IS IT?

By CD Sami Saab of Publicis Graphics Beirut, for Aoun's party, the Free Patriotic Movement.

For non Arabic readers, here is a translation: The scribbled message is a play on words, as an A (the Arabic 'A' letter as 'aleph' - in orange) was added to the second word (read from right), to remind people that a nation is a 'Union' not a 'Company' (as the word originally meant if the letter wasn't added).

Stand staight & forget the chair

Sit twisted and talk straight is an approximate translation of the copy; something that sounds like,'You don't have to be straight as an arrow but must be plain-spoken'. Many were slow to grasp this outdoor advertising message - and i reckon being extra slow myself, as, to start with, I never managed, to read the crowded copy like in one shot to be able to get it. But since it was the talk of the town, figured out with some help... Communication meant basically to inform the whole country about the availability of the new service from Ogero; the service --for land line phones -- made, at last, international lines possible and accessible from home. Nevertheless, the ad conveys a stronger political message tainted with mockery, a mega obvious farce calling for a straight President who will have to talk straight, sit straight and work straight. I like this play on words that surely made our ex-president think a bit about how we think of him---though not so sure on this one! but am sure he got a bit paranoid at the campaign view wondering if it was addressed to him. It is a funny situation...But it is worthy noting too that many didn't even get the joke if there is one .. One morning, the campaign disappeared from the public eye view, deleted as fast as a lightning, Mazzé-Syrian style with no explanation from anyone, no nothing... All what was left is that added service from Ogero Telecom - yeah that wasn't a joke after all--and an option to call friends and family living abroad to narrate how absurd is the living in Lebanon and how amusing is everything else. Fortunately all is made of non stop laughable laughs. Life is just a Beach in Crazy Beirut!! Ad for Ogero made by CD Sami Saab of Publicis. Graphics, Beirut.

ORANGE TV

A teaser for O TV [Michel Aoun's own channel branded as the ORANGE TV, for the colour he appropriated to flash his audience and party loyalist]- NAWARET in Arabic has no literal sharp translation but means THE LIGHT IS ON - BRIGHTNESS & TRUTH brought by the General's TV channel---A pompous message in perfect concordance with Michel Aoun's tone, language and character. As for the light he claims he'll be bringing, well, that's another story and not the aim of this blog to debate. GOOD LUCK GENERAL AND ONE LAST THING, ORANGE WASN'T A WISE CHOICE, NOR AS COLOR OR WHAT IT COULD REPRESENT... A FRUIT FOR A POLITICAL PARTY, COMMON'.... However, this visual hit the nail and scooped a Silver Pikasso in 2006; Agency: Public Graphics Beirut CD: Sami Saab AD: David Bekhazi; Patrick Nacouzi CW: Sami Saab, Maya Maacaron

HOT IDEAS

Kababji partners up with Women's Tennis Tournament and that's the outcome...Baked talent---

and hot ideas by CD Sami Saab of Publicis Graphics Beirut

FLAG IT

CD: Sami Saab of Publicis.Graphics - Beirut This summer, in Beirut, almost every ad agencies wrapped itself in the flag---meaning... made a show of patriotism, to salute the Lebanese army's bitter victory in Naher El Bared...over devilish Fateh el Islam... Will feature more of Lebanon twisted flag in posts to come... The Zoners are back, after a peaceful zoning season... TO VIEW UNEXPECTED APPROACH IN FLAG DESIGN LOG ON TO THE SIRDAB. FOR A VARIATION OF LEBANESE FLAGS, CLICK HERE, FOR INTRENATIONAL ONES U PRESS HERE AND HOLD YOUR BREATH IN BETWEEN!

La Merdeterranée is in danger

Excellentissimo trilingual campaign for Greenpeace-Lebanon by Publicis Graphics-Beirut Creative Director: Sami Saab

Locked up

For Amnesty Intl. People were cut out and placed into public lockers. It reads: LOCKED UP. Because of colour, religion, political preference… Amnesty International supports human rights… help us. Agency: Publicis, Frankfurt.

One Hell of a X-MAS gift

WHO is WHO? HOHO... Pizza World - 1996 Agency : Delvico Bates Barcelona (Spain) Telepizza - 2001 Agency : Publicis (Spain) Domino's Pizza - 2001 Agency: Zonazero (Mexico) A PARANOIAC DIALOGUE OVER COPYCATS -Look at this, CREATIVITY SEEMS TO FREEZE AT THIS POINT OF THE YEAR... -OF COURSE U DUMBO, IT'S TURKEY TIME FOR GOD'S SAKE.. -PFFF! & THEY INSIST ON PROMOTING PIZZAS'. -Pssst!…We are a market share, however small, they will get us WHENEVER, WHEREVER & AT ALL TIMES! -oooh... hmmm...MERRY X-MAS :))