United Colors of Benetton Vs Waterlemon

You might think this is some sort of catalog for United Colors of Benetton when you see these images, well, at least I would.

Those pictures are actually found within the menu of none other than Waterlemon.

Strangely enough, they have adopted these Indian pictures in a United Colors of Benetton - like design, which does not particularly match the rest of their brand's image, their restaurant's interior design... nor their food; or so I think. 

The restaurant is described on their own website as "sleek and modern" and with adjectives like "fresh" and "aqueous".

Moreover,  regarding the writing "The earth does not belong to us... we belong to earth..."

I'm not exactly keen on this sentence's punctuation, let alone its relation with the restaurant; but that's just me. 

Ok, so United Colors of Benetton are actually known for campaigns filled with controversy. They have showcased black and white people (more than) mingling and homosexuality when it was a huge taboo, and lately their viral 'unhate' campaign displays a complete disrespect for all forms of authority. Yes, shock advertising has always been their forte.

Nonetheless, displaying models of different racial backgrounds is also one of their main advertising characteristics. 

What do YOU think?

Aishti Steals Avon's Ad

Aishti has often left me indifferent when it comes to its advertising, while some can be described as artistically beautiful, they still fail at providing an actual message. That said, I thought Aishti's latest Valentine ad to be rather innovative and sleek... Until I stumbled upon a stupendous copy online, just look up "advertising ad" on Google, and you will find this Avon ad in the first link "8 of the best Valentine's day ads".

AVON ad found on oddee.com

Aishti's Valentine Ad - Unipole(s) in Downtown Beirut

Needless to say, whoever did this Aishti ad did not put in much effort (and I would really love to know who is behind this)... Or maybe, just maybe, it could be a striking coincidence.

What do you think?

What Heroes Are Made Of

As though, whether you use the pronoun I or They, made all the difference in the world!

It was the exact same sentence, with the exact same meaning, making the exact same point... Or so I thought.

Yet he still found a way to convince himself he was better. He said "they".

Ego.

"The difference between us is that I look at it from others' perspective" he said.

He wasn't the only one to point fingers at others. 

Whoever drives faster than you, drives too fast, and whoever drives slower, drives too slow. Ever noticed? Ever noticed, how the only reference to what is right or wrong is You?

You.

In the real world, everything is wrong until You start doing it. "You"... Society. Then it becomes OK. It becomes socially acceptable, and eventually, socially required.

Because let's face it, society sets its personal "role model", that is not necessarily correct, but is praised, nonetheless, because it is just like You.

Copy - Paste Society

Can you tell the difference between virtues and social standards? If you can walk the line, defying social expectations and preserving what is virtuous, then, You, are a hero my friend.

Those are 'real' qualities.

 ...And this? This is what a compelling story is made of.

Offer inspiration to your audience, the story of a self-made man, that, of a kind-hearted king, give people a hero they can look up to. Isn't that what Johnnie Walker is trying to do with its Keep Walking Lebanon campaign? .. And what about Liban Post's Lipos?

LibanPost's Lipos

 Giving a brand a personality through a mascot, a cartoon character, a story, or a celebrity endorsement has been one of the marketing industry's oldest tricks.

Yellow - m&m

Think of energizer's bunny, Kellogg's indefinite number of characters, Ronald the clown for Mc Donald's, Michelin's Bibendum... All project a certain image of the brand and help gain customers' sympathy.

Ronald McDonald

Michelin's Bibendum