SLANTASTIC Holiday Gift Guide 2011 - Part 1

For the Beer Snob

FACT: Beer tastes better when you can open the bottle with one hand. Lucky for you, there's Kebo, the one-handed bottle opener.  Fresh from the inventor's workshop, this unique gift is perfect to bring to a party or to stick in a stocking.  Kebo, created by Charleston architect Rush Dixon, was inspired by a vintage 1930's opener and perfected through months of experimentation (and more than a few 6 packs).  This beautifully designed stainless steel bar tool comes in a retro-styled tin designed by Rush and your favorite elves at SLANT. $24.99 www.rush3studio.com

 

For your Co-worker who's a Lowcountry Noob

Giving the gift of food without breaking the bank can go one of two ways: 1) bake a loaf of something or 2) hand out a Subway gift card.  Either way, you're going to get some fake smiles and a generic "uh..thanks."

Avoid the awkwardness with a gift certificate to one of Charleston's little-known dining secrets: 24 North Market.  Tucked away inside the Art Institute, 24 North Market (who's logo was designed by SLANT's very own Connor Lock, a graduate from the Art Institute) is the culinary school's dining room.  For only $11, diners can enjoy a fabulous 3-course meal, complete with a delightful signature beverage (of the non-adult variety).  A 24 North gift certificate is a great (and affordable) choice for a co-worker who is new to the area.  And, hey, you could always sweet talk them to invite you along. www.facebook.com/24NorthMarket

 For the App-oholic

This is the best kind of gift - it's of the FREE variety.  Do you have a loved one who suffers from chronic Dead Battery Anxiety (DBA)?  You know the kind - the otherwise wonderful person who you've seen crawling on the floor of a bar to look for an outlet?  Then this app is for them - BatterySense by Philips Consumer Lifestyle (and designed by SLANT) is a free app that recommends what settings to adjust to achieve more battery life while on the go.  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/batterysense-by-philips-consumer/id426068946?mt=8

Dead Battery Anxiety ads in Times Square

thanks to longtime slantastic friend @mattpostism for the foto!

A few of our DBA video ads ran on the CBS screen on 42nd Street in Times Square February-March. (Check out the originals below).

To end the run, SLANT created a spot that challenged Microsoft Tag-savvy viewers to use their mobile phone to snap a giant Tag on the screen. Those who could master the open-app-and-snap in less than :30 were whisked away to the DBA YouTube channel for more DBA hilarity.

Fun, right? We thought so!

Stuff you gotta see: The Philips Dead Battery Anxiety "mockrosite"

 

Yeah, we made up a word. Heck, we made up a whole disease!

We're stoked to announce the launch of the Dead Battery Anxiety (DBA) campaign. Why? Is it because we produced the campaign?  Well yeah, that.  But now mobile phone users can finally stop living in fear of dead phone batteries.

Launching today, DeadBatteryAnxiety.com is a wealth of education, diagnosis and “treatment options” for those who don’t have time to plug in and charge their phones when they’re on the go. Brochures, in addition to interactive and broadcast media, support the DBA campaign.

We collaborated with Philips Consumer Lifestyle to create the mock affliction microsite, or “mockrosite” as we’re calling it (see what we did there?) and its hi-larious content to support the Philips ChargeOn line of portable chargers. The products, designed for iPod/iPhone and other mobile phones, are available for sale via the website and at Wal-Mart stores, nationwide.

“Philips has a history of trying innovative things with product launch promotion and we knew we had a unique opportunity to have fun with the ChargeOn line in particular,” said Kit Hughes, Art Director at Philips Consumer Lifestyle.

“Everyone gets how aggravating it is to lose mobile power at an inconvenient time - so we tapped into the comical side of dead battery worst-case-scenarios throughout the messaging and campaign elements,” said Christopher Cecil, SLANT’s Founder and Creative Director. “Creating the videos was a blast because they are such extreme examples of DBA, but they’re still really relatable.” 

In addition to the Philips team, we worked with Tout Talent and Fox Commercial Media to cast and shoot the videos around the Charleston area and then produced the final edits in house. Catch four of the videos live on the DBA website now and stay tuned for more to roll out over the next few weeks. 

So don't miss a thing - Like DBA on Facebook, follow @DeadPhonesSuck on Twitter and enter the DBA sweepstakes to win a new Honda CR-V or a ton of Philips products. The campaign is also being supported by national interactive media, social media, and 60-second radio spots with related contests and events in Oklahoma City, Tampa, Dallas/Fort Worth, and St. Louis.

On-set for "She Hit Tha Flo" sketchAt the studio with the FashionistaSetting up the alley shot

Update on 2011-03-25 19:09 by Lauren

The New York Times Covers "Dead Battery Anxiety" Campaign

December 13, 2010: Veteran New York Times advertising columnist Stuart Elliott covered our collaboration with Philips Electronics on the "Dead Battery Anxiety" campaign in his weekly "Campaign Spotlight" feature.

Read the article here. 

Mr. Elliott interviewed Kit Hughes, Shannon Doyle and Nico Riggio of the Philips Consumer Lifestyle division, and our own Christopher Cecil of SLANT to paint a picture of the collaboration, the campaign's reception to date and its expansion goals for 2011.

Thanks, Mr. Elliott! Enjoy, SLANTfans.

Update on 2010-12-14 15:21 by Lauren

New Cyber Monday DBA Video

To celebrate Cyber Monday, the Dead Battery Anxiety campaign releases the Fashionista video. Hope your phone battery holds out while you're shopping, unlike hers. What a meltdown - check it out. 

Update on 2010-12-14 15:21 by Lauren

New in the DBA Video Library

Teens and the parents who don't understand them. GAH.