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ART 121-01, Week #2 (Looking into Advertising Design)

Today in class we have to do a rap battle where we defend a type of design field given to us. (Except we don't have to rap. Or even rhyme. Or sing. I don't think we have to be aggressive in any way. So, more of a back and forth presentation. Or something.) My partner and I got Advertising Design. 

So, we had to look into advertising design and see what it's about, and how it is arguably better than our opponent, Package Design. (YOUR GOING DOWN PACKAGE DESIGN, GONNA KICK YOU RIGHT IN THE PACKAGE DESIGN, PACKAGE DESIGN! YEAH, WHAT. WHAT.) And so far, this is what I've found.

     Advertising is found everywhere, since business pretty much makes the world and advertising is needed to promote business. When you have all these businesses everywhere, you need to stand out. You need to reach people. You need to get innovative and you need to make things that stick in people's heads and even better, buy your stuff. Even more better, you make them a loyal customer. All that is determined with stuff like mission statements and service and quality- but the grabber to get it all going? Advertising.  You see advertising everywhere. It's on posters and billboards and commercials and benches and plastered on mugs, pens, buttons, etc. And that's just the visuals- don't forget timeless jungles. (Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Meyer weinerrrr.) When compared to Package Design, Advertising Design is very versatile. It can be physical or digital, animated or stationary. It could even be an exhibition piece or take up lots of space, as well as being a poster. This field is comprised of many other blending careers, like photography, web design, production, directing, owning and freelancing. You can expect to work with people from a wide range of areas (Web ad for the new Arby's super stacks, or a commercial for the latest Pixar film? WHY NOT BOTH.)  

It requires a bit of sociology, at it's core. You have to understand people, or groups of people in different regions, you have to understand what demographics and psycho-graphics of people you aim your advertising to and why they find it appealing. Is it humans in general that find your font choice and aesthetics pleasing, or is it just young mothers into yoga and smoothies? Are there inside references that people in a certain area will 'get' or find nostalgic? Should you go that route with your design, will you only be limiting it to that niche group, or does it blend into other peoples experiences as well? Do you tug heartstrings? Do you make laugh lines? DO YOU?

Advertising is competitive as heck, too. Having a commercial aired during the Superbowl costs millions of dollars. Millions. And that's just to show off your product, business, charity, etc. and to remind people it exists. It is THAT powerful- so you can bet that millions of advertising designers hone their skills and get their best guns out to compete for those time slots and those street corners and magazine ads areas where a high amount of people can see it. 

That's just what I've gleaned so far. There are other things to consider too- like work environment for advertisers and income and whatnot- but I think on that level package design and advertising are pretty equal?