EOC Week 11: Final Blog

Discovering great ad men like George Lois and Don Draper gave light to what is to come of a great ad campaign. Advertisements are placed in our lives to cause action, and strike a nerve. Great ad men of our time such as George Lois brought gave us our MTV, and introduced the world to T o m m y H I l f I g e r. The ad men of our time were made up of a team of creative persons that worked together collectively to give a solution. Common forms of advertisements are through radio, print in newspaper, magazine, billboard and wraps of cars and buses. By television airwaves and now with technology, media is delivered to us through the use of Internet on laptops, desktops, and smartphones. The very first noted ads from restaurants, events, automobiles, and fashion were created by hand renderings before there was print. Great ads are able to tie in visual aids, and typography to create one dynamic message. A great ad also tells a story without giving a sales pitch.

The classroom experience was overall rewarding. I was able to stay behind many nights to drain my thoughts into my blogs until there was nothing left, and there were two days where I missed completing the beat of the drum. Working on the final project was initially a thrill as I thought of several media choices for the creative content. I believe the overall completion of the project fell short due to not following the proper outline for each entry, as I noticed that the subtopics I chose became repetitive for the ad campaign overall. I spent the majority of the time researching and compiling feedback, as I wanted to perfect the pitch to render seamless creative content. When going back to approach the writing portion and noticing there was no longer an even flow, the project unfortunately fell short. With the proper content for the subtopics, and ability to deck the walls with the creative content, I’m sure I could have completed an exceptional final based on the pitch.

Week 10 EOC: What makes a good ad campaign...

From the movie Art & Copy, "Sitting there trying to figure out how you just failed... you just f... yourself."- George Lois

We tell stories and recreate our lives, history, movies, and the present through advertising.

"Creatives want to believe they know everything but know they're in deep trouble the minute they roll out of bed…” stated an ad man from Art & Copy. These are the geniuses that we are familiar with from our past. These are the people that roll up their sleeves and take on the world the best way they see fit through challenging the norms and creating revolutions.

An ad may not be anymore than superficial smut to one, but indeed revolutionary dreams written across skyscrapers on labels known as build boards is what gives us likeness to one another. These things inspire, and give light to a dark moment. "Live strong", "Just do it.” and "Yes we can." has allowed our society to move mountains. The phrase alone of a good ad campaign can take you to a place that awakes your soul to "Go forth".

"Something to connect with society in an entertaining form..." essentially is advertising, quoted from Art & Copy. Good advertising puts you there; gives you pride and make you believe life is yours for the taking.

As George Lois declared what his thoughts were about failing, this is evident of what advertising is not. Good advertising makes you wonder how they did it. Good advertising allows you to keep it going to the next take giving its consumer an experience. This experience can be one that they can relate to or have never known. A good ad makes the one that it’s never known believe they just shook hands.

Week 9 EOC: For those who think young...

forever young... Quoted in an episode of "Mad Men", the season two premiere ..."No one under 25 drinks coffee anymore," says Duck Phillips "Just Pepsi. They pour it on their Frosted Flakes."

"Young people don't know anything -- especially that they're young." -Don Draper

We all may be a victim of adolescent behaviors at one time or another. It may be what keeps us alive, and kicking.

Week 6 EOC: Copyrighting

Got milk? (California Milk Processor Board)
The " Got milk" ad campaigns asked questions, told stories, and gave a solution at the same time. This was pure genius only to remind its consumers that it is what you needed, when you needed it.
"as long as both line and visual work synergistically and are based on a solid idea." (Chapter 6)

"THE “DO I SOUND LIKE A SALES PITCH?” TEST" (Chapter 6)

"The style of the writing contributes to the message, just as the choice of typeface contributes to the voice." (Chapter 6)

Week 5 EOC: That Super Bowl Commercial

The thought process behind this ad was simple and got the job done. The concept was practical of our current society with the video dated back over 10 years ago. We all thrive on having the latest technology and having one up on our neighbor. This was absolutely hilarious. “Creative reasoning behind a solution.”

The solution here was finding a device that could cater to a regular guy that. That guy can be found in the locker room with the fellas comparing their new toys, showing them off. This guy watches TV for leisure, listens to music for entertainment, and checks his e-mails for business matters. Here is one guy that likes to gloat and another that doesn’t like to hear it. How can the other guy win and shut up the initial gloater?? Crime deterrent.

“The concept determines the resulting message: what you say and how you design. Though your concept or idea may be broad, it is foundational. Essentially, the idea drives your design decisions—how you create… The idea sets the framework for all your design decisions.”

This was a great ad that sold men a product to men and not the traditional way- to women for men. Humor and the simple use of the “crime deterrent” gave an impression that the other technologies on the phone were also simple to use. Having the newest phone with the latest technologies may cause problems for you, but if anything occurs don’t fear. Just remember the ‘crime deterrent feature. The decisions from start to finish remained true to the concept of the ad. The dialogue was straight to the point and didn’t take much to get the punch line. The punch line in humor was the deciding point in the ad where men said “Yeah I’m going to get one of those”, or at least “..go check that phone out”. Most importantly what was said is “I can watch the game on my cell phone!” Super Bowl commercial genius.

Week 4 EOC: The Role of Women In Advertisements

In reading a published interview with Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi Mr. Roberts gave the following as the five ideas he believed in:

Nothing is impossible.

One team one dream.

Think with your heart.

Be an inspirational player.

Never give the customer what she wants; give her what she never dreamed possible.

Advertising by Design GENERATING AND DESIGNING CREATIVE IDEAS ACROSS MEDIA 2nd ed. ROBIN LANDA (p 63)

Being a huge fan of the recent movie's idea of a magical world, and the initial impossible thought of slaying the Jabberwocky in Alice & Wonderland I found that a great inspirational leader may embody these ideas as his or her own throughout his or her lifetime. How can one achieve true greatness without knowing that anything is possible?

This is about a more independent topic than of all people doing the impossible. Women's role in nature and by nature may and forever be as a nurturer by no fault of her own. We were born by our mothers, and grow to bare children of our own. Advertisements of the past constantly reminded women of that role to fulfill and nothing more. This was until Rosy the Riveter when women had more than the role of the housewife to fulfill. Women were a part "the propaganda" role "of a doll in her dollhouse", as stated in the documentary, Birth of an Independent Woman. Stepping out of this dollhouse, women are still somehow placed in a box through advertising. Being sexy in an ad, and if not the woman is a crazed yelling lunatic meant to be humorous, or again a housewife. "Focus on fertility.... not a role in the work place. Conditioned to go to school to get a man" stated women in Birth of an Independent Women. They referred to the gender roles of women then in advertising.

The roles of women now is not necessarily to get a man because they have a man or they have men after them, wanting them and needing them for a very obvious reason. Their role has placed them in society as to be the image of perfection as being seen on TV. Getting the beer, being around the beer and not speaking, finding a better way to cook or clean, or just plain ole' looking pretty. When the woman is a teacher she must look pretty, when she is a marine she must look pretty, when she is old and grey, sweaty, has diarrhea and PMS at the same time she must look pretty.

Back to Mr. Roberts and his idea of "Never give the customer what she wants, give her what she dreamed never possible." I don't want to beat up Mr. Roberts because he sounds like a great guy, and of course I wouldn't want to because I'm a nurturer. The fact that in generalizing the human race as a people we use the term "men" or "man" referencing all people. He in particular being in the advertising business used "she" and "her" referencing to women. Like in our past before feminist groups took a platform in society and not in heels, there was no secret that ads were targeted to women who shopped for the household, herself, and her man. The role of women today has still not changed a bit as suggesting by using the words "she" & "her" that the women remain to be the target. If all we see is this woman catering to a man's every desire to say the least, the reflection of women's role in society is conditioned to be the same.

Week 3 EOC: Thank you for Smoking

 1. Determine the scenario: What happens in this frame?
 2. What is the setting? What are the conditions?
 3. Who are the people or groups?

 4. What is their point of view around this specific experience?

 5. What are their goals?

 6. What are their assumptions? What are their perceptions?

 7. Are there conflicts? Is there cooperation?

 8. What are the outcomes

http://digitalbookshelf.artinstitutes.edu/#/books/9781118038505/pages/28171538

This is a vintage cigarette ad that places its product in a setting that can be compromising to a person’s intellectual judgment. The frame displays a man being intrigued by a woman who is studying the “ancient philosophers”. He faces the Greek statue while holding a cigarette as he’s appears to be pondering. It appears that they could possibly be discussing intellectual findings as he smokes. The woman obviously likes him. The point of view says intellectuals smoke cigarettes. It’s a smart thing to do, & intelligent women will be attracted to you if you smoke is also a message this ad delivers by assumption and cooperation. The outcome of this ad may be that they end up being together discussing philosophy and smoking cigarettes.

Is this truly what cigarettes do? Arguably the answer in relevance to the evaluation may be yes. That is for the consumer of these products to decide and decisions are what tobacco makers give. Now with warning labels of the harmful effects of the use of tobacco products, they’re still high in demand. The psychology behind advertising is a powerful force & if used in the precise manner, a product that causes death can very well be successful at gaining a mass population of consumers. “She likes the ancient philosophers.”… She can’t have them “It’s all Greek to him.”…. So she’ll have him. He’s here in this setting where scholars MUST dwell, because she’s there. Of course she must be brilliant, besides she wears reading glasses, but she’s no prude because she takes them off when she looks at him. He sees her so he’s no dummy, and he smokes so he’s cool. Low key sex appeal at its finest.

Week 2 EOC: Questionable Ethics in Advertising

The posts here all clearly represents sexuality rather it be sexual preference or pure sex. We as beings have definitely uncovered that rock through advertisements over the years. Ad agencies almost send a message to not be so sensitive to the matter, as European cultures embrace sexuality in ads, and think nothing of it.

The first ad is one of a Turkish denim brand. Is this embracing sexuality through just plain nudity? No its not at all. It sends a message to children that if you wear these jeans, you can have sex. Maybe it even eludes that sex is the thing to do. Maybe it is, but open advertisements is not the place to place this message to minors that won't be able to comprehend, and won't have answers readily available on the precautions to take before engaging in such behaviors.

The second and third ad shows unethical behavior in a way that many may argue for the sake of homosexuality and its place in society. This way of introducing it to the world and through brand imaging is clearly a marketing scheme to attract new consumers of these brands' products. Nudity again is depicted as a form of beauty indeed. The remainder of the picture speaks 1,000 words. The man in the second ad is getting ready to be devoured and is being looked at as a piece of meat, diminishing human decency and respect for one another and ones self.

The third ad shows nothing to support the brand's product other than the chips are that good that another man may cross boundaries. I believe the ad has crossed more than one boundary. Both ads are perfect for openers to a porn movie and not ads for the entire family to see.

EOC Week 1: About Me

I have been designing “for Barbie” since I was a kid. Stereo typical I guess of many that are chasing their dreams to have been intuitive since childhood. I like to think to each his own to a degree, therefore I am who I am and no one else is that in any way- in my own right of course. With 11 years in customer service, 7 years in retail management & specialty sales, and 3 years in business marketing I can honestly say I love the journey thus far to my final vision.

My background comes from home improvement, and fashion retail. I first studied in psychology then quickly decided to take up business and fell in love with the functionality of both. The pen has always been a friend of mine to constantly create, and my mind a reconstruction zone of how businesses operate. Why be a bother to another. Why not begin to build a supply chain to the city and its guests, with exclusively selected garments, and custom service so as to suffice the indulging needs of apparel that are not attainable in most fashion apparel retail stores of America. The experience one has when shopping should be magical, filled with a moment of eureka.

You're going to the moon! What did you forget to pack?....
I am going to the moon; I forgot to pack a few of my new favorite articles of clothing. I will make do with what I have and make alterations however I can. Based on the vibes the newly discovered environment gives me when I get there, surely I'll be inspired and my old things will be made new again.

EOC Week 1: VW Lemon Ad

“The ad featured a black and white photo of the Volkswagen Beetle with the word “Lemon” in bold san serif font… that proclaims that this particular car was rejected … because of a blemish on the chrome piece of the glove box. The ad goes on to describe the rigorous inspection process…” Out of the box is what I describe as off the mannequin. The Volkswagen ad is just that. Simplicity was the cure to the hidden message.


“Every shock absorber is tested (spot checking won't do), every windshield is scanned. VWs have been rejected for surface scratches barely visible to the eye.” Every producer of great products are aware that their consumer is more concerned with the quality of their product than the look at the end of the day. Although the opposite of this automobile may very well be the Cadillac, many of the Cadillac’s consumers also know that this car may be as difficult to maintain as a foreign car. However fashionably over the years, the VW has come to the forefront of many automobiles. To show through an ad that the producers of the VW pay close attention to such minor detail gives great emphasis of the quality of work that must be put into the build of the car mechanically.

“Final inspection is really something! “We pluck the lemons; you get the plums.” This sums up their entire delivery of this advertisement. How many ads have we seen since the VW Lemon ad with very few words and in simple black and white lettering? My all time favorite beverage and ad, “got milk” is just one to mention… pure genius. The phrases dumb it down, and the late Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, also known as Coco Chanel comes to mind. Ms. Chanel said that before leaving home she would take off one accessory. What an excellent thought to keep in mind before delivery.



http://www.writingfordesigners.com/?p=1731; http://www.powerwriting.com/vw-lemon-ad.html; http://www.powerwriting.com/vw-lemon-ad.html