What is Graphic Design? Creative Advertising

"Graphic design is a solution to a problem of communication through design"


Creative advertising is one of my favourite forms of design. Advertising is all around us, from billboards and large scale designs to flyers and business cards. I believe the simplest form of advertising is the most inspiring - the hidden messages and ones which make you think. These are some examples:

http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/11/mcdonalds-french-fry-wi-fi-ad/

McDonalds - Free wi-fi

The use of existing products to form a wi-fi symbol advertises both the products and the free wi-fi. The corporate design is consistent through the use of yellow and red which is reflected in the logo. Simplicity is key in this design and that is what McDonalds wanted to convey.

The following ad also advertises McDonalds free wi-fi in a different way. In this design, they have depicted a burger box as a laptop, indicating that wi-fi is available in their stores.

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/mcdonalds_wifi?size=_original

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/samsung_power

Samsung F400 - Knock out speakers

To convey the power of their speakers, they manipulated a pair of earphones into boxing gloves. This connotes a sense of quality and power. The contrast between the black boxing gloves and the light grey background creates impact. I like the subtle editing of the tagline towards the bottom of the poster as they have slowly increased the size of the lettering which is of a similar aesthetic to sound waves coming out from a speaker.

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/wwf_tree_2

WWF - If the tree falls, we all fall.

Although it is not necessarily simple in terms of design and aesthetics, the message in which it portrays is a subtle yet powerful one. You are able to see the enormous amounts of detail in full view and how much effort has gone into achieving this design.

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/ambient/frontline_mall

Frontline - Get them off your dog.

This design was featured on the floor of a shopping centre, above ceveral floors where the public can easily see the design in its entirety. From below, the concept may not be easy to distinguish yet the people walking over the design become part of the ad itself - forming the fleas in which Frontline helps get rid of. This is extremely effective and a great example of creative advertising.

NYC Taxi

These posters would be placed on bus shelters throughout New York advertising the benefit (in this case, speed) of taxis in comparison to buses. The design consists solely of the tagline - 'If you hate waiting, raise your hand.' and a cropped image of a New York taxi against a bright orange background (the same colour as the taxis themselves). As people may be in rush or may be wanting to get somewhere in a hurry, this is a quick and easy way to advertise a better alternative.

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/abramet_drinking_and_driving_2

Abramet (Campaign against drink driving)

In this ad, they have used a beer can which has been crumpled and discarded to depict a car that has been in a collision. It shows that drink driving has serious consequences. The lighting and atmosphere enhances the dark theme behind the advertisement and the city lights show this could happen anywhere and to anyone.

http://www.ibelieveinadv.com/2009/11/ikea-delivery-service-kitchen-kids-room-living-room/

Ikea

At first glance, this seems like an everyday, modern living room yet you notice a driver towards the top right of the ad. This shows that the set up is in the back of an Ikea delivery truck and promotes what Ikea are now capable of doing - delivering a fully furnished, homely living room to your front door.