Comments on: Lady GaGa Named Creative Director at Polaroid

By: Is The Film Revival Just Another Fad? at The Phoblographer

Is The Film Revival Just Another Fad? at The Phoblographer — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 01:28:44 +0000

[...] used to snap of them. This is also a generation heavily influenced still by popular culture: like Lady Gaga‘s constant plugs for Polaroid in anything she [...]

By: William

William — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:57:56 +0000

http://support.the-impossible-project.com/entries/167813-will-you-be-producing-new-peel-apart-film

By: betty

betty — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:07:31 +0000

@taylor, what’s the “future” i’m looking ahead to? someone’s marketing creation pretending they are an artist?

By: West Coast Jim

West Coast Jim — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:47:03 +0000

Where the heck to begin?

Polaroid is a twice sold trademark that used to be worth about as much as Sony or Kleenex to the general public. Nothing much more in the grand scheme of things.
As in early video and then the internet I am sure the single greatest use was porn. Not us so called “photographers”…
We don’t use enough. Type 59, 669, 8×10 whatever. No volume. Just like Nikon d3xs or Hasselblad H4ds. No volume. Not really.
I’m sure you can all see where this train leads. Digital is better for home porn.
Hence, no volume for Polaroid or Fuji or anybody.
Yes, I’m sad. But I was sadder selling 4×5 and 8×10 Sinar P2s for squat on eBay 5 years ago.
I still have a small stash of ‘roid material but, like our one remaining “darkroom”, it ain’t getting used.
Neither is my Leica M2R with the 12mm. Maybe Ken Rockwell will save us all from digital with Real RAW. But I doubt it.

What say?

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:27:11 +0000

Polaroid has been through some hard times the last year or so. With just coming out of bankruptcy I think this is a smart move for them. Just about all of America is a follower of Lady GaGa. Who cares if she is a pop star? It’s a smart move for them because people are going to see her name and will want this product. It’s about making the money back they once made. It’s a good way to announce that they are back in business. Smart move Polaroid!

By: liam strain

liam strain — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:23:41 +0000

@taylor, I am more than happy for the attention Polaroid will get from this move. However, I do feel that they need solid brand strategy and innovative products much more than they need hype and gimmick.

I am at hopeful for the brand. But with so many talented product managers, professional marketers, and industry professionals out there, I am saddened to see such a critical role go to a pop princess of dubious ability.

The type 55 comment is mostly tongue in cheek. I love the product, but I have never dared hope it would come back anyway.

As for looking forward, I have yet to find a tool as helpful to my work and workflow as polaroid films were. The fuji product is fine as a stopgap, but I have no illusions about how long it will be around.

By: taylor

taylor — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:54:47 +0000

@liam strain, It’s 2010 (the future)…Polaroid now has a place in the future thanks to their new creative director. I love photographers and their snobby attitudes like anything having to do with film can only be loved by them. I’d venture to say that more than half the people who have ever used polaroid film weren’t photographers and would have bought more if the Beatles or Michael Jackson endorsed it. All the old folk trying to hold on to the past need turn their head forward and look ahead

By: andrewf

andrewf — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:56:04 +0000

@clovenguth, I’m hoping and praying for Polaroid, not GaGa – I don’t give two sh*ts about her or what she does – as long as it is good for the brand of Pola!

By: clovenguth

clovenguth — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:42:29 +0000

For people thinking this is going to bring back and sort of paper/film Polaroid we all know and miss, it’s just a dream you have.

The new product will most likely be a micro digital print cartridge that makes really small “prints” from a digital camera. Either an all in one unit or a separate battery operated device that you cradle your Polaroid camera (with Gaga’s face and hat all over it). Think the new digital photo booths you see everywhere but something that fits in your hand. They will most likely have frames and affects you can apply on the fly to this digital print to make it look like a “Polaroid”. And you’ll get 10-15 2×3 prints out of a cartridge and then you buy another at Riteaid at the half-dress fullsize Gaga standie along with a free itunes track of her latest single. Iconic

By: clovenguth

clovenguth — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:35:32 +0000

@andrewf,

Gaga is as much of an individual as Marilyn Manson was 10 years ago, which is to say not an individual at all. You have fallen for the “corporation-created plastic-pop bands” reinventing itself. Best trick they play every ten years that people fall for time and time again.

By: Ian Barkley

Ian Barkley — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:36:03 +0000

Based on my last couple experiences with new hire creative directors, she couldn’t be much worse- seems like a major lack of creativity in the advertising world right now. They are looking at GO-TO-MARKET approach (viral/online media buys etc) more than the actual MESSAGE or CREATIVE PACKAGING. People need to sit back and learn to be artists again rather than just product pushers… I guess the ROI dictates everything now.
Polaroid does need to return to its instant film roots as there will always be a market for immediate image capture/print. Go on any major film set and look at the script continuity team’s board. Injet and Dye subs don’t substitute for quick and easy polaroid satisfaction. And should anyone start a petition to get type 55 film back to the market, let me know and i would be happy to sign.

By: andrew urban

andrew urban — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:04:53 +0000

@Giulio Sciorio, you said it G, this should prove to be a good move mass marketing wise for polaroid!

By: andrew urban

andrew urban — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:02:20 +0000

yea, maybe no future for type 55, and possibly no 667 for my 250 but at least we still have fp-100c… or has it been so long since i’ve used it that, that is gone as well?

By: This

This — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:21:53 +0000

Lady GaGa Type 79. All about it! Who cares who the face is trying to sell it to me?

PS. 8×10 Polaroid show coming this spring. Shhhh.

By: Rex Lisman

Rex Lisman — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:00:57 +0000

Lady GaGa, ” ..to bring back the lifestyle of taking photos…”
Wait, what? Has she never been on flickr? I think the “lifestyle of taking photos” is thriving without her help.

By: Brooks

Brooks — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:30:17 +0000

Polaroid doesn’t make anything I use anymore, so I’ve given up caring what happens with or to them. I wish their employees well though.

By: Fashion Photographer Jerry Avenaim

Fashion Photographer Jerry Avenaim — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:33:47 +0000

I just want my 8×10 Polaroid back!

By: Jauhien Sasnou

Jauhien Sasnou — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:39:03 +0000

I wonder what Type GaGa’s gonna look like… :-)

By: Fuji Drama, and Pola Gaga « The View from Streetlevel

Fuji Drama, and Pola Gaga « The View from Streetlevel — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:12:10 +0000

[...] other news… I saw on Rob Haggart’s blog “A Photo Editor” Lady Gaga Named Creative Director at Polaroid – that Lady Gaga has been named a creative director at Polaroid. I am of mixed feelings about this. [...]

By: marc

marc — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:23:05 +0000

Things just went from bad to worse, that isn’t a hat, it’s her own hair!
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2010/01/08/2010-01-08_lady_gaga_wears_hat_made_entirely_from_her_own_hair.html

By: Doofuss

Doofuss — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:27:31 +0000

I’sn’t Lady Gaga really a man? Isn’t that what this is all about anyway? She is the MAN! We are all ruled by the MAN!

By: andrewf

andrewf — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:37:59 +0000

I think GaGa is a genius with real individuality in these days of corporation-created plastic-pop bands.
She is as individual as Polaroid itself and it seems to make sense to use a figurehead with her global popularity to bring more clout to the marketing push.
I’m not a huge fan of her music, having said all that – more a fan of her style and unique vision.

Andrew

By: Learning to See - P-P-P-Polaroid Face

Learning to See - P-P-P-Polaroid Face — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:32:42 +0000

[...] seen this popping up on photo blogs (H2H, APE, and PFI) – Lady GaGa has been name Creative Director at Polaroid. How can we bridge what is [...]

By: Gagaroid

Gagaroid — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 12:47:48 +0000

This is a totally great move for both of them and it’s a good sign that whoever is running Polaroid knows who to put in front, to bring back pop-culture relevance to a dead brand. There is no better, forward-looking artist who personifies and carries the torch of individual self-expression than Lady Gaga.

That said, we all know that the Polaroid technology we know of today is probably not going to be the Polaroid of tomorrow, so the question is which way is Polaroid going to go?

If Polaroid can find a way to transfer what is so good about their old technology to digital (or come up with a new technology strategy), then it’s going to work. But if they only try to use her as a marketing gimmick, then Polaroid will turn into “just another one of those digital camera companies” — good for the corporation, but inconsequential to the medium.

I’m crossing my fingers…

By: Gary Miller

Gary Miller — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:12:06 +0000

Just pull and wait sixty seconds and it will all go away…

By: stuart rayner

stuart rayner — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:22:18 +0000

Lady Ga-Ga is such an iconic leader for all of us , but who is this polaroid everyone is talking about ?

By: Ed Hamlin

Ed Hamlin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:27:34 +0000

@stikman, and that would be you too! LOL You could be right. You know what I think, the older generations are afraid to be left in a nursing home with nothing to do but watch uncreative games shows and play bingo, by the younger generation creatives.

Not tooting my kids horns but I have one working on his MBA, daughter working on a PHD in music, son that is the designer for UFC game, an actress and the last well, he is young still.

The younger generation definitely has it going for them even with the way things are….me I am 50 going on 27

By: stikman

stikman — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 05:57:05 +0000

I am now convinced everyone commenting is 100yrs old.
Gaga is quite the genius and performer and an excellent business woman. Good for her, good for p-roid.

By: Brian Smith

Brian Smith — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 05:00:44 +0000

@Ed Verosky, Huh, I always thought the Barbie cam was named for Klaus…

But ya gotta admit the Tasmanian Devil’roid rules…

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/12/90473388_a19e74c3be.jpg

By: a fan

a fan — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:42:26 +0000

“An artists with an MBA sounds like a powerful combination. Anyway, here’s to the decade where the artists take over. That will probably be frustrating for some people, hopefully not you.” this is not about L. Gaga, instead is about the executive “artist” at Polaroid that made the decision to bring her onboard…this is a smart strategic move for Polaroid. Well done!