In nearly every Irish pub around the country, we’ve seen these iconic Guinness posters. Created in the 1930s and 40s by Benson’s Advertising, and drawn mostly by artist John Gilroy, these ads are a prime example of what stands the test of time.
These ads, creative, charming and simple are among my top five favorite campaigns of all time. They are such adorable pieces of artwork that people sometimes forget their original purpose–to sell Guinness. When I went to see Atonement in the movie theatre a few years back, I remember laughing when I saw plastered on the back of an Oxford Circus-bound Double Decker bus the famous “Have a Guinness When You’re Tired” advert.
So what is it about these ads that deserves such high praise? They pass the communication litmus test: Be bright, Be brief, Be gone.
The ads you remember forever are the ads you don’t have to think about. They grab your attention, they give their message quickly, and poof! They are gone. But they stay with you forever.
I’ll leave you with some more classics as I jet off to the nearest Irish pub:
No Comments Yet
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
