Two snippets: Merrell and Inside No.9

There's an advert I've been seeing around the Tube for Merrell walking shoes.  I've had a quick search online but can't find it - next time I see it I'll take a photo and update this post.

UPDATE: HERE'S THE AD:

I've just started a part time UXD course (more on that later) and quite a few of my new classmates come from a design background - which makes me panic as I don't.

However, even I can't quite believe this advert got released.  There's a big wide shot of a couple hiking in the background on the bottom layer, but they're massively overlapped by a hulking great portrait shot of a bloke's face that looks like it's taken from a Hugo Boss advert or something.

Worst of all, the actual shoes themselves - correct me if I'm wrong, but the supposed star of the advert? - are superimposed on top of the above, with one pressed down at the toe angle.  (So ... the USP is the shoes can bend like 100% of the other walking shoes out there?)  BUT, the madness doesn't stop there folks.  Because these shoes are next to a whopping great head shot of this guy, they look LIKE TINY TOY SHOES - it's ridiculous!  I couldn't stop looking at the advert with disbelief at its design.

I really hope this advert isn't considered decent design, because then there's not much hope for me.  

As I see it, placement, scale, identity, theme and focus are just completely out of whack.

On a more positive note...
I'm just catching up with an excellent series on the iPlayer - Inside No. 9 by those League of Gentlemen blokes.

It's an anthology series, so each episode is unrelated to the next.  I've only caught the odd episode so far, but having just seen Sheridan Smith's episode, I cannot rate it highly enough.

If you're looking for superb examples of sheer economy of storytelling, transitions, subtext, a twist, and an emotional thump at the end, then look no further.  Totally top notch stuff.

You can watch the episode here.

You've only got until Saturday so hurry.