Auto Parts for Brains

In his book “Permission Marketing”, author Seth Godin has described just how saturated the market is today with advertisements and ads that are all competing and vying for people’s attention.  The so-called “internet age” just made this matter worse, by providing even to the common man, an easy means to subject a massive number of people to unsolicited promotions.  In his book, Godin, taught the principle of opt-in marketing where people are given the agency to choose which ads they want.

In the real world, however, conventional obtrusive marketing still exists.  And much as a lot of people claim that it is dead, the advertising industry is thriving, maxing out its saturation point.  In a market that is already filled to the brim with messages being shouted to the consumer’s ears everywhere, it is the task of today’s ad companies to come up with louder, and more provocative methods of conveying ideas.  As a result, ads today are funnier, more controversial and more out of the beaten path.

Here are twenty (and more) of the print ads that are made out of the country which I think are just amazing at doing what they are made to accomplish.  Leave a mark (good or bad) to the unsuspecting consumer.  A picture truly paints a thousand words.

Now how often do you see a McDonald infant?  This ad is indeed very rare.  The child is definitely Asian though, for that is where this ad come from.

This is a European ad for the hit series Dexter.  It features serial killer movies popularized by Holywood like Jason, Hannibal and Psycho.

Now, I know you never missed this awesome ad from Shred-it.  This ad developed in Puerto Rico is a conspiracy theorist’s dream come true.  I wonder if they really have Shred-it in the Whitehouse.

This ad is a part of a series of Energizer ads from an ad company in Africa, telling parents to buy batteries that last for the holidays.  The series shows children improvising when their toys run out of batteries.

Amnesty international in Spain made a point with this controversial ad showing modern execution pictures placed over old artwork or photographs.  The pictures are just disturbing.

This ad from Danai of India has a tagline “With a Book, you are never alone. “  Now this is a strong statement against Apple’s Steve Jobs who openly ridiculed reading and printed books last year.

This series from the New Zealand police and their Land Transportation Agency reminds me of the thought provoking “Think” ads, only these ones are not about speeding or drunk driving.  It promotes getting enough sleep prior to driving.

I like the simplicity of this ad.  It makes one look at it again and consider what it is trying to say.  This is perhaps one of the few really good Italian print ads out there. 

This ad from Hyundai Belgium would have been great, if only it did not have another connotation.  One can look at the ad and think, “So flies are attracted to a Hyundai like a pile of %$#@?”  I think they should have picked dragonflies or butterflies.  Yeah, everyone likes butterflies.

This ad from Malaysia is comic.  It puts you to edge as if waiting for the cymbals to really make a bang.  Cool execution.  The expression on the man in the turban is classic too.

I think the idea of putting two old people as models in this ad is great with the tagline.  Still, I am bothered and puzzled as to what the liquid thing in this Italian man’s face is.  I would have to argue that there is no way that is a tear.  Oh well, the possibilities make me think though, which is good.

If you are wondering if this is indeed an ad, then I would have to tell you that it is.  This is not some vandalism on Australian streets.  Company MagicMoments actually paid an ad agency for this eye catching print.

This ad from Malaysia is a bit funny.  I still don’t get why the doctor is obsessed with big tummies (I just assumed she is a gynecologist), but I liked the imagery and the composition.

This Australian gum ad is just hilarious.  It is not effective though, in the sense that you will be made to think that the gum will make you gay.  The tagline gives everything  sense.

From Argentina, this ad is perhaps a parody of the number of plastic surgery clinics Central America is getting known for.  Chevy made a point and gave us a chuckle with this one.

Is it just me or is there actually any connection between a black-eyed, or bruised or toothless woman and a support bra?  I have been thinking about it for long now and I just cannot make the connection.  Is this some sort of Canadian thing?

The amount of effort and time poured into making this Samsung ad is something that I admire.  It carries with it the spirit of India while bringing the point across.  Now, this makes me realize that I want a tracker in my next phone.

This series of “Keep it Private” ads in Finland is just cool.  The crazy thing about it is it makes me want to buy some shirts and not really learn about the service offered. 

Lastly, this is my favorite of the bunch.  I love the simplicity and the idea this ad conveys. Made by an ad agency in Hong Kong. I wonder if this ad has made it here.  I sure have not seen it in the magazines I read.  Priceless.