We here at Boards watch so many spots, we often notice commonalities - and we're willing to bet that you do too. So we've picked out three trends to examine how they're interpreted: a layered clothing look (so winter 2006), unorthodox skateboards and the acrobatic art form, parkour - which has been going strong since 2004, when the BBC recruited the movement's founder, David Belle, for a memorable, high-flying spot "Rush Hour".

THE LAYERED LOOK> When one removes an article of clothing only to reveal an entirely different - and startlingly complete - outfit underneath. Commonly occurs with hipsters in the English-speaking world.
• iPod Shuffle, "Clip": Agency: TBWA\Chiat\Day, LA; Prodco: Anonymous Content; Dir: Mark Romanek/Brand New School

The spot: A series of torsos take off their tops, seamlessly revealing a whole new outfit (and body) underneath. The Shuffle proves remarkably resilient, easily clipped onto a halter top or winter scarf.

The message: As with a lot of iPod advertising, the people are young and faceless; their clothes are trendy and their music even more so. Who needs personality when you can buy an iPod and clip it on to your limited edition designer hoodie? While well done, the effect fails to dress up the old-time message of social conformity.

• Honda, "Dress for It": Agency: DraftFCB, Melbourne; Prodco: @radical.media, Sydney; Dir: Patrick Hughes

The spot: Four takes of a scruffy, male model-type wearing four different outfits are seamlessly composited together to give the effect of a single sequence. As he determinedly walks a city street towards his Honda CR-V, he sheds a layer of clothing.

The message: Honda is suitable for all occasions, from black tie dinners to surfing excursions. Like Apple's muses, this Aussie bloke suffers a case of hipster-itus, but scores points for busting out a tux. The idea here is stronger, but it's less about that than the eye-popping execution.

• Levi's, "Dangerous Liaisons": Agency: BBH, London; Prodco: Rattling Stick; Dir: Ringan Ledwidge (See Spotopsy, pg. 16)

The spot: A 90-second spot in which Levi's recaps denim fashion trends from the last 130 years with help from a randy couple, who rip off layers of each other's clothing.

The message: This spot reminds us that Levi's has been ubiquitous for decades. It's heartening that the company wants us to know it's proud their customers once had bad perms. Plus the effects serve the performances, not the other way around.

SKATEBOARD-NOT-SKATEBOARD> When an object that is clearly not a skateboard is used as a skateboard. Occurs in spots for hybrid vehicles marketed to young, city-dwelling professionals.
• Jeep, "Urban Playground - Skater": Agency: BBDO, Detroit: Prodco: Brand New School; Dir: Jonathan Notaro

The spot: An all CG-spot in which street furniture rolls together to form a robot, which hops atop a Jeep Compass and rides it like a skateboard through an urban landscape. Cue the rock soundtrack.

The message: Jeep is urban, man. Perhaps the image of a giant, yuppie stockbroker riding a car like a skateboard would've been a little too trying, so getting a giant, rock 'n' roll robot to do it instead is a less brutal take on the whole 'hip + urban = our brand' formula.

• Nissan Qashqai, "Skate Park": Agency: TBWA\Paris; Prodco: Gang Films/Park Pictures; Dir: Joaquin Baca-Asay (See First Boards Awards, pg. 21)

The spot: A pair of smartly-dressed legs appears from the sky and rides Nissan's Qashqai like a skateboard through a smartly-designed cityscape. Cue the twinkling piano music.

The message: The Qashqai is durable and urban, not bad-ass. The sales pitch ain't new, but the ad's feel is soothing, emphasizing the car's graceful qualities, rather than treating it like an object to move at warp speed. Plus the effects are convincingly executed - the car actually maneuvers like a skateboard.

• Sneaux, "Human Skateboard": Agency: Margeotes Fertitta Powell, New York; Prodco: Anonymous Content; Dir: PES

The spot: Through stop-motion a guy rides another guy like a skateboard, tricking over pavement, curbs and cars.

The message: A simple idea, neatly executed on a low budget. Without music, the realistic sound effects of skateboard wheels on pavement drives the spot and the hilarious details - like the human skateboard's lips flapping in the breeze - keep us interested.

PARKOUR > An extreme athletic practice in which jumpers move from point A to point B as quickly and efficiently as possible. Commonly occurs in exotic locales frequented by shirtless Frenchmen.
• Xbox 360, "Cops and Robbers": Agency: McCann-Erickson, San Francisco; Prodco: Anonymous Content; Dir: Garth Davis

The spot: A group of bandits flee a rooftop by way of a few death-defying leaps and then hop into their cars for a high-speed pursuit. In the end, it turns out they're just role-playing thrill seekers.

The message: Role-playing is thrilling, buy Xbox! The parkour is used minimally to drive the larger narrative, which focuses on the car chase. As a result, this action ad has a more universal feel.

• Hewlett-Packard, "Runner": Agency: Modem Media, London; Prodco: RSA Films; Dir: Ronnie West

The spot: A good-looking and acrobatic office grunt leaps and flips around his sterile British office setting in order to deliver a cup of tea to his steely yet sultry superior.

The message: HP computers jump through hoops so you don't have to. Here, the parkour-like moves are relocated indoors and make good use of desks, photocopiers and window sills. The concept is simple and familiar, but energetically executed.