"87 cool things" from Advertising Week

On day 1 of Advertising Week, we put Andy Berndt, Managing Director of Google Creative Lab, and Tom Uglow, King of Crayon (ok, he's a Creative Lead in the Lab) on stage to present 87 cool things. There were a lot of slides, as well as some serious fast talking. Here's a taste of what we heard.

Andy reminded the audience to think about Google when you are creating experiences, when you want people to experience those experiences, and when you are thinking of both simultaneously. Most importantly, he reminded everyone to experiment often, be creative, try new things, and don't be afraid to fail. From Google Maps and YouTube Annotations, to Insights for Search and a wide array of APIs, it's easier than ever to play with inventive marketing ideas - think of these tools and platforms as your blank canvas, and have fun.

Many of the experiments in 87 cool things highlighted mashups, interactivity, unique data usage, and the fusion of virtual worlds and reality. These innovative campaigns, projects, and even accidents can encourage us to expand our imaginations, think beyond our expectations and consider the impossible. Did you ever think Ohio could be a piano? Or that you would analyze your daily food consumption, and catalog it by cuisine? Or that an engaging and informative website could live entirely on YouTube? We sure didn't.

For the complete presentation, check out the deck or the podcast.

As Andy and Tom said, "the future is a glorious mess." And boy, are we excited to see what you'll come up with next.

Find us on Twitter at @creativesandbox, and keep experimenting.

Posted by Janine Gianfredi, Agency Marketing Manager