Scenic Philadelphia would like to thank everyone who participated in our Clearing the Clutter Video Contest. We would like to congratulate our contest winner Andrew Guengerich! View Andrew's winning video on our YouTube Page.

Andrew Guengerich is a 19 year-old from Austin, Texas. He's an aspiring filmmaker and found the contest through a film contest database. The Clearing The Clutter Video Contest caught his eye because he felt the song had a positive message and liked how it sounded. He was able to make a video quickly because he believed it was a really powerful song and easy to imagine a story to. He thinks Scenic Philadelphia is doing a good thing trying to keep people from being overwhelmed by billboards and bombarded by commercialism.

"Clutter and Confusion" was generously written for Scenic Philadelphia by singer and songwriter Colin Kassekert, who took an interest in our work. Colin is a local talent who recently scored the documentary "Trial By Fire." The newest Quietdrive record that Colin co-wrote is currently ranked #21 in Japan. If you are interested in finding out more about Colin and his work, please visit his website at www.myfavoriteepisode.com.

To view the other contest entries, click here.

We would like to thank our contest sponsor Demaio Allstate Agency in Drexel Hill, PA whose generous donation made this contest possible.

On Wednesday, March 28th, Scenic Philadelphia held the Philadelphia premier of the documentary film, This Space Available at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Over 250 people attended the screening including the producer, Marc Gobé, an international branding/marketing expert who wrote the well known marketing book, Emotional Branding. Mary Tracy, Scenic Philadelphia's Executive Director announced the name change of SCRUB to Scenic Philadelphia and Avi Eden, Director of The Delaware Riverfront Corporation, moderated the discussion following the film.

Among the questions posed to Marc Gobé, Avi Eden asked, "What is an effective method of advertising and what alternatives are there to outdoor advertising?"

Gobé described his conversation with the CEO of The Coca-Cola Company in Sao Paulo Brazil. The city underwent a remarkable transformation when Mayor Gilberto Kassab passed the "Clean City Law" that banned outdoor advertising in 2006. How did Coca-Cola spend its time and efforts after the ban? Gobé says they focused on enhancing their product's presentation in supermarkets. The new efforts were met with an astounding 4% increase in sales.

The ban on outdoor advertising was actually a relief for the Coca-Cola CEO. He described outdoor advertising as an arms race, with Coca-Cola having to constantly compete with Pepsi for bigger and better signage. "Whenever Pepsi put up a sign, Coke had to put up an even bigger sign," Gobé remarked.

He then discussed what Philadelphians should do to address the issue of outdoor advertising. Moving away from the notion created by New York City that big cities should be covered with colorful signage and flashy lights, Philadelphians should realize that their brand is different. Rather than compete with New York City, they should strive to make Philadelphia more attractive and livable, and brand the city in a unique way.

The film screening was a step forward in the fight to reclaim Philadelphia's public space from outdoor advertisers. It showed that people are interested in what the city does with its public space and that productive discussions are taking place on what to do differently.

To read Annette John-Hall's Philadelphia Inquirer commentary click here. 

New signage laws in Philadelphia are being drafted right now. Send in your thoughts by tomorrow, March 30th to be included in the 2nd Draft Signage Code. Philadelphia has thousands of illegal billboards and no new construction or conversion should be allowed until properly funded processes for enforcement and compliance are in place.

• Send your comments directly to Eva Gladstein at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• Take the signage survey now

• View the draft signage code

Your feedback is critical and can make a difference.

Do you ever wonder who decides what goes into the public space around you?  A provocative documentary and interactive discussion about the benefits of out-of-home advertising contrasted by the perils of urban blight will be premiered in Philadelphia March 28, 2012.

The documentary "This Space Available",   Producer Marc Gobe tells an interesting story of how cities around the world are looking at public space and how their city presents itself to visitors and residents. March 28th is the initial showing in Philadelphia, Marc Gobe will be present.  

Please take a momet to look at he trailer for this thought provoking documentary. 
 http://thisspaceavailablefilm.com/stills-trailers/trailer
 
Location  Free Library on the Parkway, 1901 Vine Street. 
Date  Wednesday  March 28, 2012
Time   6:30PM , length of documentary 90 minutes,  Marc Gobe the producer will speak afterwards
Admission is free, registration required.  email name, # of tickets requested (maximum of 4 per request) phone number and email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Rise of 'Visual Pollution' and the Fight to Stop It

By Kasia Cieplak-Mayr von Baldegg  -  Atlantic Online 

Enter SCRUB's Clearing the Clutter Video Contest for a chance to have your video featured on YouTube and win a $300 prize!

The video should spread awareness on billboards as visual pollution.

The Clearing the Clutter Video Contest is open to anyone over the age of 18 who wants to apply. Your video or photography display will use the song "Clutter and Confusion" by Colin Kassekert and Ian Bennett. Timing of this piece will be 3:16 in length and along with the music you will need to include billboards and/or other forms of commercial outdoor advertising in the public space.

For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/clearingthecluttervideocontest or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 The front of your business is your face to the world. And, the way your shop looks sends a message to your potential customers. Customers may only give your store a glance before deciding if they'll come in or keep going. A cheery, well-maintained, clearly-signed store says "Welcome! Come on in!" A faded sign, peeling paint, a jumble of signs and products in the window may make a customer hesitate for a moment, or just keep walking.

Your sign is one of the most important components of your storefront facade. Your sign is your opportunity to convey your message to potential customers. The first impression created by your sign and your storefront happens in a blink of an eye. Are your making the most of the opportunity?

This Signage Resource Center is a great place to start learning about a new sign for your business. You'll learn how to make it attractive, how to make it effective and how to make it legal. You'll find design guidelines and a gallery of signs to inspire you, the Philadelphia Zoning Code, and an outline of the city's permitting process - everything you need to get going. By following the steps to the right, you'll be on your way at an attractive new sign.

 Click here for the    SCRUB Sign Resource Center

Haverford Township Residents joined together to protect their community from invasive billboards Thursday evening February 2, 2012.   The Zoning Department attorney Jim Byrne along with Bill Kerr the attorney for Lower Merion gave excellent closing arguments.   Four residents who are leading the opposition on behalf of several thousand prepared a statement for the zoning board, the statement read by Sandy Donato is below.

This website is a resource for any community threatened by the invasion of billboard blight.  Please share your stories with us and let us know if you need our assistance.  Read the statement below to learn about how to organize your strategy and work as a team like the residents of Haverford Township.

If you are fortunate enough to live, work or play in beautiful Haverford, Township Pennsylvania, thank your zoning board, commisioners and Sandy. They have worked dilligently on your behalf for three years.