If you could have anything, it would probably be an IMAX Private Theatre. Check out our ad in the June 2013 issue of Robb Report’s Best of the Best. Never suffer the indignity of waiting on line at a public IMAX venue again! Also in this issue find our latest for jeweler Martin Katz, Maserati Quattroporte and read about our client Cardinale! Go ahead, indulge a little.
PICTURE PERFECT.
Opening night of a new art fair called Paris Photo Los Angeles took place April 25 at Hollywood’s Paramount Studios. The studio’s back lot was a suitably theatrical venue that added interest to some otherwise predictably unimaginative, derivative, “been there, done that” photography on offer from dealers around the world. The opening attracted the usual assortment of would-be artists, hipsters and, the exhibitors would hope, a few dozen serious collectors of photography and books on the subject. And while it’d be tough to take much of what was proffered as “high art,” there were some notable exceptions. Like any art fair, those assiduously on the look out can discover diamonds amongst much coal.
We were guests of BMW, who hosted a pavilion and brought along an Art Car from the company’s collection of special automobiles which have been adorned at the time of their manufacture by artists like Calder, Lichtenstein, Stella, Fuchs, Rauschenberg and most famously, Warhol. Painted in a mere 23 minutes by AW in 1977, the BMW M1 race car is quite a sight, and doubly significant in that it was actually raced at Le Mans in 1979, finishing sixth overall and second in class. While not a ho-hum racing provenance, the car’s greater value lies in its paint job. BMW’s merging of art and technology is unique among carmakers, and the collection stands as one of the most interesting collections of sculpture made in recent decades. —Robert Ross, Managing Partner, Ross/Madrid Group, Inc.
Historically, home thermostats have been either woefully prosaic, like a door hinge, or hopelessly complicated and unintuitive, like a first-gen BMW iDrive system. We recently discovered Nest when looking to replace a failed thermostat, and have been raving ever since.
This is the most capable little gadget since the smartphone. Nest connects via Internet to manage your HVAC system for maximum comfort and energy efficiency, all operable remotely via downloadable App. Kick the temp up or down on your drive home if a sudden bout of malaria or hot flashes hit.
But never mind all that. It looks and feels like a million bucks, and only costs $250. Installation and set-up are brilliantly simple, and it’s so smart that it lights up to show you the temperature—in tasteful, 100 pt. sans serif numerals—whenever you walk by. No more squinting in the middle of the night to kick up the heat when the girlfriend complains that the place is freezing. No more hideous, taupe-colored injection-molded plastic garbage disturbing the tranquility of pristine white walls.
Nest is one product that unequivocally delivers value for dollar, and sets the bar for good design.
Ross/Madrid Group did not produce this site for the international brand (we work on the North American account). However, we’re highly impressed by the thoughtfulness and exquisite design. The historical timelineis particularly great! Check out the site now.
What better way for Ross/Madrid Group to close the business of 2012 than with a truly high-impact placement at JFK International Airport featuring Ross/Madrid ad creative developed for Korn/Ferry International. All along the way in developing the Greatness Cultivated campaign, Korn/Ferry has been a true creative partner, demonstrating a willingness to think beyond the norm, knowing that their audience is sophisticated and responsive to sharp advertising that cuts the edge. Should you happen to visit JFK International Airport this holiday season we sympathize with you, but at the very least you can enjoy these powerful wall graphics!
