BlackBerry's new Creative Director is...

There is asymmetry between the ‘flashiness’ of the role and the potential impact her role can have, if its in the capacity you describe. Do smart phone consumers rate ‘unique digital art experiences’ high on their decision making process? Will they be swayed by ‘art directed by AK’ scripted on the handset or interface? It still feels juvenile.

Is there a term for this practice of hiring pop stars to ‘creative direct’ your gadget/auto company - you know, along the lines of ‘greenwashing’?

Famewashing? Starwashing? Celebwashing?

Slippy: This is BB trying to be hip and cool.

The hip and cool went out and bought iPods and Beats.

BB, HP and Polaroid went out and bought the hip and cool.

One way makes the company money. The other way spends it.

BTW, not a new strategy for BB. They’ve been pushing their “for do-ers, not for looks” marketing for the last year. I think there were some singers and musicians involved in it. It’s success can be measured…

Maybe its a C-level position.

Like a CBO

Celebrity Bandwagon Opportunist

@MR Honestly Polaroid just needs to start making film again and they would be fine, kids eat the stuff up.

@AndreC Too bad they sold all their instant film to impossible. They still got z-ink although it’s not the same…

“Rapper-turned-renovator Rob Van Winkle, aka Vanilla Ice, has partnered with Capitol Lighting to create an exclusive elegant six-piece collection of transitional chandeliers and sconces, featuring custom “iced” nickel and bronze finishes. The transitional design and unique silk shades with crystal detail make the collection truly an original, just like Vanilla Ice himself.”

Design Process at 0.45s:

lights lights baby light

Bob Lefsetz has been all over this, oddly enough. A few jems:

Alicia Keys on Google+:

“Alicia Keys Jan 6, 2012 - Public

I’ve become an iPhone junky! Sad but true. (are u one too?) These are some of my favorite images from my latest download… > :wink: > > http://thekeysofalicia.tumblr.com/ > ”

Google+

On Beyonce at the SB versus Keys with BB:

This is pure commerce. Sponsored by Pepsi, as if Ms. Knowles has sipped the sugar water in years. The thought of her drinking Pepsi is akin to believing Alicia Keys uses a BlackBerry!

Lastly, this link to a BB exec who refused to acknowledge the iPhone’s existance:

HAHAHHA

Oh, man that’s great! Hahahahaha!

Will it ever stop?
Yo, I don’t know
Turn off the lights and I’ll glow

Turn OFF the lights? Really…

To be fair, the BusinessWeek announcement WAS dated Jan 30 - one day after AK threw away her iPhone and stopped using Instagram for good. :laughing:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-30/alicia-keys-is-blackberrys-new-creative-director

I would expect her handlers to attempt to keep tabs on potential social media gaffes like this one could have been.

She does look great in that suit.

Nice one Oprah.

This is what happens when you mix marketing people with technology that they don’t understand. Again, I’m very disappointed in adults.

Charlie Brooker’s view on Alicia Keys and Blackberry, and Will.I.Am and whatever it is that he has:

(link will take you to the start of the segment at 13m30s

the youtube bit below is the whole show, which I recommend anyway):

Charlie’s scathing reviews on the madness of modern life usually raise a smile. His black mirror fiction series isn’t bad either.(new series starting tonight in the uk btw).

I have to use Bill’s keen pitch technique in my next product development meeting. “Boss, it’s smaller.”

This just in…Justin Timberlake is the new Creative Director for Bud Light Platinum.

Seriously.

I think this is a case of “Those Words Don’t Mean What You Think They Mean”. Marketing people or CEOs somehow don’t know what a Creative Director really is or think general public don’t.

R