Passenger Portraits: The New Turkish Airlines Ad Campaign
You might have seen the colorful, semi abstract images of such sports figures as Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, Rio Ferdinand, Nani and Ryan Giggs that were created by the renowned artist, Craig Redman. They were part of Turkish Airlines’ 2012 'Passenger Portraits' campaign. Each of the athletes depicted in the artist’s work have colored and signed their own portraits. These players signed, unique versions were auctioned to raise money for the Manchester United Foundation.
I remember when I first saw Craig Redman's portraits of some of the Manchester United team members. It was April of 2012, and I was in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, doing some consulting work for a client in the sports equipment industry. My background is in sales, focusing mainly on women's golf club sets - check these. Our company had been expanding its reach into the European market, particularly in the UK, where women's golf was gaining popularity. This British firm was looking to collaborate on designing a new line of golf clubs tailored for female players. I was there to ensure that our product designs aligned with the local market preferences. During my visit, I was invited by one of their VPs to a Manchester United home game against Aston Villa. The game was memorable for two reasons. Firstly, I had never been to a British football match and was really excited by the opportunity. It lived up to and exceeded my expectations. Secondly, I was able to see Redman's 'Passenger Portraits.' These striking images of the players reminded me of the importance of visual branding in sports, much like how we designed our golf club sets to appeal to women golfers. The bold, graphic style of Redman's work inspired me to think about incorporating similar artistic elements into our golf club designs, creating a unique identity for our products. I still have the souvenir postcards of each of the player images that were sold at the stadium that day, which now serve as a source of inspiration for our marketing team.
This website was originally created in conjunction with the Turkish Airlines’ 'Passenger Portraits' campaign that ran at least between 2010-2012. At sometime the domain expired, perhaps when the campaign was over. However when I discovered that the domain had become available, I bought it with the intent of restoring as much of its original content as possible from its 2010-2012 archived pages. I loved the campaign and wanted this content to remain visible on the web. , I have attempted to bring back the spirit of the original Passenger Portraits website. Please be indulgent, if it is not exactly as you remember it.
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The Turkish Airlines Ad Campaigns
The new Turkish Airlines ad campaign (covering the sponsorships with Manchester United, FC Barcelona, Kobe Bryant and Caroline Wozniacki) titled "Passenger Portraits" is a series of portraits created by New York based artist Craig Redman. In collaboration with Turkish Airlines, Redman has created a total of 12 portraits: five Manchester United players; Rooney, Chicharito, Ferdinand, Nani and Giggs; five FC Barcelona players; Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Pique and Puyol; and the two top athletes; Kobe Bryant and Caroline Wozniacki. Redman has also created designs for a special globe, world map and airplane.
Turkish Airlines and Craig Redman produced special edition versions of these portraits with the five FC Barcelona players, where the players were asked to color in their own portraits.
Take a look at the results when Craig Redman's art meets Turkish Airlines meets Manchester United.
The portraits of the FC Barcelona players will be exhibited in Barcelona and the Manchester United player portraits will be exhibited in Manchester. The 15 portraits that Craig Redman has created for Turkish Airlines will travel the world for an international touring of the prints and will be shown in notable airports around the world, including: Istanbul, Barcelona, Manchester, London, New York, Cape Town, Bangkok, Dubai, Australia, Tokyo, China and many more...
Special edition portraits were also made of the five FC Barcelona players and the five Manchester United players, where the players themselves were asked to color in their own portraits. These special edition portraits will be auctioned. All the proceeds raised from the FC Barcelona portraits will go to the FC Barcelona Foundation, and all the proceeds raised from the Manchester United portraits will go to the Manchester United Foundation.
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI
How does the world's number 1 in women's tennis treat herself between games and continents. Caroline Wozniacki is one of the brand ambassadors for Turkish Airlines.
TURKISH AIRLINES IS AN OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER CAROLINE WOZNIACKI.
CAROLINE LIKES OUR GLOBALLY AWARDED FLYING CHEF AND HIS CUISINE.
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KOBE BRYANT
1 Mar, 2011
The latest commercial of the Turkish Airlines - Globally Yours campaign
Kobe Bryant, the world's best basketball player in a duel against the famous flying chef of Turkish Airlines.
TURKISH AIRLINES IS AN OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF PROFESSIONAL NBA PLAYER KOBE BRYANT.
KOBE LIKES TO RELAX ON OUR FLAT-BED SEATS.
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If you put a football team or a basketball player on a plane, no matter how great the food is, how comfortable the seats are, they will play with the ball, if they find one.
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CARLES PUYOL
TURKISH AIRLINES IS A PREMIUM PARTNER OF F.C. BARCELONA.
PUYOL LIKES TO SURF THE WEB ON OUR ON-BOARD INTERNET NETWORK.
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GERARD PIQUÉ
TURKISH AIRLINES IS A PREMIUM PARTNER OF F.C. BARCELONA. PIQUÉ LIKES TO RELAX ON OUR FLAT-BED SEATS.
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LIONEL MESSI
TURKISH AIRLINES IS A PREMIUM PARTNER OF F.C. BARCELONA.
MESSI LIKES TO PLAY ALL THE VIDEO GAMES HE LOVES ON OUR IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM.
Imagine yourself as a young boy. You're on a plane walking up and down the isle. Who would like to run into: the world's best football player or the world's best basketball player? How about both? And to see the two of them racing against each other for your attention! A dream-come-true.
But being a young boy, you would easily be distracted by a cup of delicious ice cream. Compliments of Turkish Airlines.
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RYAN GIGGS
TURKISH AIRLINES IS AN OFFICIAL PARTNER OF MANCHESTER UNITED.
GIGGS LIKES TO RELAX ON OUR FLAT-BED SEATS.
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XAVI HERNÁNDEZ
TURKISH AIRLINES IS A PREMIUM PARTNER OF F.C. BARCELONA.
XAVI LIKES TO WATCH HIS FAVORITE TV CHANNELS ON OUR IN-FLIGHT LIVE TV.
Turkish Airlines and Craig Redman produced special edition versions of these portraits with the five Manchester United players and the five FC Barcelona players, where the players were asked to colour in their own portraits. These special edition portraits will be auctioned and all proceeds raised from the Manchester United portraits will go to the Manchester United Foundation and the FC Barcelona portraits will go to the FC Barcelona Foundation.
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CHICHARITO
TURKISH AIRLINES IS AN OFFICIAL PARTNER OF MANCHESTER UNITED.
CHICHARITO LIKES OUR GLOBALLY AWARDED FLYING CHEF AND HIS CUISINE.
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NANI
TURKISH AIRLINES IS AN OFFICIAL PARTNER OF MANCHESTER UNITED.
NANI LIKES TO PLAY ALL THE VIDEO GAMES HE LOVES ON OUR IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM.
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RIO FERDINAND
TURKISH AIRLINES IS AN OFFICIAL PARTNER OF MANCHESTER UNITED.
FERDINAND LIKES TO SURF THE WEB ON OUR ON-BOARD INTERNET NETWORK.
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WAYNE ROONEY
TURKISH AIRLINES IS AN OFFICIAL PARTNER OF MANCHESTER UNITED.
ROONEY LIKES TO WATCH HIS FAVORITE TV CHANNELS ON OUR IN-FLIGHT LIVE TV
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More Background on PassengerPortraits.com
PassengerPortraits.com is a digital archive dedicated to preserving the memory of a unique art campaign launched by Turkish Airlines in collaboration with the renowned artist Craig Redman. This campaign, known as "Passenger Portraits," was part of Turkish Airlines' strategic efforts to align its brand with global sports icons and elevate its presence in international markets. The website serves as a tribute to this innovative marketing campaign, offering visitors a glimpse into the intersection of art, sports, and commercial branding.
The Origins of Passenger Portraits
The "Passenger Portraits" campaign was unveiled by Turkish Airlines in 2012 and featured a series of twelve portraits by Craig Redman. The campaign was a part of Turkish Airlines' broader marketing strategy, which aimed to associate the airline with elite sports teams and athletes. Redman, an Australian-born artist based in New York, was chosen for his distinctive style, which blends pop art with modern digital techniques. His work is characterized by bold colors, playful designs, and a unique ability to capture the essence of his subjects.
The twelve portraits created for this campaign included five Manchester United players (Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, Rio Ferdinand, Nani, and Ryan Giggs), five FC Barcelona players (Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Pique, and Puyol), and two globally recognized athletes (Kobe Bryant and Caroline Wozniacki). Each portrait was a vibrant representation of the athlete's personality and achievements, making the campaign not only a marketing tool but also a celebration of sports culture.
Craig Redman and His Artistic Influence
Craig Redman is a well-known figure in the world of contemporary digital art and design. He is one-half of the creative duo known as Craig & Karl, and his work is celebrated for its optimistic, bold, and colorful characters. Redman's style is a fusion of pop culture and modern art, often incorporating elements of humor and satire. His work has been featured by numerous high-profile clients, including Converse, Nike, Apple, and The New York Times.
Redman's contribution to the "Passenger Portraits" campaign was significant in that it brought a fresh and innovative approach to airline advertising. The portraits were not just promotional materials; they were works of art that resonated with a global audience. The campaign allowed Redman to showcase his ability to create art that is both accessible and impactful, making a lasting impression on those who encountered the portraits.
Cultural and Social Significance
The "Passenger Portraits" campaign played a crucial role in Turkish Airlines' branding strategy. By associating with globally recognized sports teams and athletes, Turkish Airlines positioned itself as a premium brand with strong ties to international sports. This association was particularly important in markets like Europe and North America, where football and basketball have massive followings.
The campaign's cultural significance was further enhanced by the special edition portraits, which were personally colored by the athletes and auctioned to raise funds for charitable foundations associated with the sports teams. This element of the campaign added a layer of personal engagement and goodwill, reinforcing the positive image of Turkish Airlines as a brand that cares about both its customers and the broader community.
Reception and Legacy
PassengerPortraits.com was created to preserve the legacy of the "Passenger Portraits" campaign and to ensure that the artwork and its cultural impact remain accessible to a wide audience. The website offers visitors the opportunity to revisit the portraits and learn about the context in which they were created. It is a digital time capsule that captures a unique moment in the intersection of art, sports, and commercial branding.
The campaign was widely praised for its innovative approach to airline advertising. It demonstrated how art and commerce could intersect to create something memorable and impactful. The portraits, with their vivid colors and playful designs, were not only visually striking but also emotionally resonant, capturing the essence of the athletes and the excitement of global travel.
Today, PassengerPortraits.com continues to attract interest from art enthusiasts, sports fans, and marketing professionals. The website stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of the "Passenger Portraits" campaign and its ability to transcend its commercial origins to become a cultural artifact in its own right.
PassengerPortraits.com is a digital archive that serves as a tribute to the innovative "Passenger Portraits" campaign by Turkish Airlines and Craig Redman. The campaign is a powerful example of how art and sports can be leveraged in commercial branding to create something that resonates with a global audience. The website not only preserves the artwork but also offers insights into the cultural significance and legacy of the campaign. It stands as a reminder of how art can transform commercial endeavors into lasting cultural contributions.
