Google has launched a new project Art, Copy & Code, which aims to infuse advertisement of global brands with the latest digital technology. The new effort comes as a follow-up to the last year’s successful initiative Project Re: Brief that recreated some of the most iconic advertising campaigns of such brands as Volkswagen, Burberry and adidas, with innovative tech tools.

The Body Shop has a new celebrity in its team of ambassadors. The new face of the cosmetics brand is celebrated British singer Leona Lewis, who has seven Brit Awards and three Grammy Awards nominations. As the new brand activist, Leona will be spreading awareness of the cruelty-free cosmetics philosophy adopted by The Body Shop and realized through its fair-trade, ethically sourced and 100% plant-based ranges. Plus, the signer has collaborated with the brand to produce a new make-up and fragrance collection. Being a vegetarian and animal rights activist herself, Leona Lewis is a perfect fit for the new partnership.

Burberry has introduced another tech innovation to the world of fashion. To showcase the Burberry Prorsum Autumn/Winter 2013 collection, the brand has reportedly developed its own technology (although, referred to as RFID technology at the official website) to enable “Smart Personalisation” service to let tech-savvy fashionistas order custom-made bags and outerwear with engraved nameplates on them right from the catwalk. The service is available for two weeks until March 3.

Any huge event, be it a concert tour, royal wedding or sport activity, offers brilliant opportunities to marketers. Next year, London will host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, which makes companies busy these days, getting ready for new clients and partners from abroad. A range of brands including Cadbury, BMW, McDonald’s and Coca-Cola have already started the promotional activity, and now the governments also steps in with a new campaign dedicated to the event. On September 21, the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, announced the GREAT promotion, which is led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and aimed at showcasing the best in the country to attract new investors and tourists. 

You are welcome to share your thoughts on this article written by Darren Foley, Managing Director at Pearlfisher, London

We are all too aware of the ongoing economic difficulties and retail caution with Habitat, Thornton’s and Jane Norman three more casualties of the British High Street. But all is not doom and gloom. The Royal Wedding and choice of British designers and British brands favoured undoubtedly gave yet another boost to the British economy, an iconic ‘Cool Britannia’ message is being heralded in the run up to Britain’s hosting of the 2012 Olympics and we are welcoming the news (19 June) that luxury British fashion group Mulberry announced a sharp rise in profitsreporting a jump to £23.3m from £5.1m a year ago.

The Fast Company magazine presents its new rating of the 50 most innovative companies in the world. In mid-February, they published the 2011 list, giving short descriptions to their picks. Apple scoops first place, pushing the digital giants Twitter, Facebook and Google to the 2nd, 3rd and 6th place correspondingly—with Intel, Microsoft, Linkedin,eBay, IBM and Cisco resting below them. The sport and fashion apparel industry is presented by Burberry (No.13, “for breathing new life into a luxury stronghold”), Nike (No.23, “for its mix of sports, style, and yes, plastic bottles”), Opening Ceremony (No. 28) the food and drinks business has two representatives—PepsiCo (No.33)—“for its ambitious nutrition R&D” and chocolate company Madécasse (No.50).

Emma Watson, who starred as Germiona in the «Harry Potter» franchise, appeared in the Spring 2010 prints of the iconic Burberry brand. The images, featuring the young and hugely popular girl, were made by photographer Mario Testino. The actress was shot alongside with her 17-year-old brother Alex, Matt Gilmour, a musician and the son of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, model Max Hurd and British rocker George Craig.