Articles from AdWeek Advertising and branding

Here's more billboard crack for you out-of-home addicts. This fun digital subway ad in Sweden for hair-care products was rigged up to recognize when trains entered the station—and then showed a woman's hair blowing all around, as though windswept by the train. It's a simple, delightful effect—playful, responsive and seemingly magical in the way it erases the line between ad and environment.

Much like songwriters, brand marketers play variations on a theme. Coca-Cola’s famous tagline “It’s the real thing” from 1970 became “Can’t beat the real thing” 20 years later. KFC’s unforgettable “It’s finger-lickin’ good” slogan of the 1960s and ‘70s morphed into the more compact “So good” in 2011. And L’Oréal’s successful “Because I’m worth it” slogan has modulated twice, first into “Because you are worth it” and then “Because we’re worth it.” Most of these evolutions have to do with the usual things: changing consumer tastes and shorter attention spans.

Worried that e-cigarettes are taking the same marketing path as conventional cigarettes, a group of Democratic senators introduced legislation today that would prohibit the marketing of them to children and teens. E-cigarettes are under increased scrutiny in Washington. Though currently unregulated by any federal law, a number of cities, like Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles have banned or are considering banning the use of e-cigarettes in restaurants and other public places. Utah, New Jersey and North Dakota banned the use of e-cigarettes anywhere smoking is prohibited.

Check out this promo for Kevin Costner’s new movie, 3 Days to Kill, reimagined in a dream sequence to star Pro Bowl NFL wide receivers Dez Bryant, Michael Crabtree and Alshon Jeffery. The somewhat silly set up has them imagining themselves as action stars in the movie, but the surprise is that they actually might have been amazing in it. I would watch a movie staring these dudes over 3 Days to Kill anyday. The stunts were choreographed by Action Factory and led by Eric Linden to mimic actual football plays.