Deceased Poet becomes Signing Sensation at Belgian Book Fair

Is it possible for 8 authors to sign non-stop for 12 days? Yes if a robot does all the signing for them.

People usually goes to the Antwerp Book Fair (Belgium) every year to score signatures from their favotrite authors. This year online shop Bol.com raised the signing bar even higher, with a series of signings by top international authors such as Nicci French, David Baldacci and Paula Hawkins.

A stunt in which 8 authors sign non-stop for 12 days. Worthy of note: the late Flemish poet Paul van Ostaijen was also honoured in this way. Bol.com wants to draw attention to genuine literary talent again with this campaign.

In collaboration with the Antwerp Research & Design Lab Beyond, DDB Brussels created a technological signing robot which analysed, parsed and then reconstructed all the signatures and manuscripts of the famous authors.

In total, an intensive test phase took four weeks. Kevin Verelst, co-founder and Art Director of Beyond explains, “The greatest challenge was above all to imitate the writing as faithfully as possible. In the process, it was essential to completely fine-tune four important elements. Namely, the choice of pen, the angle of the writing, the pressure of the pen on the paper and the writing speed.”


'The impossible signing sessions' by Bol.com at the Antwerp book fair from DDB Brussels on Vimeo.


Bol.com - The Impossible Signing sessions from DDB Brussels on Vimeo.




Credits :

Client : bol.com
Agency : DDB Brussels
CD : Peter Ampe & Odin Saillé
Creation : Danny Vissers
Ad & Copy: Tom Meijer & Silke Beurms
Accounts : Francis Lippens & Romy Vierhouten
Strategy: Dominique Poncin, Jorian Vanvossel
Digital Design: Wieste De Ridder
Motion Design: Sven Verfaille
Producer: Stefanie Warreyn
PR: Kenn Van Lijsebeth
TV producer: Brigitte Verduyckt
DOP: Adrien Moormann
Design lab: Beyond.io

Motorola - Skip the sevens

With a bold move Motorola goes against Apple and Samsung and urges people to skip the sevens and opt for a Moto Z with Moto Pods.

In a perfect timing, with Samsung's Note 7 blowing up -literally- and Apple's iPhone 7 disappointing release, Motorola claims true innovation. In the following video you'll see a focus group of Apple fans getting “tricked” into believing that the company’s Moto Z is a new iPhone prototype.

The copy:
When the first generation of the iPhone came out, it changed everything. It was the rebel, the challenger. And it knocked us off our perch. But that was nine years ago.

It seems like the smartphone category is focused on incremental improvements. Display sizes increase by fractions of an inch. Cameras change by a few megapixels. And you often have to wait years for the next big thing. 

We admit that we played that game too. Until now. So this year, skip the sevens. Go for something new, something different. Because, while everyone else is figuring out how to improve their smartphones, we reimagined what a smartphone can be.

The Moto Z with Moto Mods doesn't just give you a slightly better camera, you get a Hasselblad with 10x optical zoom. Instead of small speakers, you get rock JBL stereo sound. Instead of another year of 5" screens, you get a 70" projection.

Our industry was built on thinking differently. Some have forgotten. So for now, we'll carry the torch. Different is better.

Credits:
Agency: Ogilvy