in-bar poster and print-ad
Tag Archives: advertising
bloghold.39
bloghold, subcategory = dark arts, nanocatogery = ad trends
serial hook = there is no hook
commentary: o.k.. it’s Sunday night – so it’s still the weekend – and I promised I’d attempt to work this out in my head.
I started noticing these ads sometime around 2001,… what do we call ’em? … “Contextually Unbound People / Lifestyle Photo Ads?”
At first I thought it was just post-dot-bomb strapped agencies and graphic designers turning to stock-photos because it’s a cheap way to get a high level of finish on a project.
But the examples kept turning up…. This wasn’t just a few isolated incidents either…. For lack of a better word – it became, “formula” – and it must be a successful one… If these ads keep getting made… they must be working… right?
So… the formula works… You can sell something by not showing it and merely strum the right combination of psychological strings in your audience.
Wait… I thought advertising was the art and science of describing your product or service and getting that description in front of the right people… right?
I’ve been designing “Ads” for over a decade… I should know what “advertising” is……. um…. right?
Maybe not… (?)
example:
A: 
B:
I see the second example as more of an extortion. A combination of formulas designed to provoke a response (sale) detached from the very thing you’re trying to sell in the first place.
That’d be something other than “advertising” wouldn’t it? …. or *would* it… (?)
Here’s the trick – I don’t know!!!!! (*insert comment plea here – cause I really appreciate how a lot of you think / see things*).
This is another one of those shifts* I mention from time to time…. (*where I mind-fuck myself through perspective change and observation and wind up more curious and convinced I really don’t have anything figured out at all.)
The more you learn and think… the less you know…. ignorance *is* bliss.
I’m shooting for full-on nincompoop by 40… wish me luck.
bloghold.38
bloghold, subcategory = dark arts, nanocatogery = ad trends
serial hook = there is no hook
commentary: I’d be a little hard pressed to take fashion tips from the lovechild of Wolverineâ„¢ and Buddy Holly let alone advice on computer security.
“The ad’s not targeted at you Jim”…
Granted… otherwise it’d be a short, pudgy Timberland wearing (cause we never got over the 90’s) middle-aged Xer using the words like SPAZ, BARF and UBER…
…. not…. “Smackdown”
*blank stare*
fine… so let’s say this is targeted at the (comicly) hip 20-something set.
STILL gotta ask… WHO THE FUCK IS THIS GUY AND WHO CARES HE GAVE HIS PREVIOUS SECURITY SOFTWARE A…. … .. .. .. “Smackdown”.
…
.
.
*blank stare*
.
..
…
He must be important right? – He takes up HALF THE AD… full pager no less in Wired… Pretty pricey stuff.
no?
So it’s a “i’m like you” thing?”
what’s that?
Oh yeah… I wait tables too.
No I haven’t heard your band.
‘Cos you guys are pretty new
(*insert catchy, but inert, feel-good rock tune suitable for animated films… *HERE*)
I promise I’ll try to articulate the macro on what I’m scratchin’ around at here over the weekend.
I have countless examples… my favorite which I didn’t take any pictures of was the “I’m Lovin Itâ„¢” billboard campaign from McDonald’s®… The billboards featured pretty people (stock shots assumeably) – with a headline.. that’s it.. no pictures of food… The best of these were the ones with the photo of a young, obviously non-anglo child (hispanic perhaps) and the headline which touted the “New ALL-WHITE MEAT” McNuggetsâ„¢…. I mean come on.. am I the only person that drove down 44 and giggled every time he saw that?
bloghold.37
bloghold, subcategory = dark arts, nanocatogery = ad trends
serial hook = there is no hook
commentary: yes.. if you’ve played the info-farming affiliate incentive program game, (“get a free iPod, click here!”) – you already know that you have about as good of a chance of getting that blonde ad you do a new PlayStation.â„¢.