Good Ad #2

Now I think about this ad every time I have a soda. I first saw it on the subway and it took me a moment to figure out that the soda was being converted into congealed fat. They drew me in using closure. The white space around the cup of fat makes it the clear focal point. The (literal) flow from the soda poured at the top creates eye flow from the top of the page down to the focal point. The pink of the word "POUNDS" corresponds to the pink in the "Don't Drink Yourself Fat" and the red in the label of the bottle is reflected in the red of the bottle cap. The use of color draws the eye towards the key information in the text. Finally, the placement of the logo is unobtrusive and includes necessary information without distracting the viewer. Overall, I think this ad leaves a strong impression using well executed design elements to give the illusion of simplicity.

Good Ad #1

This ad is a brilliant use of context and placement since it could not work as effectively in any other location. The color choice is used very subtly to create flow in the photo. For example, the blue of the woman's long lab coat is mimicked in the blue of the dish towel that has lines on it that create an arrow shape that points down towards the red of the text box. The washed out colors of her room, the pale greens and blues also contrast with the red allowing the, "Life's too short for the wrong job," to pop. Finally, the ad calls for closure and the viewer can have a good time taking in all the great details such as the one-cup coffee pot, the mug and paper cups, the ground coffee and her sad, sad expression trapped inside the fantasy world of a vending machine to see that the company, Jobs in Town is making a strong and effective point.

Bad Design #2

One word. CREEPY. As a company that has become a key symbol for globalization, I don't see how the ad agency did not find this ad to be tasteless. I am "not" loving it. The small print in the upper right corner reads, "Just opened near Kimaya, Kothrud," which is a city in India. I don't see how this painted white baby clown is supposed to appeal to the Indian population. Instead of promoting McDonald's, I think this ad is a case in point of the fast food chain's role in globalization and that they are branding babies makes me shudder. However, there is undoubtedly a strong use of contrast and color and familiarity. The baby's red make-up is instantly reminiscent of Ronald McDonald and stands out sharply against the white background. This ad is another example of good design elements used to elicit the wrong response.

Bad Design #1

This one turned out to be tricky since it is a good design that is ultimately bad since it gives the brand, "Pepsi Max" a bad name. After the group's response in class, it was agreed that the image is a eye-catching illustration that elicits a response. However, the dark humor inspired by the ad would only appeal to a niche audience, such as a comic book crowd or Maxim subscribers. This ad uses closure since the viewer needs to figure out that the blue cartoon image is a calorie and that the reason it's offing himself is because he is a "very lonely calorie." The negative space works well to frame the central figure. This is an example of good design elements used to give a brand a bad image. Why would Pepsi Max want to be associated with suicide, blown out brains, and violence?