tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290Mon, 07 Oct 2024 04:06:08 +0000This Ad Does Not Say What You Think It SaysCrimes Against TypeGeneral StupidityGround RulesNarrationAdvertorial CheatingBackstoryBad MetaphorI May Be Wrong But I Doubt ItI'm Not Always A HaterJust because it's backwards doesn't mean it's RussianRepeat OffenderSide Helping of Editinghttp://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)Blogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290.post-7997851720355998583Fri, 08 May 2009 20:35:00 +00002009-05-08T15:40:06.242-05:00Advertorial CheatingSide Helping of EditingWe're cheating a little bit today because it's Friday and it's almost too easy to go after stock photography. And advertorials are hardly the cream of print advertising. But seriously, they couldn't find anything newer than 1987? Keds and Tretorns? Giant glasses and headbands?If you're a word person, don't read the words in this advertorial, either, because it will make you sick that you're http://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/2009/05/time-travel-tourism.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290.post-5505487510884279390Thu, 07 May 2009 19:06:00 +00002009-05-07T14:11:40.244-05:00General StupidityIt seems to me that it was that kind of crap that got us into trouble in the first place, really. Who's the dean of the SDA Bocconi, an underwear gnome?Spotted: The Economisthttp://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/2009/05/not-exactly-reassuring.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290.post-8349510991874695741Tue, 05 May 2009 19:29:00 +00002009-05-05T14:35:04.079-05:00Bad MetaphorWhen it comes down to it, if my local lighthouse failed during a foggy stormy night, I guess I'd want the coast guard investigating it, too. Because if someone's shining a light on something and it's not working, there's a problem. A company that sets itself up as one that's going to defend a lighthouse for not working -- well, you're going to need a better ad than this one to make me trust http://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/2009/05/ahoy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290.post-135801145965850377Mon, 04 May 2009 14:29:00 +00002009-05-04T09:44:38.586-05:00Repeat OffenderThis Ad Does Not Say What You Think It SaysIt's like they're trying to find the most feckless-looking sons they can. Neither of these offspring look like they could be entrusted with a multi-generational watch. I'm starting to wonder about the lingering issues of inadequacy the ad director for this campaign might have regarding fathers. I'm all for a classless society, but if there has to be an upper class, I'd like it to have a little http://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/2009/05/where-do-they-find-these-guys.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290.post-5326747004067772475Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:54:00 +00002009-04-30T09:52:34.967-05:00I'm Not Always A HaterGorgeous. Look, I know the model is way too skinny and photoshopped to look 17 feet tall. And yes, we expect colonial classicism (and classism) from Ralph Lauren. But the light, the pose, the dress, all of it -- it's got me. I know how warm it there just by looking at it. It works.Spotted: Vanity Fairhttp://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-had-farm-in-africa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290.post-3462292760076428694Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:45:00 +00002009-04-28T13:57:03.795-05:00Just because it's backwards doesn't mean it's RussianI could like this ad. I like the red smeary light effect that makes it look like a badly developed photo. Good colors, nice model, unoriginal yet solidly executed military hottie theme. It's all fine except for the thing ad designers can't keep from doing: turning letters backwards to make them "Russian."я is not an R. ч is not a Y. Those of us who care about such things will hate your ad whenhttp://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/2009/04/please-make-note-of-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290.post-4790286012027040773Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:38:00 +00002009-04-27T13:34:53.187-05:00I May Be Wrong But I Doubt ItNarrationThe Engineer: Why is this a bad ad?Me: Look at it! It's got way too many things going on. We have a model swooping in front of a skyline, which you can't see, because it's got this mass of cotton plants in front of it. The lighting and colors are cold. She looks like she's freezing.The Engineer: Are you kidding? It looks nice and warm. And look at those big puffy bolls of cotton.Me: http://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/2009/04/doubt.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290.post-4779080328931208341Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:37:00 +00002009-04-24T10:04:46.392-05:00Crimes Against TypeGeneral StupidityI used to like a lot of lululemon's ads. They were just different enough from the fuzzy, squishy clarity/balance/peace ads directed at Yoga Journal readers that they stood out to me. They were a little aggressive, a little punchy. But then they got weird back in January with their creepy Ombama ad and it's been all downhill from there.Speaking of fuzzy, this offering is plenty of that. Naked http://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-cant-stop-looking-at-it-but-in-bad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290.post-5085174607714493624Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:12:00 +00002009-04-23T08:18:14.159-05:00BackstoryAll I know is if my doctor came in looking like this for my annual exam, I would be so out of there. Dude looks like he's about to propose that he do something indecent to me with the piece of rhubarb -- unexplained in the text -- around his neck. A woman wants to see skin ads with flawless skin in them, not doctors looking like her husband's feckless former roommate who shows up every three http://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/2009/04/go-away.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290.post-1355516912980345124Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:59:00 +00002009-04-24T10:33:40.942-05:00Crimes Against TypeThis Ad Does Not Say What You Think It Says(click for monster-sized image)I don't read Vanity Fair to see ads like this. When I want to see ads like this, which is never, I would read Good Housekeeping or Family Circle. Seriously, an ad for cheddar in Vanity Fair? Without any breasts or pouty 15-year-old-looking boys in it? That's not why I'm here, VF!I'm guessing rates might have fallen a bit, and outfits like the Wisconsin Milk http://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/2009/04/cheesy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290.post-8993926293920637396Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:40:00 +00002009-04-20T21:10:03.242-05:00Ground RulesNarrationThis Ad Does Not Say What You Think It Says(click for monster version)This ad from Patek Philippe is strangely chilly. The use of black-and-white makes it distant, and the position of the two models shows a total lack of warmth -- Dad is tilted away from Biff, while Biff's slouch is vaguely menacing. But the worst part of it is his expression.What They Think The Ad SaysDad: Son, this watch -- and gray hair implying wealth, slightly open http://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/2009/04/blog-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1291731049249501290.post-4901247349594990947Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:37:00 +00002009-04-20T20:38:36.752-05:00Ground RulesThere are a lot of crappy ads out there. This blog is a repository for them, my rants on design, and occasional hails for those ads that make me want to cut them out and put them in my locker.http://printadnightmare.blogspot.com/2009/04/welcome-to-blog.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Design Editor)0