Week 14: Designing Documents, Writing Unoffensively

Good Advertisement #1:

http://northcountrypublicradio.org/blogs/ballotbox/uploaded_images/64b0fe76-11ad-400e-b74b-0f960d9671c7-733901.jpg

This ad became as symbol of the Obama campaign. Shepard Fairey colored the Obama stencil blue, red, and beige. The words hope, progress, or change appeared in bold at the bottom of each ad. These ads were very simple yet strong. The all caps give the ad the strength and the use of beige gives the ad a simplistic feeling.

Good Advertisement #2:

http://www.wwangle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/ipod_ad.gif

iPods always have the most simplistic ads. This is a great marketing technique and shows the efficiency of Apple's product. The iPod is meant to be a simple, useful music listening device--exactly how Apple advertises it. The white of the iPod and headphones along with the white Apple logo and iPod type against the bold yellow and black background causes your eye to go directly to the product.

Good Advertisement #3:

http://www.uggdealer.net/skin/ad1.jpg


This ad is very light feeling. Even though the use of the serif type Helvetica font can be so common in ads, it definitely fits with this one. The font type on top of a blue sky but contrasted with the rocks below gives this ad a natural feel. The type turned on its side draws your eye exactly to the words New Fall Styles catch your eye. Although there are several colors used in this ad, they are very dark but golden





Bad Advertisement #1:

www.flickr.com/photos/ferf/628566136/

Scion always has ads that are set apart from the rest which is overall one of their main intentions. However, this ad definitely draws away from any appeal. Yes, the Scion xB has always been considered "ugly," the "toaster," "the box" (I personally drive this exact car)but actually stating that as a selling point does not seem to make sense. This ad is advertising the new body style of the car which personally, is better than the previous model. It took me several times of looking and reading this ad to realize the possible sarcasm they could be using as a selling point. It doesn't seem to work very well because where the car is improved, it still has the same reputation it did before the new body style. The type used is geometric and very straight forward, in your face, just like the company wants it to be. Although it is reverse type it is not very hard to read. It catches your eye first in the ad even though it is just plain white writing on the billboard. The juncture of the ad also helps, the words are split evenly into easy-to-read sections. The car itself is shiny and flashy which shows prospective buyers that the car can be this excessive however it does not show how low key the car can be as well. I drive a black one that the only added accessories were the upgraded stereo faceplate and a rear spoiler, my car still looks neat and innovative on the inside but outside it seems pretty ordinary, almost hard to notice sometimes. This ad shows simplicity in advertising very well. There is one main image followed by few words. It is very straight to the point. The font is consistently the same and even the two toned background plays into effect so subtly it only seems to emphasize the type.


Bad Advertisement #2:

http://great-ads.blogspot.com/2007/04/heineken-bottoms-up-clever-ad.html

The first thing I noticed on this ad was.....nothing. There was way too much going on. Between the reverse type and upside down type I had no idea where to look. Then, after being able to read the ad, I then had to look at the image and gave a sympathetic.....hm. First, the color green is used in too many different shades; it overwhelms the ad. The black outline of the person is almost the most bold part of the ad, rather than actually Heineken's intention was of the ad.