18T11:24:00.005Z

Hello all,

So this week is one of my friend's birthdays, every year I usually send flowers which are always very well received... but albeit a bit boring and a lot of money for something that will die in a week (don't get me wrong i love getting flowers).

Looking for something different I stumbled across www.comfygiftboxes.co.uk and it is genius! A very wide range of gift boxes for birthdays both for him and for her, pamper nights in, moving house, new baby, new mums, get well soon for adults and kids... the list goes on! All the products are useful and long lasting and the best thing is THEY INCLUDE CHOCOLATE!!! Every woman's dream!! And all this for the price that a standard bunch of flowers would cost!

So my friend's birthday present is purchased and I thought I would share the love of this fab new company. The stress of finding a different and interesting present has now gone with a few easy clicks.... Comfy Gift Boxes I SALUTE YOU!

Amie :-)

LBA winner’s announced across the country!

2012-01-11T14:27:00.003Z

Today the Prime Minister congratulated Local Business Accelerators winners up and down the country saying, "Entrepreneurship, creativity and ambition are essential for our economic recovery and through Local Business Accelerators, newspapers are supporting some great new British businesses to grow, and helping to boost their local economy.”

We launched LBA back in October. Since then, the scheme has gathered momentum. The Business Growth Fund, an investment initiative worth £2.5bn, has teamed with LBA to identify investment opportunities amongst the list of entrants. The Prime Minister went on to say, “It's brilliant that so many promising young companies, from such a wide range of sectors, are benefitting from this excellent initiative.”

Deborah Meaden, the LBA ambassador said, "I wish the newspapers, businesses and their mentors every success over the coming months."

We’ll be announcing an over all national winner very soon!

Dave

Bread Fit For Chanel!

2012-01-09T13:08:00.005Z

I am loving a food feature on Cool Hunter about amazing, 'Designer Bakeries'. The basis is the breads should be amazing, natural, artesian, flavoursome but the environment it is sold in should be equally as amazing. They asked their readers to contribute examples and the list ranges from Greece to Italy to Australia and Japan. The list contains the most incredible bakeries that are so stylish I'd happily live in them! There didn't appear to be any examples from the UK. As 2012 is Londons year, which bakeries, that fit the 'designer' criterior, would you recommend that are located in The Big Smoke? It's kind of ridiculous as I don't eat wheat / gluten but I'm still fascinated! It's nice to 'look and 'fatten the eyes' sometimes:)

Cool Earth & St. Luke's

2012-01-05T10:04:00.004Z

Hi all,

Firstly, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! The whole office seems to be on January diets/ detoxes and so far sticking to New Years Resolutions, what's yours?

So as we have blogged about before, we are partners with Cool Earth, a charity working with local communities to secure forests at risk of being destroyed ad we are pleased to share with you our Annual Statement for 2011, showing what good work our funding has gone towards.

We are very proud of what we have achieved with Cool Earth so far and look forward to continuing the good work in 2012!

Click here to find out more about Cool Earth!

Amie

St. Luke's Xmas fun

2011-12-19T11:56:00.005Z

Have you seen our homepage of the website and blasted us with snow yet? The reactions are rather funny! Click here for the fun!

We hope you have a blast (get it?) this Christmas and wish you all the best for a wonderful 2012! We are looking forward to another busy year.

Amie :-)

ST LUKE'S WINS GLA PITCH

2011-12-01T11:49:00.004Z

It's been a corker of a week - mostly thanks to the news that we won the pitch to develop the comms for the GLA's ‘A Summer Like No Other’, a programme of free cultural events hosted in London throughout summer 2012. We can't wait to get started.

LOVE YOUR VAGINA SONG WINS LIA AWARD

2011-11-15T14:52:00.006Z

We were thrilled to win a silver award at the London International Awards last night for our Mooncup 'Love Your Vagina' song. Here's a picture of a very happy St Luke's Creative Partner Julian Vizard and Mooncup Marketing Manager Kath Clements accepting the award.

The song comprises over 25 pet names women call their vagina, which were submitted to a poll we ran last year. The poll received over 14,000 different names and over 50,000 votes - and it's still going! The song has received over 250,000 views on YouTube and coverage on Absolute Radio, ELLE and The Daily Star.

Enter your name to the poll and download the song from iTunes.

RNIB wins ANNA ad of the month

2011-11-04T17:31:00.004Z

Our RNIB press ad campaign has been chosen by the ANNAs in their October ad of the month for 'the simple visual way they demonstrate the issue of sight loss in an every day context'.
The ANNAs are run by the Newspaper Marketing agency on behalf of National newspapers.
Well done creative team!
Jo x

PM endorses Local Business Accelerators

2011-10-26T16:02:00.010+01:00

Applications are flooding in for Local Business Accelerators, our latest campaign for the Newspaper Society. Almost 500 local newspapers are activating the initiative in their communities. They'll be seeking out Britain’s most promising fledgling businesses and supporting them with free advertising and professional mentoring.

Endorsing our campaign the Prime Minister said: "The Local Business Accelerators campaign will help provide the boost that our smaller British businesses need right now. By joining forces to launch this excellent initiative, local newspapers are demonstrating their commitment and providing exactly the sort of practical, hands-on support that will help young local businesses succeed and grow.”

The first of three full page press ads, designed by Ed and Dave has appeared in each participating title. Simultaneously campaign ambassador, Deborah Meaden, has been busy leading a national PR campaign to promote the scheme.

To find out more about Local Business Accelerators you can visit the applications page: accelerateme.co.uk

The campaign concludes in January 2012. There’s lots happening between now and then, so standby for more progress reports!

St. Luke's day 2011

2011-10-24T15:31:00.003+01:00

We held this years St. Luke's day at The Driver and with the help from Cinnamon created wonderful ice Sculpture all with the brief to hold a bottle of wine.

Congrats to Simon & Caroline and Al & Rajenna with their winning sculptures, the message in a bottle and lips!

We all had a great time and celebrated with a yummy 5 course lunch!

Top girls still top

2011-10-21T12:42:00.000+01:00

Last night I went to see Caryl Churchill's play Top Girls, directed by Max Stafford-Clark and starring Suranne Jones.

"Top Girls is a wonderfully provocative study of powerful women in 80s Britain, revealing the compromises made in the quest for success, and what happens to those left behind."

Even though the play is set in the 1980s the topic of women being successful over men in the work place is still very much apparent in 2011 and that at today's current pace of recruitment it would take 20 years for one in three directors in the boardroom to be female.

The first act sees the main character Marlene holding a fictional dinner party with 5 historical women that like her have been successful but have sacrificed to be so. It did make me think who I would have at my dinner party... who would you invite?

Top Girls is on at the Trafalgar Studios in London until Saturday 29th October, it is a wonderful production that has you laughing one minute and close to tears the next, go and see it quick!

Amie

Day Of The Dead!

2011-10-20T16:23:00.003+01:00

I'm not talking about Zombie movies people! I'm talking about the amazing Mexican tradition of honoring their dearly departed. The Wellcome Collection is one of the coolest galleries in London and on the 5th November they have some fantastic events that will help us to honor our lost ones and party!

Personally I'm going straight for the decorating 'Sugar Skulls' activity. If that's too ghoulish for you try your hand at playing an Aztec instrument, skeleton dancing, the list is endlessly. I'm not missing this and neither should you!

The fact that I'm going to the Ghostface Killah / MF Doom gig at the Roundhouse that very evening seems to make so much sense!:)

Delphina x

Boop-Oop-a-doop

2011-10-20T15:07:00.003+01:00

I snapped this sassy car on Great Marlborough St and could not help thinking that if Betty Boop had a car this one would be it!

I have a question for y'all:

If you could customize your car which cartoon character would you pick for inspiration??

Delphina x

BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL!

2011-10-20T11:28:00.006+01:00

Hey People

It's that time of year again! A Weekend of free cultural events in our quirky corner of London. There will be a World Music stage, a food market, dance, film screenings. Take the opportunity to visit The Foundling Museum, The Grant Museum of Zoology, The Cartoon Museum.

The parks and squares of Bloomsbury will be a hive of activity! The weather report say there will be no rain so there is no excuse for you not to come out to play!

Delphina x

Guinness world record holders!

2011-10-13T17:24:00.005+01:00

A few St. Lukers went down to Waterstones, Piccadilly today to support RNIB's world record reading relay. We were given one line each to read out, 317 people took part, beating the previous record of 290 held by Austria. We read an exclusive, never published Anthony Horowitz story, called "The Double Eagle has Landed".

RNIB Autumn campaign launch

2011-10-10T09:57:00.002+01:00

Our new RNIB campaign launched today - focusing on the loss of the written word on everyday objects that we take for granted.
The campaign covers print, radio and online - all coming soon to the website!

Beyrouth Cool!

2011-10-10T09:40:00.005+01:00

On a whim I decided to take a little trip to Beirut. They have to my surprise a really cool underground music scene and i was quite keen to check it out. Whilst strolling down a side street in downtown Beirut, I happened upon a piece of 'Banksy' stencil style street art with the witty caption: "Art Is For Everyone Except Ugly People". As there was a luxury Mercedes Parked directly underneath, I'm inclined to think it really is a Banksy. What other street artist can afford a Merc for a getaway car?:)

My next favorite pic is of the 'Jealousy Mosaic'. This mosaïc decorated the entrance of a wealthy home located at the heart of Byzantine Beirut. The purpose of the inscription,Envy is an evil; it has beauty however/ it eats out the eyes and the heart of the envious, was to protect the inhabitants against envy and evil.

So naturally the next step to guard against the evil eye would be to hook yourself up with a 'Hamsa' a hand shaped talisman The hamsa was a bit pricey but totally worth it. It looks fantastic! Evil Eye be gone!

Delphina x

Taste bud fun

2011-10-05T11:07:00.004+01:00

Coffee + sweet potato? Onion + apple? Beef + celery?
Apparently these are all pairs of food that compliment each other. For all the budding chefs out there, this visualisation wheel from information is beautiful is a great way to learn and enhance your cooking skills. There's plenty more to view, just click on the pic.

A NEW FAMILY IN TOWN

2011-09-14T16:35:00.009+01:00

As part of our work for Toby Carvery to make the restaurants a bit more fun for their younger guests, we created the Tobys.

Meet Edward the Potato (King Ed to his friends) and Paddy the pea.

We're delighted to see them in action in the Toby Carvery in Lincoln!

City UK & St. Luke's

2011-08-26T16:26:00.005+01:00

City UK launched the next generation vision for financial services this week.
We were delighted to help create it.

Click here for more info!

A Majestic win!

2011-08-04T13:04:00.008+01:00

We're very excited to welcome Majestic Wine Warehouse to the St Luke's family. They're a great brand with big ambitions and we can't wait to get started.

It means that our fridges, currently bursting with Bulmers and Strongbow, will have to give up some room for a selection of Majestic's best. On second thoughts, maybe we just get a bigger fridge.

Dave

Littlewoods send 2 Million new Catalogues

2011-07-18T15:25:00.005+01:00

We are delighted that Littlewoods have distributed 2 million catalogues and relaunched their website based on our new design and positioning.

Find out more about it here.

NO.1 ON ADCRITIC

2011-07-06T21:02:00.005+01:00

We're thrilled to see that in less than a month, our 'Love Your Vagina' song for Mooncup has received over 144,000 views, 1,000 likes and 19 pages of comments on YouTube and coverage in places as diverse as Elle, Absolute Radio and The Daily Star. It has also been number one on Adcritic.

All this without a penny of media spend.

The shape of things to come: Sculpture

2011-07-04T16:57:00.003+01:00

Last week I went to see this Exhibition at The Saatchi Gallery. Showcasing the work of 20 sculptors, both up and coming and well established. Some of the work is very original, I particularly liked this - thats action packed, energetic sculpture for you! It's on until October 26th so if and when the wet weather comes back I would highly recommend a visit.

GTLK

2011-06-29T12:02:00.003+01:00

Andrey Muratov is a director of film and photography from Moscow, Russia. This video, titled 'GTLK', addresses components of space and considering the video is literally a ball of ice melting, the unique filming and editing makes it very interesting to watch.

Calum

Dan Mountford

2011-06-28T16:07:00.006+01:00

Dan Mountford is a graphic designer/photographer who recently graduated from Brighton University. Over the past year his non-photoshopped double exposure images have received much praise, with certain photos getting viewed over 50,000 times on flickr. I would definitely recommend taking a look at his page.

Calum

LOVE YOUR VAGINA SONG

2011-06-16T13:50:00.004+01:00

Today our 'Love Your Vagina' song for Mooncup launches! It has somehow already reached number 19 in the iTunes vocal charts which is pretty exciting.

The song is created from names submitted to a poll we ran last year asking women what they lovingly call theirs. We received over 14,000 different names and this our way of saying thank you to everyone who took part.

The song was filmed at Proud Cabaret and was written by composer Simon Bass.

erm...its Ci-der!?!

2011-06-14T11:21:00.001+01:00

Taking inspiration from Stella Artois’ ad to launch Stella ‘ci-dre’ (pronounced cee-dra), Strongbow took more of a down-to-earth approach to show the nation how to say ‘Cider’!!

It had a fab response with over 600 likes on facebook and some very positive comments!

Let's get ready to rumbleeeeee!!!!!!!

2011-06-13T10:59:00.000+01:00

On Friday our lovely office manager Delphina organised a boxing lesson for us! Transforming our basement to that of a boxing club complete with inspirational images of Muhammad Ali and the Rocky soundtrack! With the help of our boxing coach Raman we had lots of fun and took away some valuable boxing techniques!

RNIB ad wins Chip Shop Award

2011-06-10T10:24:00.003+01:00

Our RNIB ad won the Chip for Best Charity Ad at this years Chip Shop Awards.

We were rather chuffed as the other nominations in this category were very strong!

Another congratulations to Ed and Dave our creative team on this ad...let's hope their winning streak keeps going!

To see our award winning ad again click here

Not sure about you but I have a craving for fish 'n' chips now!

Amie x

Snooze Art!

2011-05-26T17:43:00.006+01:00

Hey Y'all, why not pop along to The Lion Pub this Tuesday and check out Wayne Snoozes collection of drawings and sketches and enjoy a glass of vino! It's an informal affair and bound to be a super cool, hiptastic exhibition! Details as follows -

31st of May Lion Pub,
Stoke Newington Church Street
Starting around 7:30pm and finishing 11:00pm

I've attached a link to his website so you can take a peep at some of his fine work! Just do it! Ha! :) Much Love - Delphna x

Another award for Ed and Dave!

2011-05-23T18:22:00.003+01:00

A massive congrats goes out to Ed and Dave our creative team who came 2nd at the European Best Yet Contest that took place in Croatia. They had won the Newspaper Society's UK competition for best young creative team. They're clearly on a roll, what'll be next?

Well done guys!

Royal wedding well mannered frivolity!!

2011-05-06T16:52:00.005+01:00

To celebrate the Royal wedding we had our own decoration of the Wills & Kate masks competition. I'm pleased to say that my Blue Peter Style (good old fashioned paper, scissors, glue & highlighters) Kate mask Won!! See PA's can be creative too!

We finished off our celebrations with a Royal Afternoon Tea complete with bubbly to toast the happy couple!

Amie

Young Team of the Year

2011-04-14T18:18:00.004+01:00

BIG congratulations to our creative team Dave and Ed who won 'Young Team of the Year' this week!

The annual competition to find the best young creative team in the UK is run by the Newspaper Society in association with Campaign and the IPA.

The competition involved holing up for the day to solve a brief for Mars, in conjunction with the FA, to use local press to get people to take part in their ‘Just Play’ initiative - so getting people to play at least 30mins of football a week.

Their winning idea was press ads that challenged people to screw up the page into a ball and try to do 10 ‘kick ups’ with it.

When the boys demonstrated this and performed kick ups with the ball, they hit a judge on the head. Fortunately this wasn't counted against them.

They're now off to Croatia to compete for European Young Team of the Year. Good luck guys!

Our New Strongbow TV Ad!

2011-04-13T11:37:00.004+01:00

Click here to take a look at our new Strongbow ad 'Tall Order' which aired for the first time on Monday. We have had a great response, including a facebook comment from a real sofa delivery man... we're glad you approve 'Taffy'.

Amie

Strongbow TV Ad coming soon...

2011-04-08T15:46:00.003+01:00

Along with Campaign, we are all very excited for the launch of our new Strongbow TV ad - Tall Order.

Look out for it on Monday 11th April!

Sarah Ebner of The Times writes about RNIB Campaign

2011-04-05T10:17:00.003+01:00

It was great to see Sarah Ebner of The Times blogging about our RNIB Campaign. She wrote a lovely article and also tweeted about the Campaign. Thanks Sarah!

For Arts Sakes!

2011-03-31T16:33:00.005+01:00

Tuesday evening found me trotting up to Brick Lane for the preview of the Emmanuelle Tricoire exhibition In Utero at the EastGallery. Emmanuelle is a Paris based photographer who after shooting nothing for a year embarked on a mission to shoot intimate black and white portraits of ordinary people. After all In Utero means ‘In the Uterus’ and these photographs display subjects who range from the bold to the somewhat vulnerable and or sweet. All in all a coleection of very intimate portraits.

Having first bumped into my friend, birthday boy Wasif with his lady Cherrelle (is it possible not to bump into someone you know up the lane?) I finally got to the gallery that was glowing like a beacon and filled with people actually looking at the art. I know that’s what’s supposed to happen at an exhibit but you know a lot of the time at private views people are too busy quaffing wine and chit chatting and the art becomes secondary!

Anyways after accepting a glass of wine J I made my way around each portrait and I have to say each photo draws you in. Perhaps because they were shot in Emmanuelle ‘s apartment each subject felt comfortable enough to emote their true selves. There is some nudity but it isn’t gratuitous. Even if they were clothed they’d still be naked via the expression in their eyes or their stance. One photo shows a man with fantastic tattoos that look virtually like fine art and it was like portrait within a portrait. Hands down my favorite is of a man of substantial girth, heavily tattooed his vest around his neck. He’s standing in light but surrounded by darkness and to me it was like he was on stage auditioning and at any moment he’s going to belt out a song or recite some sonnets! I love that photo!

Emmanuelle was there looking effortlessly stylish. You’ve heard of fingerless gloves? I can best describe her hand accessories as ‘handless’. Inspired! My good friend and up and coming photographer Joe Murphy (he hung the portraits) introduced me to Tricoire and I got him to take the photo of her featured in this blog with my iphone.

It was a fabulous evening and I eavesdropped on some interesting conversations held by the arty creative types present that made me say to myself (must do better) ha! The exhibit runs until April 5^th. Make sure you check it out....Resident St Luker - Delphina :)

NABS Big Bash 2011

2011-03-30T17:30:00.011+01:00

We had a great time last Thursday at NABS Big Bash. We got our Mad Men themed glad rags back out of the cupboards from our Christmas party and danced the night away.

It was a great event that raised a lot of money and awareness, click here to see what other great work NABS do.

Amie :-)

Alastair Campbell tweets RNIB

2011-03-30T14:34:00.003+01:00

Alistair Campbell has joined Stephen Fry in tweeting about our RNIB I'd Miss campaign.

Let the tweeting continue to raise more awareness to RNIB's great work.

Amie

TIM WINS BOOK AWARD

2011-03-16T13:16:00.002Z

Last night I traveled up North to collect the 2011 Manchester Fiction City award. It's an award for the best novel of the year voted for by school pupils from the Manchester area. By coincidence, the ceremony was held just a few yards from my old school, so in my acceptance speech I could tell the audience what Manchester used to be like before they were born in the early nineties. Thanks to all at St Lukes who let me take emergency time off to go to the ceremony.

Our new Harvester Ad!

2011-03-14T18:07:00.004Z

Look at our new Harvester ad that released today! Be sure to listen with earphones or good speakers so you get the full effect of the ad, the idea relies on sound more than anything.

Not sure about you but it makes me hungry just looking at it! Yum Yum Yum!

Would love to hear what you think!

Amie

Stephen Fry tweeting about RNIB!

2011-03-10T11:04:00.004Z

Who better than the literary master himself - Stephen Fry tweeting about our RNIB Campaign.

With over 2 million followers, we are over the moon that such a high profile celebrity is supporting our campaign and sharing which books he would miss the most!

St. Luke's launches RNIB social network campaign for World Book Day

2011-03-03T16:29:00.004Z

On World Book Day (3rd March) St. Luke's is launching a social networking campaign on behalf of RNIB to highlight the acute shortage of books accessible to blind and partially sighted people, especially children. A film that will be seeded via RNIB’s YouTube channel invites people to spread the word about this problem and support RNIB’s cause via their social networks. Then by ‘liking’ RNIB and posting their favourite childhood stories on Facebook and Twitter, supporters will help to boost RNIB’s profile online. Click facebook.com/rnibuk to get involved.

Amie

The Viral Virus

2011-02-04T16:26:00.004Z

This video does two things: it dispels the myth perpetuated by Wesley Snipes that white men can’t jump* and it also highlights just what creative departments are up against. We’re no longer simply competing with rival brands. Coke doesn’t just compete with Pepsi. Now they’re competing with kids slam-dunking themselves, cats that can play the piano and babies biting each other. And what’s more, these melodic cats and cannibal babies aren’t selling anything; they don’t have a message. They simply entertain.

In a world where every man and his dog have a camera phone and a YouTube account it’s become a lot harder for agencies to stand out. The temptation then is to do something wacky that will get you noticed and forget about the most crucial part of any piece of work: the idea. It’s no good simply to decide to ‘do a viral’. Always start with a good idea, and then execute it in the most relevant medium possible.

* Presumably ‘White men can’t jump but white kids with the aid of a spring board can’ wasn’t catchy enough for Hollywood.

Jules collects our gold epica award!

2011-01-27T14:30:00.004Z

Last week our Creative Director Jules Vizard went all the way to Croatia to collect our Gold Epica 2010 Award for our 'Strongbow - Bankers Final Push ad'.

We are all as pleased as Jules is to receive it, it takes pride of place on our mantelpiece!!

Amie

:-)

One man's junk is another man's....Award winning art!!

2011-01-21T16:32:00.003Z

Haroon Mirza, an artist who scours junk shops and eBay for items to use in his exhibitions has scooped £16,500 as winner of the Northern Art Prize.

The vintage radios and record players, found on eBay or in junk shops, are placed alongside projected film clips and Edward Armitage's 1888 painting The Siren, accompanied by distorted musical sounds.

A nice way to be reminded that art is created by the most every-day and discarded of things.

Not a bad prize for routing around eBay and Oxfam, I might start myself.

Amie

Homeless Voiceover Artist

2011-01-06T10:48:00.004Z

This homeless ex-radio announcer has become a YouTube hit over the last few days. It turns out he's already been offered work by the NBA. It can't be long before somebody hires him for an ad. The only mystery is how someone who sounds so naturally authoritative ended up on the streets in the first place.

Skandia Interviews

2011-01-06T10:05:00.003Z

We created this little film for our clients Skandia when we were down in Weymouth last April shooting their brand film featuring Team GBR. It includes some of the team talking about what they do both on and off the water to stand the best chances of success at the 2012 Olympics. “Controlling the controllables” as much as possible is their recipe for victory, which is akin to Skandia’s approach to investment.

Like Team GBR’s –ologists, Skandia will analyse reams of data regarding fund performance in order to enable IFAs to provide the right solutions for their investors thus providing them with the greatest possible financial certainty. The film will live on Skandia’s website and YouTube channel.

Click here to check it out!

Dani

St. Luke's partner with Cool Earth

2011-01-05T18:01:00.003Z

We are extremely proud to announce that we are now partners of Cool Earth, a charity working with local communities to secure forests at risk of being destroyed within the next 18 months.

Christmas 2010 we bought our clients, contacts & friends their very own Christmas tree... well strictly speaking it wasn't a Christmas tree, it’s a Peruvian Pine. The donations of trees will ensure local communities who depend on living trees rather than cleared land to earn a better income.

Click here to see the great work that Cool Earth do.

Amie

Digital Nativity. Very App.t

2010-12-21T10:06:00.004Z

NEIL'S CAMPAIGN ESSAY

2010-12-14T14:48:00.005Z

'If you want to achieve something incredible, getting staff on board with a real sense of pride in what they are doing can achieve real integration'.

Read Neil's full essay on integration in Campaign.

ST LUKE'S OX

2010-12-14T13:29:00.005Z

Avid readers of our blog will know that one of our very first posts explains the reasoning behind our ox logo:

'The winged ox is the icon of St. Luke - the apostle we named our company after. We wanted a name that brought the ideas of creativity and curing together and St. Luke is patron saint of both artists and doctors. A bit grandiose - but there are very few problems out there that human creativity can't remedy.'

The big man himself

This approach runs through the veins of the agency and is something we wanted to extend across our blog, with this in mind, we have renamed it Oxblood (celebration, applause, fanfare etc etc).

As ever, the same rules apply...

1) All posts should encourage conversation
2) All comments should be constructive
3) Be sensible - don't reveal anything confidential
4) Respect the poster - don't edit or delete unless it contravenes the laws above
5) Post your name!
6) Mind your language

We hope you like it, do come and visit and let us know what you think.

Christmas Costumes

2010-12-13T14:55:00.011Z

Readers may remember seeing a picture of my new puppy Stanley on Wimbledon Common with his friend Carlos, the Great Dane.

For those of you who didn’t, here he is modeling his new winter coat.

As the festive period gets underway, invitations to Christmas parties are in abundance with fancy dress being a mandatory requirement for guests.

This has resulted in me looking for a suitable costume for Stanley so he can join in the merriment. My search uncovered some of the most hilarious outfits and I thought it might be fun to share them here.

First up the more conventional choice: Father Christmas.

Next up some more seasonal favourites…

And for those dogs hankering to be Rudolf…

Or Blitzen...

And for all the angelic pups out there…

For those who claim to have superpowers…

For those in search of a temporary species change…

And for those with owners who want to go the whole hog there’s always this approach…

I think I might just stick with a bit of tinsel round Stanley's neck...

How colour affects our purchasing habits

2010-12-13T12:46:00.003Z

Even though this research has come from the US I think it's an interesting insight in to how colours affect our habits.

Jo

CLOTHES PEG

2010-12-02T10:07:00.002Z

Installation in Belguim.

via The Debonaire

Strongbow Bankers wins GOLD!!

2010-11-26T16:38:00.004Z

We are absolutely THRILLED to announce that our Strongbow Bankers Final Push Ad has won the Gold in the Alcoholic Drinks category at the EPICA 2010 Awards!

We shall receive the award in January once Julian Vizard has collected it on behalf of all of us from Zagreb. Our new award will take pride of place on our mantlepiece.

Amie :-)

Congratulations to the Royals!

2010-11-20T15:14:00.002Z

sweet idea turning digital back into physical

2010-11-19T14:46:00.002Z

click here to see the film of how they did this

In two days they received 15.000 fans and the limited edition of 1.000 books were gone in only an hour!

Jamil

For those of you who like a good chart

2010-11-17T13:44:00.001Z

I'm definitely in the middle

Jamil

Proof that no idea is original

2010-11-17T13:36:00.002Z

There we are thinking that using people as pixels to make ads and pop promos is so now, and here they are doing in around 1915!! Click here to see

Jamil

Great paper art film

2010-11-13T08:01:00.002Z

Brilliant way of bringing books to life.
Neil

iPad Art by Hockney

2010-11-13T07:16:00.003Z

Hockney is exhibiting his "paintings" of flowers on iPads. The exhibition is called fresh flowers because he draws at 6am and by 7am the finished art is sent to the iPads on the exhibition wall in Paris.
Fresh art on digital poster spaces?
Neil

Museum of Everything

2010-10-29T15:42:00.002+01:00

A must see! The Museum (a typical non-gallery, warehouse extension in a cosy corner of Primrose Hill), houses art that is outside the norm. Eccentric and fun, strange but fascinating, if you like the weird and wonderful this is ideal...

Jo

Ps Go before it closes at Christmas!

STANLEY MEETS CARLOS

2010-10-28T13:06:00.003+01:00

Dani our AD brought her brand new puppy Stanley home on Sunday. Here he is on his first visit to Wimbledon Common with Carlos the Great Dane.

St Luke's Day 2010!

2010-10-26T11:00:00.021+01:00

We are 15 years old this year! We celebrated our company day at the Underground Cookery School where we cooked ourselves a gourmet 3 course lunch, under the supervision of some very talented chefs.

We made pasta from scratch,

filleted lots of fish

and topped it off with a yummy chocolate torte.

We rewarded our hard graft with some Strongbow...our bowtime was definitely earned!

We dare you not to donate to RNIB’s worthy cause after listening to this ad we produced for them last month...

2010-10-25T16:49:00.000+01:00

BANKERS - AD OF THE YEAR NOMINATION

2010-10-21T20:12:00.000+01:00

We're thrilled to hear our Strongbow Bankers cinema ad has been shortlisted for YouTube and Campaign's Ad of the Year.

You can vote for us here

TALES FROM THE WORLD OF FLORISTRY

2010-10-19T09:35:00.005+01:00

Avid readers of our blog will know that our planner Rebecca is currently attending a floristry course with her 'make yourself more interesting' fund. We thought you might be interested to see how she's progressing.

Week 3

Seasonally themed

Week 4

The Burg tower of floristry

What will next week bring?

RNIB campaign launch

2010-10-14T11:03:00.004+01:00

Great to see our recent RNIB work mentioned in today's Marketing week. The campaign officially breaks on 18th October with press and radio nationwide. Watch and listen out for it!

Jo

Out-of-home digital life revealed

2010-10-07T15:19:00.003+01:00

The IPA hosted an exciting seminar today on the future of the digital outdoor world and the creative possibilities it offers to brands / advertisers today.
One of my favourite outdoor campaigns mentioned was the digital campaign by engine oil producer Castrol. They positioned cameras in specific locations to capture cars' registrations, the make and model of the car was then matched with the DVLA database and the passing drivers were then able to see their correct oil recommendation on a digital billboard further down the road. A personalised digital ad offering car advice - great stuff!

Jo

The adventures of a Canadian beaver and an Italian dog

2010-10-03T20:01:00.003+01:00

A couple of little friends of St Luke's have gone on an adventure - you can follow them here...They started in Italy and are heading across towards Nepal going through Turkey, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkistan and lots of other stans! Cioppo has just realized he has feelings for Stephanie!
http://stephanieandcioppolino.blogspot.com/

Neil

THE YES MASH MAN

2010-09-23T14:00:00.005+01:00

We love this profile we've just found on Facebook for 'The Yes Mash Man' from our Toby ad.

I'm sure Cedric, who played TYMM will be most flattered.

Altogether now... 'Yeees Mash'.

Watch the full ad.

HAPPY FRIDAY

2010-09-17T15:05:00.002+01:00

via sub-studio

Bulmers Summer HQ - shortlisted for Thinkboxes Award!

2010-09-16T14:31:00.005+01:00

We are thrilled that our first ad for Bulmers is one of five ads that have been shortlisted for July/ August 2010 Thinkboxes Awards.
The shortlist was announced in today's Campaign Magazine.

Fingers crossed that we win, we shall keep you informed.

Amie :-)

MORE GOING ONS AT ST LUKE'S

2010-09-15T18:35:00.001+01:00

At St Luke's, we're lucky enough to be given an allowance to do a course of our choosing. It can be absolutely anything as long as it isn't related to work (secretly we love this stipulation).

Last week, Rebecca our planner started a floristry course and we thought you may be interested to see her fabulous works of art. Miles, her teacher, says she has a natural flair for it you know.

Elsewhere in the agency, our account manager Jo has been beavering away on an art commission for a large chain of national restaurants. The paintings went up last week:

Very well done chaps!

Carl Sagan

2010-09-13T13:23:00.002+01:00

I stumbled this video a week or two again and it prompted me to find out more about its strange and passionate presenter.

In 1980 Nasa Scientist Sagan made a 13 hour TV series documenting the history of the Cosmos and man's fascination with it. He did so in the shadow of cold-war nuclear annihalation and to remind us we are the product of 450 billion years of evolution and our energies would be best spent on exploring our universe rather than on destroying ourselves.

I've watched 10 hours of Cosmos so far and wish there was more.

Al

Inspirational art tutorial

2010-09-10T17:41:00.004+01:00

My stumble preferences mean I come across excellent techniques to hone executional skills. This is the best by miles so far and well worth a look.

Al

PEGGY TAKE A BOW

2010-09-10T13:31:00.006+01:00

What better way to reward the nations favourite landlady than with a nod of recognition from Strongbow. For all her hard working graft behind the bar at The Queen Vic and pulling through in countless family trials and tribulations, we think she has definitely earned her bowtime! We will all be tuned in tonight for her final departure...

Jo

Mad Men! (& Ladies!)

2010-09-09T12:15:00.003+01:00

From time time to time I stick up articles of an interesting, quirky or just downright cool nature in the kitchen.
I will from now on get with the modern world and blog about them!

If you don't already watch Mad Men I do suggest that you snag yourself season 1 and start from the very beginning you will not be disappointed! If you missed the artcle in The Times about Jerry Della Femina and original Mad Man and advisor to the show, never fear I still have the hardcopy! It's a fabulous interview and you can tell that Mr Femina has relished every moment his adventures in adland! I have my edirol recorder In my desk draw if you want to regale me with tales from the past please don't hesitate to pop round to my desk! :)

Delphina x

Cool Hunting In Bloomsbury!

2010-09-09T11:28:00.005+01:00

I am so glad that I spotted an article in The Evening Standard a little while ago which spoke on the emerging ‘New Bloomsbury Set”. The trend it seems is of a creative not literary nature with a rather fabulous network of stores of a quirky, cool and even worthy nature. Take the “Peoples Supermarket” a lovely community idea by which locals pay a membership fee and then sign up to stack shelves for 4 hours a week in return for price reduction on goods they purchase.

On a quirky note there is Cosmo China who specialize in hand painted china that isn’t in any shape or form chi-chi! Concept store Darkroom who sell African influenced accessories and make hats for the likes of Hussein Chalayan. Bea’s of Bloomsbury is a fabulous patisserie described as “like your hip great-aunt’s favourite tearoom”. Couple this with open-air film screenings where locals bring out their sofas and you can see why this is a cool hunters paradise! All in all there is an amazing array of independent book and fashion stores as well as essential services such as pharmacy, florist, funeral home which makes this snug corner a real community and not just a stomping ground for trendies & hipsters! I think I’m right in thinking that St Luke’s communications fits right into this New Bloomsbury Set ethos of independence, community and coolness!

I fancy doing a little bit of shopping who’s with me?!

Delphina x

Charlotte Church & Josie BB11 Winner love their Strongbow!

2010-09-03T16:46:00.006+01:00

Charlotte Church was seen with a can or three of Strongbow at the Green Man Festival in Crickhowel, Wales in August!

Big Brother 11 winner Josie, whilst posing for an OK magazine photo shoot, said she would much prefer a Strongbow than the champagne that she had been presented with.

Enjoy your Bow Time ladies!!

Amie
:-)

STRONGBOW BANKERS

2010-09-02T19:44:00.008+01:00

In our follow up to last year's Final Push campaign for Strongbow, bankers are again given their marching orders by Britain's hardworking grafters.

Even better, the ad will air at cinemas alongside the new release of Wall Street. Satisfaction indeed.

That Mitchell and Webb Laboratoire Garnier sketch

2010-08-29T19:32:00.003+01:00

OMG, LOL, PMSL!

Neil

if advertising doesn't work...

2010-08-29T19:27:00.003+01:00

brilliant bit of comedy from Iannucci
Neil

SKANDIA NEW WORK

2010-08-27T11:57:00.004+01:00

This is our new Skandia work which includes a brand film showing Skandia Team GBR sailing team at their very best. We filmed this on location in Weymouth which involved the St Luke's team on very small dinghies for 4 days braving the wet and cold! Think you'd agree it was worth it.

We are thrilled to see that the Skandia Youtube page has already had over 93,000 views since its launch! Help us reach 100,000!

Amie :-)

Jeremy Paxman turns up at Bulmers shoot!

2010-08-20T17:02:00.001+01:00

There we were, a very busy weekend of creating our first Bulmers ad in Henley-on-Thames when Jeremy Paxman randomly stumbles upon the shoot with questions galore!
"What the hell is going on?" he said in confusion! To be fair, actors in various war time themed costumes and frisbees flying everywhere would be a bit strange to come across on your Saturday ramble with the kids and dog!
When St Luke's answered his University Challenge style questions he was very happy and he and his family went on their merry way!

Amie
:-)

THIS WEEK AT ST LUKE'S

2010-08-13T11:05:00.007+01:00

We oo-ed and ah-ed at the acrobats and dancers at Circus in Covent Garden...

...welcomed our new drinks fridge...

...and couldn't resist trying on the outfits from our new Bulmers ad.

Enjoy your weekend!

NOT YOUR AVERAGE INTERVIEW

2010-08-11T14:00:00.005+01:00

Any opportunity to get his gun out...

NEW BULMERS AD

2010-07-30T16:57:00.004+01:00

We're delighted to introduce our new Bulmers ad, our first piece of TV work for the brand since we won the account earlier this year. The ad sees workers springing into action to construct the perfect setting for a group of friends drinking a round of Bulmers in a pub, using steam-punk inventions such as a Frisbee firing rig to deliver summer to the drinkers.

Chin chin.

THE FUTURE OF PUBLISHING

2010-07-15T17:43:00.002+01:00

SORRY OLD BLOOD

2010-07-02T11:13:00.004+01:00

Back slaps all round from St Luke's to the winners of the D&AD Student Awards. Our very own Al Young took part in the 'Sorry old blood' campaign promoting the awards which included other industry figures such as Dick Powell and Michael Wolff.

Rest easy, no creatives were harmed in the making of this ad.

TENT TIME

2010-06-22T14:22:00.000+01:00

Vital St Luke's tent preparation for Glastonbury.

No excuses...

2010-06-22T12:23:00.003+01:00

Here at St Luke's recycling is very big on our agenda. Even so, the plethora of bins in the kitchen can get a little confusing.

This week is National Recycling Week, and the lovely guys at RecycleNow have made a lovely little widget to overcome recycling confusion...

Find out what you can recycle at Recyclenow

LONGEST CLOUD EVER?

2010-06-17T16:32:00.004+01:00

Feast your eyes upon our Loveyourvagina cloud which is growing so fast we can hardly keep up with moderating it (yes it is moderated, the entries we've received would make Babs Windsor blush). With over 14,000 different names and 41,000 votes, it is apparent that there are a LOT of names for the female genitalia.

Wave your England Flags!

2010-06-11T16:49:00.003+01:00

Honouring all the England Flag manufacturers… If there’s one thing at the moment that you cannot escape, it’s an England Flag.

Whilst the team have been training hard (we hope), the flag manufacturers of England have been working extra hard and so Strongbow want to remind everyone of the hard graft gone into such a mass production.

Let's hope they will not end up in the bin too soon.

Come on England!

one for the litter tray...

2010-06-09T14:33:00.006+01:00

You cannot escape the myriad of World Cup campaigns out at the moment...one that put a big smile on our faces was the tactical print ad for Felix Cat food.

They have sweetly replaced the iconic three lions with, well, Felix the cat, a true ambassador of English football...or not.

Which World Cup ads have caught your eye??

Cx

That Strongbow Spirit!

2010-06-02T09:10:00.005+01:00

Sarah Sands, reporter for the Evening Standard recently published an article about Gordon Brown's Labour betraying the working class, true grafters of the country.

Sarah urges them to watch our Strongbow ad to remind them what hard graft is all about!

See full article here.

Look out Twitter, there’s a new kid in town

2010-05-12T10:45:00.000+01:00

Set to hit the 1 million user mark in half the time it took Twitter, Foursquare is heralded to be the next big thing in social networking.

Foursquare is a location based social networking site where users, tracked by their mobile phone GPS, can update each other on their whereabouts (AKA ‘checking in’) and see which friends are nearby. Users collect badges as they visit particular places and the most frequent visitor of each venue gets crowned ‘mayor’ and receives prizes for their loyalty. Launched in main European cities in November 2009, apparently it’s only a matter of time before we’re all checking in on Foursquare and vying for mayorship here in the UK.
Big brands here are starting to cotton on to the advantages such as increased footfall and customer retention that Foursquare offers. Oxford Street Debenhams and Dominos Pizza are on board and dolling out free coffee and pizza to their mayors.
As Foursquare gains momentum it’s set to be an invaluable source of insights into customer behaviour and an exciting new way for brands to communicate with people through social experience. As we wait for Foursquare fever to hit, we’re all speculating about how we can utilize it and what the impact of Foursquare will be on our worlds.