For the 50th anniversary of the iconic Ken doll, GQ Germany decided to take a puppet or doll like approach to this creative advertising campaign. The shoot was done by Armin Morbach and features models Aaaron Bruckner as Ken and Alex Sandor as Barbie. The classic doll couple were syled by Klaus Stockhausen.
Morbach’s resume is quite extensive as she is a hair and makeup artist as well as a publisher and last but not least, a photographer. This shoot seems like quite an ingenious way of portraying the toy couple; it's perfect homage to a never-ending brand as well as a creative way to showcase fashion in the very prevalent GQ magazine. The Ken doll portrayal models were groomed by Sea Bascle and Lori Baur.
Humanized Fashion Dolls
GQ Germany Celebrates Ken's 50th Anniversary With Life-Like Dolls
Trend Themes
1. Humanized Fashion Dolls - Using dolls with a more realistic appearance in fashion advertising campaigns has the potential to create a more relatable image and experience, attracting a wider audience.
2. Iconic Brand Celebrations - Celebrating the anniversary of iconic brands can create unique and buzz-worthy marketing opportunities, leading to increased brand awareness and recognition.
3. Doll/image Crossover - Blurring the lines between human and doll-like appearances or features in fashion and advertising has the potential to create a truly unique and memorable brand image.
Industry Implications
1. Toy Manufacturing - Toy manufacturers could consider creating a line of dolls that blur the boundaries between reality and a toy-like appearance, capitalizing on the growing trend of humanized fashion dolls.
2. Fashion - Fashion industry leaders could collaborate with toy manufacturers to create marketing campaigns that blend dolls with high-fashion concepts, allowing both industries to benefit from increased exposure and cross-promotion.
3. Publishing - Publishing houses could develop partnerships with fashion houses and toy manufacturers to showcase creative campaigns that push the boundaries of traditional advertising, making their publications stand out and draw in a wider audience.