6 examples of advertising graphic design that broke the mold
Have you ever wondered how advertising design has evolved to what it is today? There are undoubtedly examples within advertising graphic design that were not only extremely popular and effective in their time, but have also laid the foundations for the advertising design we know today.
It is an undeniable fact that creativity is a fundamental part of advertising design, and that the professionals who carry it out must be properly trained and up to date, as they are the ones who will conceptualize the idea that the client wants to convey.
But let’s see, what is the real importance of all this?
The importance of graphic design in advertising
Advertising is a very important element in making a business work, and there are well-known examples of this in advertising graphic design that we will see later. With the right advertising methods, we can encourage existing customers to return and attract new ones. But an advertising strategy is only half the battle. We need strong graphic design to capture the average consumer’s attention and make them want to buy what you offer. For this reason, here are three powerful reasons to combine graphic design and advertising.
Brand recognition
Your brand must stand out at all times, being easily recognizable. With good graphic design, this can be achieved and, at the same time, a corporate image can be created.
Communication
Another reason why graphic design is essential for good advertising is how you communicate the message to potential customers. When we find striking examples in graphic design, they can bring your ideas to life and effectively show what you want the audience to know about your company and the products or services you sell. With a combination of colors and eye-catching designs, your pieces communicate that the company is not only visually appealing, but can also provide solutions to consumers’ needs.
Boost your business
Graphic design has a great return on investment. High-quality designs convey a clear message and inspire audiences to use your company as their reference point for obtaining products or services, which increases business and profits.
Now then, what are the pieces that have led to what we know today as advertising graphic design like?
Advertising graphic design: examples that have marked an era
Within advertising graphic design, there have been many examples that have been a fundamental pillar for later techniques, some of which we will see below.
It is very likely that you have seen some of them, others not, but without a doubt they are examples that you must know, whether you are already a designer or are thinking of working in this professional sector.
Advertising graphic design examples: “Sunkist Orange Juice”
This advertising poster was created for the orange juice brand Sunkist in 1907. The motivation behind this poster was the following: Californian farmers had a large overproduction of oranges, and it was not profitable for them to throw them away, so they began to lose income.
So they came up with the idea of using that surplus to make orange juice and commercialize it.
“We can do it” (1942)
Without a doubt, you have seen this advertising poster, as it has become an icon in history. It is one of those examples of advertising graphic design that have become part of our collective imagination and has been recreated many times.
Despite popular belief, it was not originally created as a symbol of feminism (as it is interpreted today), but rather to motivate the women working at Westinghouse Electric to manufacture the helmets used by soldiers during World War II.
It was not until the 1970s that it was adopted to advocate for women’s rights.
“Think Different”, by Apple
Among advertising graphic design examples that have had a major impact, we can find those of Apple, the North American tech giant.
This brand has always embraced the principle “less is more”, and it proved it with its Think Different campaign. The graphic pieces of the campaign only featured the slogan and the Apple logo. It was used from 1997 to 2002.
Popular advertising graphic design examples: “Moulin Rouge: La Goulue”
Here we find another advertising icon, created by the bohemian French artist Toulouse-Lautrec in 1891. The piece was created to promote the most famous cabaret in the world at the time, the Moulin Rouge and, for many experts, it marks the beginning of modern advertising.
The poster was created to promote a show held at the venue, starring the dancer Louise Weber, known as the Queen of the Can-can.
“Tournée du Chat Noir”
It is one of the most important examples in the entire history of advertising graphic design. Swiss designer Théophile Steinlen created it in 1896 to promote the tour of the Chat Noir cabaret company. The author’s modernist influence can be seen not only in the typography, but also in the image.
“I Want You For U.S. Army”
Who could not recognize this advertising icon? It features Uncle Sam pointing at the viewer, in an assertive pose to encourage them to join the U.S. Army.
This poster was created in 1917 by American artist James Montgomery Flagg as recruitment material for new soldiers during World War I.
Uncle Sam first appeared on the cover of the American magazine Leslie’s Weekly in 1916.
Its creator was inspired by an earlier piece by Alfred Leete, in which the British Secretary of State pointed at the viewer in a similar way in a poster aimed at recruiting young British men.
Without a doubt, these posters have marked a milestone in the history of advertising and are, within advertising graphic design, examples that we should all know.
As you can see, graphic design has a significant impact on our culture as a society and the ability to influence audience decisions. If you want to learn in detail all the aspects it involves, do not miss the opportunity to take a Master’s in graphic design, where you will learn all the keys to this exciting sector.
