Innovative Outdoor Advertising

Speed!

2008-05-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

The image below gives you the impression of just that, speed. A simple formula for giving regular folks a taste of how fast they can go in a Mustang!

Look Up!

2008-05-01T22:23:00.000-07:00

The following images show how everyday sights along the roadside can present excellent advertising opportunities. These advertisements also capture the essence of the products being advertised.

The knife is advertising for products by ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS. This company is recognized globally for creating kitchen utensils high quality and function. The most notable of these are their, knives.

The comb is advertising for Proctor & Gamble's shampoo – Rejoice. (One of the best selling shampoos in Asia.) It is supposed to make hair twice as smooth, and easy to comb hair versus ordinary shampoos.

Getting Rid of AIDS

2008-04-25T03:45:00.000-07:00

Many advertising campaigns have been carried out, over the years, on the subject of AIDS, via all types of media. I thought many of them to be preachy and boring at times. However, I found the one below to be a very simple, effective way of getting the point across, of us all having the power to make a difference, in the fight against the spread of AIDS.

Your World Though Science

2008-04-18T00:54:00.000-07:00

I thought that this was an interesting way to engage the man on the street with one of many fascinating facts about a seemingly mundane part of life. You find yourself directly involved with the information given before there is any time to think, once the button has been pushed!

(Science World British Columbia is a self-supporting non-profit organization which engages British Columbians in science and inspires future science and technology leadership throughout our province.)

Strong Teeth?!

2008-04-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

This billboard is for "Formula" tooth care. The copy on it says, "builds strong teeth." It seems that the text should have been displayed more prominently, or simply stated, "Formula tooth care", more prominently but I really like the visual created, don't you?

A Poignant Look At Being Drunk

2008-04-03T19:46:00.000-07:00

I hope these images below don't remind you of anyone you know. This advertising campaign gives a stark look at how senseless it is for anyone to think they should have anything to do with driving, while inebriated.

FedEx Marks the Spot.

2008-03-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

One very useful tool in emphasizing something visual is to highlight it. This is a clever visual pun on that that idea.

Instant Coffee?

2008-03-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't like a hot cup of coffee on a blustery cold day?.... Actually, me. I don't like coffee but I love this presentation of it! Many people should remember this one created by Folgers. It was the "talk of the town" when it was first seen.

Dropped Calls?

2008-03-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

No one likes "dropped calls."

Yes, you ARE seeing double!!

2008-03-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

These FedExKinko's ads make a seemingly subtle point of noting the new services of copying and printing services available, with the merger of FedEx and Kinko's.

Take another look.

(The text in the ad states, "Copies available at the new FedExKinko's".)

How Big Does Your Car Feel?

2008-02-29T06:51:00.000-08:00

This advertisement is all about the size and feel of being in a mini. When you sit in a Mini you feel that you could be sitting in a lager car because of the innovative design of the backrests of the seats. The ad campaign shown below represents this idea of the MIni's spacious interior in an unusual, playful manner.

Advertising Agency: Jung von Matt, Zurich, Switzerland

Seramis + Water = Healthy plants???

2008-02-22T05:58:00.000-08:00

Seramis is a company that provides, among other things, what I think is an interesting product and an innovative way to keep potted plants well watered and healthy. The company produces a clay granulate (Seramis) that can be used, instead of soil, in which to grow plants.

The small porous clay grains store water like a sponge. So plants in Seramis can be watered 3 times less frequently than those in soil. The roots grow into the porous surface of the clay granules taking as much water and fertiliser as they need.

Soil can rot and consolidate which hampers the airing of the roots. If the roots don't get enough oxygen they die. Seramis clay granules however keep their structure, apparently, they don't grow old or consolidate so roots are always perfectly supplied with oxygen.

Now, I don't have a, "green thumb" for indoor potted plants and I've never used this product before, but anything that can help make the up keep of such plants simple is a winner in my book. And speaking of simple, take a look at one of their outdoor ad campaigns.

This takes the idea of healthy plants to an extreme but it makes a direct link between the company name and the idea of large, healthy plants.

Amnesty International's Haunting Presence

2008-02-15T11:18:00.001-08:00

Amnesty International's use of children in the following images, for ad campaigns about famine and child soldiers, is striking. This is made possible by the simple physical composition of these advertisements, as well as their locations.

This simple presentation helps you to focus immediately on what the children appear to be doing. The images are given just enough context to allow the viewer to speculate further about the circumstances within which the children are pictured. Because the illusion created makes them seem to appear in the physical space they've been placed in they are difficult to ignore, to say the least.

Belated birthday wishes for LEGO

2008-02-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has interacted with LEGO for any length of time invariably ends up having fun. I think it's one of the greatest toys in the world! Since LEGO recently celebrated it's 50th anniversary I couldn't pass up reminding people of one of their outdoor ad campaigns that I thought was eye catching in it's simplicity. The pictures seemed to speak for themselves.

Containers were placed on construction sites and transformed into giant LEGO blocks to advertise their "Construction Site" series.

If any of you readers have seen other such interesting outdoor ads for LEGO or other products and services, feel free to post them, or give links to where you've seen the images, if they're on line.