Not Your "Normal" Advertising of Today

Ladies and Gentlemen, hello and welcome to Novemeber. As you know, today is the day after the election and as you also know, almost every channel on television and every news article has something to say about it. Well, fear not because this week we shift our focus to advertising in print!

This week I am focusing on two different ads from BMW that focus on two different perspectives of driving: speed and danger.

Driving can be such a joy, especially when you're driving a Beamer, and it is incredible how quick some of these automobiles can move. In this first add we see sarcasm being used in a creative and clever way:

The beauty of the sarcasm in this ad is something that cannot be captured on television and wouldn't be as effective in black and white. If the ad confuses you at all, it is joking that you need to turn the page 5.3 seconds faster next time so that you see the BMW driving by next time. This comment eludes to the fact that the car can likely go 0-60mph in those 5.3 seconds.

However, as fun as driving fast and carelessly can be, it can also be dangerous and this next ad shifts the focus and mood to a more subdued and serious attitude:

The powerful statement here provides a feeling and mood of sorrow for the poor person that lost their leg in this accident while also delivering hope and a feeling of relief that this is all he has lost. And while this ad could be captured in moving picture, the words do the picture justice and bring the picture to life by truly putting this serious topic into perspective.

As you've seen here, even the same company and ad producer can create ads completely separate in and of themselves. I am glad to see that BMW isn't always just about the speed and elegance all of the time and that they also have a serious side. After seeing these two advertisements alone, BMW has my vote for delivering strong, emotional ads via print.