October 2, 2009
how ‘cube grenades’ are re-inventing the advertising business [at least for me]
[Essential Reading: “Everything You Always Wanted To Know About ‘Cube Grenades’ But Were Afraid To Ask.”]
Back on 24 September, I wrote about how Shit Creek Consulting had hired me to draw the above “Cube Grenade” for them.
As a cartoon, it works. As a piece of advertising, it works. As a piece of communication, it works. As a Cube Grenade, it works. As a social object, it works. As a conversation starter, it REALLY works. I was happy; so was the client.
Like a lot of bloggers with an advertising background, I have spent a lot of time over the years asking the question, “What is the future of advertising?”
Sure, in the last decade there’s been a lot of speculation about how Web 2.0 is going to change EVERYTHING in the industry– everything from putting mainstream agencies out of business, to Google ruling the world with an iron fist. But in spite of all the talk out there, a definitive answer has always remained somewhat elusive.
I think I may have FINALLY had a major breakthrough:
These last few weeks, while I have been VERY busy working on some new Cube Grenade business, it occurs to me that the Cube Grenade concept somehow manages to get both my backgrounds in cartooning and advertising working seamlessly together.
The Cube Grenades aren’t really designed to “sell”, like traditional advertising. They’re designed to hit a nerve and start conversations. Maybe that will help lead to sales down the road, but it’s not the primary purpose. Its primary purpose takes a more indirect, perhaps more disruptive path.
So what is the future of advertising? Well, I don’t know what yours is, but mine is The Cube Grenade. If that’s what you want, you come to me. If you want something different, go elsewhere.
Some people will get this, some people won’t, but that’s probably a good thing. Rock on.
[If you think the Cube Grenade idea could help your business, as always, feel free to e-mail me, Thanks.]
[Backstory: About Hugh. E-mail Hugh. Work with Hugh. Twitter. Cartoon Archive. Newsletter. Book. Interview One. Interview Two. EVIL PLANS. Limited Edition Prints. Essential Reading: “Everything You Always Wanted To Know About ‘Cube Grenades’ But Were Afraid To Ask.”]
Constant re-invention — love it
I have recently coined the expression: “If you love your world, destroy it.” I am planning to make Cube Grenades part of my personal weapons inventory.
If you study the history of science, all progress involved destroying the theory of the day. How? By breaking the problem into smaller pieces to see the exceptions.
Rules are just an aggregation of exceptions that have been accounted for. If you can account for more exceptions, you have a better rule. But don’t enforce it, expect it to break.
That is life and living.
Love it. Also love the name of their company. It’s profane and edgy. WHO would name their company that? Well, I would want to find out.
Ditto, Jillayne! The Cube Grenade rocks & the company name is WAY on the front. Great way to get the kind of clients you want — when they find themselves up shit creek, they’re going to love you just for saying you can consult them out of it!
I also love that their website’s primary color is brown.
Amen! I’ve been in the advertising business for 30 years and marvel daily at its ineptness. Today I’m making a living cleaning up after the big boys. Love the cartoon. Love your business model!
First of all, LOVE the grenade. It is spot-on. However, I went looking for more info on SCC … other then the website, they don’t exist. Are they real?