WAS IT GOOD FOR U?

This section is dedicated to debating whether or not advertising actually entices or repulses us when we are looking to buy a new product or try a new service. The first installment might be familiar to you as the controversy around this ad has garnered a worldwide response which might have been more than the designers originally bargained for.

In February Dolce & Gabbana pulled the above ad from the Spanish market because the Women's Institute of Spain, a government agency, released a statement saying the ad glorified "chauvinist violence". At the time, Spain was also responding to the recent murders of ten women, one of whom were murdered the day the ad was released.

D&G's response was to ask stylists to "boycott" the Spanish market and threaten to pull out of advertising there altogether saying that Spain was "behind the times" and that they were only trying to convey "an erotic dream, a sexual game."

In a perhaps unexpected twist on the part of D&G, their own government wasn't so keen on the ad either. The Italian government demanded an apology from the designers and stated that if the ad was not pulled before International Women's Day, it would advise a boycott on D&G goods. Other countries, including the U.S., followed suit. In the U.S. the National Organization For Women called the ad a "stylized gang rape."

We should also add, that we did see commentary on the ad that went in the opposite direction from the public, some of whom felt that the ad was too over the top with oily, half naked and slightly effeminate men who probably just wanted to steal the model's dress.

If the ad was intended to provoke Dolce & Gabbana's consumer market into brand awareness, it certainly did that by raising the controversy level to new heights. Yet it begs the question, is that kind of awareness good for a brand keeping in mind that most critics did not object to the ad's sexuality, but it's depiction of what they felt was violence against women?

We also wondered why, if D&G truly felt their advertising was innocent in it's intention, did they issue these statements? "We have decided to cancel ... the advertising image that has caused such repercussions within human interest groups and individuals,", "We were looking to recreate a game of seduction in the campaign and highlight the beauty of our collections," and "It was never our intention to ... offend anyone or promote violence against women," Doesn't this also negate what they were trying to do in the first place by back pedaling?

What's your opinion?

SEED9 PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN. GET INSPIRED. WWW.SEED9STYLE.COM

APPLE BOXES FOR EVERYONE!

Ever wondered about the afterlife of apple boxes once you've thrown them out of your studio? Just when those crates of unconditional love think the end is near, in walks: INTERIOR DESIGN MAN. Able to resurrect anyone's trash into the next man's treasure, INTERIOR DESIGN MAN knows that the apple box is not just the working man's footstool, it's the rich man's accessoire! All hail to the apple box we say. It's the new, old, hip thing of now..... and again! We bet being kicked to the curb never felt so good.

WE'LL GIVE YA AN UPDATE

So today we checked out Update in Berlin. The showcase that promises photographers the opportunity to have 'direct access' to the movers and shakers in the magazine, production, publishing and agency world. At first, we weren't sure what to expect. We had heard that in the past years the event didn't necessarily give photographers the chance to really strut their stuff as areas were restricted and sometimes it felt as though the movers and the shakers wanted to move and shake only amongst themselves in private areas.

Nonetheless, we had to see it for ourselves to get a better perspective on how it all worked. Update did offer photographers the chance to show their portfolios in the lower floor Bibliotek for a fee of 60 Euro - on top of the entrance fee of 20 euro per day. Photographers were asked leave their books behind and interested agents etc. would indicate their interest in an artist by leaving a card on their book and granting them a time for a one-on-one discussion.

We're sure in the planning this seemed like a good idea, but two things were a little in question. One, the area with the most agents was restricted and invitation only on the second level and two, when we passed through the Bibliotek we immediately experienced portfolio overload. There were just so many portfolios to look through we wondered if the few agents who wandered down to the lower level would actually want to look through them all.

We decided to forego Bibliotek and work the booths. This way we spoke to the editors, publishers, etc. in person and asked their views on what they were looking for and how they liked to work with prospective candidates. This was actually quite good, keeping in mind that a discussion doesn't mean that a job will follow. It allowed us to dig a little deeper into what possible clients really thought of the industry, where it was going and what they really were looking for.

All in all, we would check out Update again. Our consensus is that the experience is what you make it. You can very easily pay the fee and just coast through the room without engaging one person or you can take your chances on how you will be received when delving into a discussion and simply go for it. If you choose the latter, at the end of the day you lose only 20 euro and you might gain a prospective client. A client which you may not have been able to access with just a cold call.

We would be interested in hearing other points of view on the event, from both sides of the fence. For the prospective clients: Did you feel that you took the opportunity to seek out the up and coming photographers and would you take the risk of hiring them in the future if you had not worked with them before? For the photographers: Did you feel that you had enough face time with the people that mattered and that you might have made some good connections at the end of it all? Let us know.

NACHMITTAG

Thursday 3 pm. We decided to do some brainstorming the Berlin way. Go to a cafe and capitulate about how many wonderful concepts you have over ten glasses of leitungswasser. We didn't get any brainstorming done, but we recommend the water. It's very, very good.

WHY GOD WHY?

This section is dedicated to random items which give us no clue as to what their actual purpose in this world is. Our first selection has been called "utterly exclusive" by the designer's camp and "Frankenstein's Monster" by fashion week critics. Without further adieu we introduce the Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork Bag.

First of all the name is so long, it begs for ridicule. How would you tell friends about your purchase? "Oh hi Buffy, you'll never guess what I bought today, the Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork Bag!" or "Hold on, I hear my phone. It's in my Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork Bag." If we're lucky, the name will be cut down to a well needed, but still too bloody long, acronym like the LVTPB which sounds more like an STD than an accessory.

To be fair, before we dismiss this intriguing mish mash of art and commerce, let us mention that the handy dandy LVTPB retails for a cool $45,000 and is already sold out. To the waiting list with you hipsters! What we keep trying to imagine is, what could we do with $45,000? Buy a bag? Invest in house! Buy a bag? Buy a car in cash! Buy a bag? Pay for a child's education - ANY CHILD will do.

Here's an idea Louis, give us $45,000 and we'll make you a bag with some old locks, purses from our grandmothers' very large collections and two strands of fake gold chain from our favorite neighborhood Vanilla Ice. You get street cred and we get a chance to make some wiser investments.