Some of you might remember the buzz recently about a few high profile sightings of faceless people at well-attended, upscale events, including Wimbledon.  

Word spread quickly that it was some sort of viral campaign from sports car manufacturer Lotus.  I was intrigued, so I went to the campaign Web site, www.facelesspeople.com, and signed up to be kept informed about new developments.  

The campaign payoff has arrived.  I recently received this email in my inbox:

The email above directed me to either contact my local dealer (I wish) or learn more about the Lotus Evora on the model’s Web site:

I think this was a pretty well-executed, well-designed campaign.  It stays true to the Lotus brand, which has always represented automobiles that emphasize function just a little more than form.  The cars were built to appeal to those who don’t want to blend in, and I’m sure that was the brief for this campaign as well. You have to love campaigns that are creative and unique but also drive home a message or distinction for the product or service they’re advertising.  

Garret Ohm
http://www.orange-element.com

I’ve said it many times before on this blog, but we really do believe that the best creative work is the result of a deep-seeded passion for and belief in a brand.  So as a marketing and business development staffer here at Orange Element, my focus has always been on identifying business models that we could really stand behind as loyal brand stewards.

One of the areas that interest us most (and subsequently where I focus a lot of attention) is sustainable technologies.  Even more specifically, sustainable technologies as they relate to alternative fuel vehicles.  There is nothing in this world that interests me more than what companies like Tesla, Fisker, Aptera, Hybrid Technologies and Commuter Cars Corporation are doing to bring these technologies to the mainstream.  It is my dream and commitment to seek out these innovative companies and put our expertise as visual communicators to work to advance their mission.

Part of that pursuit is trying to keep up with the changes and innovations in the industry.  In doing so I recently read an interesting feature on Wired where they featured 10 ‘green’ concept cars that were “waaaaaay out there.”  In other words, the cars’ designers were tasked with dreaming big (read: HUGE) about what future sustainable automotive technologies might be and what these designs might look like.  I thought I’d share.

Click HERE for the full feature and more images like the one above (which depicts a vehicle that uses magnetic levitation to isolate the passenger cabin - crazy, but perhaps plausable). Perhaps in time we’ll see these big dreams become real innovations that shape the marketplace.  I can’t wait to have the opportunity to bring more of these new technologies to market.

On a somewhat related note, here’s another awesome, innovative company that I just read about:  http://www.carbonmotors.com. They are building a purpose-built vehicle for law enforcement.  I think focusing on this niche and delivering a superior product is a great strategy (and it helps that it’s an environmentally superior solution).

Garret Ohm
http://www.orange-element.com
A design and brand communications company that seeks and supports innovators

Check out this new concept from BMW. It was truly an exercise in thinking outside the box and using design to solve a problem. I’m not sure if it will ever make sense to produce, but it is pretty stunning and innovative.

Read more here at Wired: http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/06/bmw-builds-a-ca.html

Garret Ohm
http://www.orange-element.com