November 4, 2008 | Read Time: 1 minute
See What’s Out There, a blog produced by See3 Communications, points out some striking similarities between a charity video campaign and a new advertisement by the Starbucks coffee-store chain.
The charity campaign — which promotes an advocacy effort called The Girl Effect — features the use of creative typography set against the music of a piano.
“Starbucks released a new ad during Saturday Night Live this past weekend that’s shockingly similar,” notes the anonymous author of See3’s blog. “I don’t know if it’s done by the same people, mere flattery, or a total rip-off.”
See3 is a Chicago consulting firm that specializes in nonprofit fund raising and communications.
Roy Elvove, a spokesman for BBDO New York, which produced the campaign for Starbucks, said the advertisement is based on a fairly standard formula that isn’t unique to The Girl Effect.
“The idea of using type in that way isn’t new,” Mr. Elvove said. “What is new is the message.”
You can view the two videos below and make your own assessment.
