Jahanzaib Haque’s

Celebs who broke the internet

1 . Junaid Jamshed: When he decided it would be a good idea to say, “God dislikes that any woman should be named [in the Quran]” on live TV, followed by a misogynistic online apology, and then a viral sermon that led to blasphemy allegations and a quick trip abroad.

2 . Hamza Ali Abbasi: For literally every single Facebook status update. Choice gems include rage over Charlie Hebdo insulting Islam, which was deleted, then undeleted by Facebook; an attack on homosexuals and expressing sorrow for starring in a fahaash film.

3 . Shaan/Mawra Hocane: For the big ‘traitor’ debate fought by legions of ‘patriots’ over Phantom, Bollywood’s ‘anti-Pakistan opus’.

4 . Richard Dawkins: Who drove the social media horde #crazy when he tweeted, “Islam needs a feminist revolution. It will be hard. What can we do to help?”

5 . Komal Rizvi: for taking a (somewhat ill-timed) selfie with a bedridden Abdul Sattar Edhi. Twitter went mad; Komal kept it real on Facebook – “Did anyone of you visited (sic) him?

Don’t judge.”

Jahanzaib Haque is Editor,
Dawn.com

Julian Saunder’s

Marketing resources

1 . Think with Google (www.thinkwithgoogle.com): A treasure trove of think pieces and case histories about good digital marketing.

2 . Google Trends (www.google.com/trends): What is trending in search right now? What are people searching for in your market right now? What does that tell you about how culture is changing or how your market is changing? You should check it every day. It might change what you think is really relevant to your brand’s customers.

3 . Slideshare (www.slideshare.net): Presentations shared on more topics than you can imagine. Want to know more about Behavioural Economics and its practical applications? You will find several presentations about it here.

4 . Twitter (www.twitter.com): If you search Twitter you can find high quality articles. But you need to narrow it down a bit to get the right stuff. ‘Millennials’ as a search might be too broad ‘Millennial employees’ or ‘Millennial insights’ or ‘Millennial brands’ gets you a more relevant result (assuming that is what you are looking for).

5 . YouTube Re: View getsubsciptions. withgoogle.com: A selection of the best of YouTube every week. An insight on what’s hot in American culture. Sit back and soak it up.

Julian Saunders works for Google as a freelance strategist and teaches through The Joined Up Company.
julian@joinedupcompany.com

Ali Rez’s

Incredibly smart design ideas

1 . Packaging – The Freshest Orange Juice: Intermarché, a supermarket chain in France has launched the freshest orange juice in the world. And how do they prove that? By naming the orange juice the exact time it was made: the very name of the product is the actual time the oranges were squeezed (9:34, 10:15, 11:04, etc). Sales multiplied by 4000%.

2 . App design – Look At Me: In collaboration with doctors and professors, Samsung created an app which helped children with autism develop social skills – starting with helping them to make eye contact.

3 . Integrated product design – Clever Buoy: Optus is a mobile network in Australia that decided to do something about shark attacks. So they created ‘Clever Buoy’, a smart ocean buoy that detects sharks (wirelessly via their network) and alerts lifeguards in advance. Even the government was impressed.

4 . Livery design – the classic PIA look: To celebrate 60 years of service, PIA dressed three of its aircrafts with the nostalgic and beautiful livery from the Golden Era of the airline’s history: the 1960s. If only the service today looked as good.

5 . Sound Design – The Berlin Wall of Sound: For the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, SoundCloud launched a remarkable audiovisual memorial on their site. They built an audio track with the exact frequency it would require to simulate the look of the Berlin Wall. And tagged on the track were portraits of the Wall’s victims.

Ali Rez is a Creative Director who consults between South Asia and the Middle East. He has won Gold at Cannes and Clio in 2015.
alimumtaz@mac.com

Andleeb Rana’s

Instagrammers

1 . @HumansofNY: Because the stories he publishes break my heart and make me thank my lucky stars for my life every day. If popular media starts doing what this man is doing, the world would be a much, much better place to live in! 

2 . @Adifferentagenda: Every time Moin Khan posts a photo, I have this crazy urge to visit that place. No one has ever shown a ‘tourist friendly’ side of Pakistan like this guy has. Every photo comes with a little history of the place and details of how to get there. It made me fall in love with Pakistan... all over again!! 

3 . @Yazbukey: I collect accessories and feel strongly that all you need to make or break an outfit are good accessories! Yazbukey is a fun, young and a very retro brand that doesn’t take fashion seriously! They do their own thing... with no concept of ‘trends’. You can see the brand is having fun with fashion... exactly the way it should be!

4 . @ThailandLuxe: For the love of Thailand! I absolutely love going to Thailand: you can send me month after month and I will never get bored! Send me to Europe and I will be sitting there thinking of the exotic Thai beaches! And now with a toddler (who also loves Thailand!), I am always looking for better beach resorts and hotels and more things to do... and this is exactly what this account gives me!

5 . @Varun_Bahl: I don’t only follow him because he is my best friend but also because he is one of the best designers in India, with an amazing eye for photography. He intelligently photographs stuff that you and I would otherwise ignore. Through his photos, he brings in a new dimension to the mundane.

I love following him because his account is a mix of different stuff: it’s not about selling designer wear all the time! 

Andleeb Rana Farhan is a PR and style consultant.
andleeb.rana@gmail.com

Umair Kazi’s

OOH installations

1 . Hardees – Fresh Buns: Call me a perv but this outdoor campaign really did capture the attention of both individuals and the community as a whole. Simple, clean visuals and a two-word copy... perfect for your average driver’s attention span! A conversation starter sans the fancy 3D cut-outs and unnecessary bells and whistles.

2 . Shell Helix – Lego Track: Showcasing a bird’s eye view perspective was a brilliant idea and one that we seldom see executed in this format. The depth of field on both the racing track and Lego cars is realistic and forces you to notice it despite the clutter of repetitive billboards. Confusing copywriting and an unclear call to action, but interesting execution nonetheless.

3 . Zong – Centaurus Building Wrap: Size does matter. Location and placement, even more so. The mammoth building wrap that Zong managed to pull off at Centaurus Islamabad is a classic example of brute strength in OOH. The skydiving visual works against the empty Islamabad skyline to create a singular advertising feat visible from miles away, and even from the air!

4 . Coca Cola – 100 Years Celebration: Despite being an ad man, I hate it when advertising is intrusive. So when I come across something like Coke’s 100 Years OOH display, I have faith in the world again. A beautiful roundabout branding exercise that combines 100 floating bottles with ambient lighting, Coke’s OOH is pleasing to the eye and adds value to the surroundings.

5 . Olper’s – Ramazan: Everybody and their grandma are doing lit-up, ‘3D’ billboards. But few manage to pull it off the way it is supposed to be. One of these rare gems was the Olper’s Ramazan campaign. Stunningly lit and with a visually rewarding complexity in-depth and negative space, this product-centric billboard exhibited a grace you don’t see often in this medium.

Umair Kazi is a partner at Ishtehari.
umair@ishtehari.com

Sara Qureshi’s

lifestyle trends

1 . Fresh food fetish: The organic craze seems to have infected Pakistan, with regular Farmers’ Markets being set up in Karachi and Islamabad. On offer, an ever-growing variety of organic produce from serious farmers to dabbling hobbyists. Next up: artisan cheese!

2 . Lollywood as Lazarus: After some fits and starts last year (Waar), the local film industry is experiencing a genuine mini-renaissance with several ventures opening to positive reviews and success. Between Manto, Moor and Bin Roye, this revival may be here to stay.

3 . Narcissism Selfie sticks: Contorting yourself into unimaginable positions just to take that perfect pic is finally obsolete; now you can use a flexible stick that twists around so you don’t have to – all in the quest for that ideal photo!

4 . Manscaping: It started with facials. Now the list is exhaustive; from waxing to eyebrow shaping to a host of other facilities, male beauty and grooming has entrenched itself firmly in Pakistan. I say it is high time men were subjected to the same stringent standards as women; keep threading, boys!

5 . Crowd-funding: Perhaps this has not caught on locally yet, but it will. Remember the time when fans were at the mercy of the studio/network/ publishing house for their latest fix of the entertainment of their choice and forever shadowed by the threat of cancellation (Twin Peaks, I’m looking at you!)? Now a fan can be the master of her own fate – provided she can scrape up the cash. As the recent Veronica Mars movie proves, fan favourites can gather together and demonstrate considerable clout via avenues like Kickstarter. More power to the people!

Bonus: Everything old is new again. Having run out of original ideas, American TV has followed Hollywood into the world of remakes: from Twin Peaks to Heroes Reborn to Prison Break, we are besieged by nostalgia whether we like it or not!

Sara Qureshi is a marketing professional working in Pakistan.
saraqureshi75@gmail.com

Adnan Syed’s

TVCs

1 . Homage Inverter (mobile): A humorously refreshing perspective on a dry and uninspiring product.

2 . Telenor Easy Card: Although slick and glossy productions are the norm for TV ads now, well scripted, well acted and insightful are descriptions that don’t apply to many of these ads. Unlike this one.

3 . Ufone Hisab Do: Despite seeing Sanam Saeed in soooooo many TVCs, over the past year, this one stands out for its sheer bizarreness (even by Ufone TVC standards) and of course, pitch-perfect performances by Sanam Saeed.

4 . Onaaj launch: Of all of the (few) brand launches this year, this TVC stood out for its simple insight and beautifully expressed POV on something as mundane as roti… so what if the soundtrack was originally a Coke Studio-India song!

5 . National Recipes Thematic 2015: Simple and profound, an evocative soundtrack, beautifully art-directed and sensitively shot… Definitely one of the better TVCs of the year.

Adnan Syed is Chief Innovation Officer, Adcom Leo Burnett.
adnans@adcompk.com

Kiran Murad’s

Slogans

1 . Bank Alfalah – The way forward: A statement of confidence, prosperity and leadership, it’s everything you want from your bank and more. This slogan sets Bank Alfalah apart from the others as the one that will work with you on your path of upward mobility and guide you through the milestones of success. It packs a lot of punch in three words and has layers of subliminal messages that appeal to consumers in their own individual ways.

2 . Shan – Khushian chakh lo: Now a foodie like me totally gets this one. And of course the tear jerking, heart wrenching TVC it went with ensured its popularity. Everyone shared it on Facebook and we have all enjoyed many a meme about the brothers in the ad. Unfortunately somewhere in the “Bhai…” this well expressed thought was lost. There’s nothing in the market that can make you as happy as a good, home cooked meal.

3 . Lipton – Be more tea: Yes, yes I know most people don’t get it. But it was not launched properly in the market and explained to the consumer via further communication or activation. Yet, that does not detract from the fact that it is a smart slogan. Just three words encapsulate – not only the philosophy of the brand – they also impart the feeling of wellbeing and peace that a good cup of tea inspires within you.

4 . Zameen.com – Hur pata humme pata hai: This slogan works really well for a real estate portal and inspires confidence with its knowledge of the property market. The play on words adds an element of playfulness that stops it shy of being boastful and helps it roll off the tongue easily. Easy to remember and easy to repeat, it has the right ingredients for a slogan that will work.

5 . OLX – Purana jaye ga toh naya aye ga: What better way to encourage someone to sell their old stuff than to tantalise them with the sparkle of shiny new stuff? Playing prudently on this consumer insight, the slogan quickly caught on and not only was it used in jest between friends, I even heard of someone who was given it as a consolation by a mugger relieving him of his phone. Now I don’t know about you, but I think when muggers start using a line it has sure got popular.

Kiran Murad is a creative consultant.
kiranmurad@gmail.com

Salma Jafri’s

Startups

1 . Patari: Pakistan’s hottest music startup offers everything from music streaming to new music discovery for listeners to monetisation and new listeners for musicians. Available on the web and via iPhone and Android apps.

2 . Jus’ Plan It: A meet-up and events app for people looking for happening events in their city and nearby places. You can be part of the beta version and receive alerts on your iPhone or Android device or host an event and plan a meet-up.

3 . Savaree: This is Pakistan’s answer to Uber: a ride-sharing and taxi app currently servicing Lahore. Select your destination and your driver’s info appears on your screen. Still need to pay manually though. Available on Android.

4 . Tourplanner.pk: A great way to plan a holiday or journey in Pakistan. Choose a destination and receive info on hotels, travel guides and book directly via the website. Available in 13 cities across Pakistan.

5 . ExportLeftovers: No need to go to Sunday Bazaar anymore! Now you can find quality clothes for men, women and kids at affordable prices. Offering factory-direct prices and nationwide shipping. You pay via COD or Easypaisa.

Salma Jafri is the host of weekly video show ‘Content Marketing Tips’ on salmajafri.com.
info@salmajafri.com

Shahrezad Samiuddin’s

Faces

1 . Reham Khan – Marry in haste: Now that is what you call jhat shaadi, pat divorce! During the 10 months she was married to Imran Khan, Reham Khan was in the eye of the storm. Any semblance of marital bliss was soon pierced by damning claims by the ex-husband, a controversy over fudged qualifications, a ban on political activity by her husband and a viral video with inappropriate dancing in the wrong clothes.  The only thing we know for sure though is that IK gave into his penchant for unsuitable women... again.

2 . Ayyan Ali – With love from Adiala Spa: Hands down the sexiest thing to float out of Adiala Jail! Supermodel Ayyan Ali stunned Pakistanis when images broke out on their TV screens of her hiding in her hoodie, while escorted to the police station for allegedly trying to smuggle out gobs of cash. The plot thickened as the media had a field day unearthing the big names behind the scandal. And no one batted an eyelash when month after month Ayyan emerged from jail looking as if she had just stepped out of a spa. Post-jail she visited Karachi University as chief guest (no less) for an event and left behind the expected train wreck.

3 . Hamza Ali Abbasi – Not-so-pyaara: With an opinion on everything and a supersized mouth to go with it, controversy thy name is Hamza Ali Abbasi. His initial outburst on social media may have inadvertently courted controversy, but the man, who shot to fame as the lead in the TV serial Pyarey Afzal and a lead role in this year’s biggest Pakistani hit film Jawani Phir Nahi Aani, soon developed a taste for escalating ‘likes’ and frenzied comments on Facebook. In danger of becoming better known for his rants, than for his acting skills.

4 . Komal Rizvi – How to photo bomb your own selfie: It is a tragic fact that when you Google ‘Komal Rizvi’, the search engine informs you that the people who searched for her also searched for Abdul Sattar Edhi. Her self-absorbed selfie with the seriously ill philanthropist undergoing dialysis, broke the internet. And we learnt that it is possible to photo bomb your own selfie, and get more publicity for doing it than you ever could from an entire life spent displaying your talent. How simple was that now, Komal?

5 . Humayun Saeed – The Midas Touch: And he was also spotted in Manto. Lead roles, cameo roles, producer, Humayun Saeed is wearing all the filmi hats he can, and some that he can’t and shouldn’t (please lock away those dancing shoes!). With the record-breaking success of his laugh-a-minute home production JPNA and a lead role in Bin Roye, this year Humayun was the only one who tapped into the public that throng the wrong side of critical acclaim, figured out the winning formula and ran with it all the way to the box office.

Shahrezad Samiuddin is a pop culture junkie and a scriptwriter.
shahrezadsamiuddin@yahoo.com