The world’s economic paradigm is shifting quicker than Lewis Hamilton would in a Red Bull. Brazil has officially overtaken the UK to be the 6th largest economy and Africa is the new China.

The relatively recent growth of the African nations is based on rich commodity resources (but that’s nothing new), improved infrastructure and a generation of young folk wholly embracing technology.

However, the perception of change on the continent will be a tad slower. Decades of mediated images and reports of famine, war and dictators has left westerners with a single vision perspective.

Afrographique is a blog that consciously aims to change that through infographics based on economic and lifestyle data from the African continent. From countries broadband speeds, Co2 emissions to foreign investment in Africa. Created by Ivan Colic, an art director at Zoom Advertising Cape Town part of the Ogilvy and WPP group, is an interesting story in itself.

The repositioning of the African continent for the 21st century has only just begun. First step first though, and it’s an important one. Repeat after me; Africa is not a country.

Visual humour. A play on words. Very serious issues: The Economist‘s brand has tone of voice and visual identity on lock.

If you’re making a film or advert, there are few things more crucial or overlooked than the soundtrack.

During our recent work on Green Stories, ‘the soundtrack’ has been an interesting challenge. Thanks to Sam’s eclectic ear and The Insomniax’s knack for composition, it was a challenge that we rose to.

The subject indirectly leads me onto one of the catchiest and utterly spot on pieces of music for the Ikea Kitchen Party spot by Mother. The campaign launched last year and has recently made a resurgence, with a soundtrack so good that I initially thought that I’d heard it before. Turns out that I probably had.

100 days of summer may be just a figment of our imagination, but this advertising spot from Mother actually made me take a new look at New Look.

A fact made all the more impressive considering I don’t wear skirts or bikinis.

There’s something about the idea of Refugee Week that sticks in my craw like a fish bone: a bit like Black History Month in fact. Namely because the history of this country – and most countries for that matter – is either a history of immigration, or of people having sought refuge.

By virtue of such uncomfortable truths, these stories are an integral – not exclusive – part of a nations narrative. If I see another campaign talking about the virtues of Mary Seacole, someone’s going to get it up the seacole.

If you’re going to broach the subject of refugees contribution to a nation, then you had better say something interesting. Thankfully, these posters for Refugee Week manage to do that.

Tangible ‘benefits’ simply, yet ingeniously illustrated. It can only be the work of Noma Bar.

Banks hold up the robbers? I’d heard the banks were the robbers. The objective truth might not be on display, but the subjective truth most definately is. It’s important folks, to remember the difference between the two…

The world’s top players challenge you to take your game to the next level. I challenge you to do the same, no matter what it is you do.

Ignore the inclusion of Philippe Senderos. I’m guessing his involvement was just a massive mistake.

Pan Am Airways may have gone bust in 1991 but the beautiful simplicity of these 1971 ads by iconic American design agency Chermayeff & Geismar still endure.

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via Etsy

In advertising land there’s ‘a’ truth and ‘the’ truth. LG‘s The Young and The Connected idents interestingly fall into the latter, as they highlight the frivolities of our social network interactions almost to the point where they threaten to undermine both the user and the applications themselves.

Don’t get me wrong. These idents are good. Very good. And neither LG or Joe Bloggs will be concerned by my frivolous observations, as they’ll be smirking every time they’re aired – just like I do.

Now check you’re Bookface. You’ve officially been poked.

There may be budget cuts galore over at BBC HQ but you wouldn’t know it to look at Fallon’s new ad for the BBC Electric Proms. The ad features some rather nice stop motion animation by Brand New School, use of the amazing Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera and the rather annoying voice of Jo Whiley.

I guess you can’t have everything.

Under 30? A Virgin Media Pioneer? Sign up for our Young Entrepreneur Special on the 14th October at the British Library.

Oh yeah did we say it’s FREE? Visit www.lets-be-brief-business.eventbrite.com to sign up.

Strong campaign work for The Guardian by WK from back in 2008.

You could call them brand values or life values: take your pick. Either way the messages just make sense.

Nice use of typography in ads for the Citeoën 2CV; a car whose visual appeal might have seemed a little less obvious.

A bit harsh perhaps, but the ads are proof that the mid 70′s were great years for design and the arts at least.

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via ISO50

Three rolling street-side billboard ads with three tenuous uses of the Saint Georges flag can only mean one thing; it’s World Cup silly season.

All the things you need to prepare you for a summer of sporting activity, you know – chocolate bars, beer, fizzy drinks – have provided us with all the ad nauseum we need for the coming summer months.

And there’s the new spot from Nike. In truth you don’t need them either, but as usual they claim a credible position with an irrefutable life message.

The ads not bad either.

When I clicked on the link, to look at this ad.

I had no idea that it would be so bad.

When they came up with the concept, they all must have known.

That all they’d end up with, was a really bad poem.

THE END.

Classic Nike. Classic work from agency W&K, taken a couple of years ago in NYC. Not by me I might add.

Sometimes, only sometimes, advertising hits the nail right on head. I want you to forget Nike for a minute though, and focus on the truth in a message that oh-so-many can relate to.

I know what I said yesterday too, but honestly, I will tomorrow…

Get Serious. Get to Work. No it’s not Gordon Brown tirade, but from a recent Nike spot that says what the Department of Trade and industry would love to put out there, if only they thought young people were listening.

With a strong voice-over narrative and poignant strap-line, Nike manage to separate a more general, life affirming message from the consumer action that not only strengthens the Nike brand, but makes the ad feel genuine in its motivations.

I actually felt motivated watching it, but the question is, did you?

If you’ve walked past an oversized image of David Cameron and thought ‘what are you looking at?’ only to get an empty glare back, then Andy Barefoot’s very funny site gives you the chance to write your own response for the Conservative campaign poster for the upcoming UK general election.

You can change the line and the logo. Hell, if you’re really up for it, you can change the shape of the election itself.

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via boredomisyourfault (via @mattyboomboom)