ANC launches TV election campaign

Together with advertising agency Ogilvy Johannesburg, the ANC has produced four commercials (the first of which you can view on MarkLives!com) that talk to the positive changes ordinary South Africans have experienced since 1994, while acknowledging “there is much more to be done”. Archive material of Nelson Mandela features in the first segment of the ad, with a message by party president Jacob Zuma following at the end. Executive Creative Director: Fran Luckin Producer:... Read More

Winning House and Leisure Green Designer announced

Clayton-Emil Coutriers, a design student from Tshwane University of Technology, is the first winner of the House and Leisure Green Designers at Woolworths competition for his original and ecofriendly scatter cushion designs, ‘Dance of a Thousand Seasons’. Clayton-Emil was announced the winner in the countrywide design competition aimed at discovering the next generation of environment-friendly designers in South Africa. First runner-up is Kirsten Skidmore, a graphic design... Read More

SA gamers punk’d by new broadband provider

The truth is out – the debate that has been raging across the South African gaming community (see below) about who are better gamers – boys or girls – was in fact a marketing campaign planted by new IS broadband provider PLuGG. PLuGG targeted the gaming community as a core niche in its customer base. It planted posts on gaming forums and blogs, and even put out YouTube videos supporting one side or the other, with the help of agency Hello World. PLuGG conceived... Read More

Richard Hart’s debut solo exhibition opens at Whatiftheworld

Kind Pockets, Richard Hart’s debut solo exhibition opens at Whatiftheworld in Cape Town this February during the week of Design Indaba. Hart is best known as the creative force behind Disturbance, the highly acclaimed Durban based design studio that was recently featured on the cover of the international design journal, I.D Magazine (and often on MarkLives!). Kind Pockets is an exploration of the concept of the marsupial girl, an imaginary archetype. Aesthetically the work... Read More

Robbie Wessels & Vodacom seeking player number 23

Vodacom has embarked on an integrated marketing campaign to leverage its sponsorship investment in South African rugby. Afrikaans singer Robbie Wessels features in the TV spot. The ‘big idea’ at the centre of this campaign is the man wearing the number 23 on his back. He’s an integral part of the team, knows all its players and their strengths and weaknesses intimately but, he’s not the coach or the manager or even a player, he’s a fan. There are always 22 players on... Read More