Hey guys!! Long time no see! I'm here to ask a favor....you know how when you are so close to a project you can no longer "see" it, and ya kinda lose perspective? Well I am definitely there with this project. The Ad below is for a a guy who is not only my customer, but also a dear friend, and I'm not so much worried about the looks of the thing, but rather TONE. I am trying to graphically match a radio script that is going to be airing soon, and the word balloons were the only way I could really do that visually. I also wanted his ad to actually get SEEN in the forest of political ad season, but here is the question: DOES THIS AD SEEM TO MAKE LIGHT OF THIS MAN'S INTENTIONS FOR OFFICE?
I am eager to hear your responses...
THANKS!!
Posted by John Arnott (Member # 215) on :
YES. . . .it has a comic feel to it. I would state to facts in order with numbers. 1. bla bla bla 2. bla bla bla etc.
Not using a casual style.
Posted by Ken Henry (Member # 598) on :
One question Barry: The bottom panel, left side, urges the voter to select the last name on the ballot. In our jurisdiction, the candidates are listed by surname alphabetically, so a candidate with the surname Anders would appear at or close to the top of the ballot. Is this the case in your area ? If so, that statement might be confusing.
Also, the candidate is seemingly running for the office of Judge. A couple of the baloons indicate that he will have some influence on how roads are repaired, and how gas companies are dealt with. Is this REALLY within the scope of what a Judge does in your area ? My impression is that a Judge is usually much more involved with judicial areas and the function and operation of the judicial system. I think that the baloons do work to graphically illustrate the various "opinions" and "favourable qualities" of your candidate, when you're attempting to tie the ad into radio sound bites.
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
Barry, it seems casual to me as well... I had to look down and make sure that Lou Anders was actually the person the advertisement was for, because it had a little bit of that comic, sarcastic feel to it, like it might be making fun of his competition or something... then when I knew it was about Lou, it still has a little over-the-top feel to it...
LOU ANDERS has the most experience.. That LOU can handle this... that LOU can handle that.... well that's because... Lou Anders is SUPERCANDIDATE!
But... it might work...
Posted by Barry Branscum (Member # 445) on :
Political cartoon is the flavor I was hoping for fellas...
as for the last name on the ballot thing...here the order is NOT alphabetical. It's more draw the names out of a hat i.e. random=fair. My guy was the last outta the hat, so he is (I confirmed) the last name on the County Judge ballot.
and as for the office--I didn't anticipate this--COUNTY JUDGE is essentially the titular head of what's known as the quorum court, he oversees (but does not vote on) the writing of ordinances, management of budget,etc. One of his main jobs is too see to the maintenance and construction of all roads not under the purview of the state or the city. We also have a new (to us) industry of gas frac wells that the former, retiring judge made a mess of negotiating with, hence the gas companies comment.
So anywhoo for what it's worth, local response to those we have shown the ad to seems positive, even from those not supporting the candidate. They seem to "get it".
If you could see the dry boring flat poorly designed ads that are being produced by the other guys...whew, you'd see the reason for my approach.
That's the other thing--with the incumbent retiring the vacuum has made this a more heavily contested election than usual. there are SIX guys running for this job--and the rest of them are all saying pretty much the same thing. Word has it my guy is a shoo-in for the inevitable run-off, and he's paying me to help him stand apart from the crowd.
But I apologize. Here I am defending my position when I was the one asking for your opinions. Please continue, it's good to see the perspectives of others--that's the whole point, although I think there may be some ingrained regional preferences at play here...
[ April 24, 2010, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: Barry Branscum ]
Posted by Jeff Wisdom (Member # 6193) on :
I think the basic idea is good, but instead of the cartoons, do it more like newspaper clips or reviews. Use rectangles, slightly torn edges and then us a typical newspaper font and statement in quotes. You could even do the top headline like a newspaper headline and the bottom in more font like helvetica bold condensed.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
From a visual perspective, there's a white dot in between the L & A of 'last' (make the last name...) which I'd remove, and I'd like to see a tad more empty or neg space above that line, and reduce the space below that block which is above your company name.
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Barry - I think the message gets across, but only if you strain your eyes really hard...because the halftone dots really fight to obscure the thought balloons.... at least it strikes me that way. But I have always had a visual problem with polk-dots or black and white stripes, etc.....they always make my eyes go criss-crossed.
I remember sitting behind a nice elderly gentleman in church when I was a teen-ager and he had a black and white vertically striped sport coat on....I had to stare at his back for an hour and I swear I couldn't see straight for 2 days after.... but I'm goofy that way.
I don't see in what forum this ad will appear? Newspaper? Postcards? The halftone dots definitely grab your attention.... but I would kindly suggest that the message is more difficult to pick out because of it. Does that make sense?
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
I find it hard to discern whether they are making fun of the candidate or promoting him on first glance which is pretty much all the attention most political ads garner. The cartoon bubbles make it seem like the former. It's a creative approach, but it isn't working for me.
Posted by Rodger MacMunn (Member # 4316) on :
Barry, I like the concept but the balloons without cartoon people saying the stuff wouldn't get my attention. Perhaps a bunch of cartoon people standing around ....... I'm picturing a farmer chewing on a straw, a really fat guy in a suit, maybe a businesswoman, a housewife & a construction worker. I'm sure there's someone reading this who could draw that if it's not your forte ... I sure as hell couldn't, but I can imagine it.
Posted by Frank Smith (Member # 146) on :
Seems very incomplete without artwork.
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
Just take the dots outa the background and open up the space between the ballons. Too confusing to read at a glance,
Would simplify the bottom left hand corner with ... "Vote Anders your first choice"
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Hey Barry - how did you make out with the design/signs?
Posted by Barry Branscum (Member # 445) on :
you know me, stubborn to the core...the candidate approved as it, and we went with it. It has met with great response so far from the feedback I have heard.
Attached is "Part Two" Still no "cartoons" because the words ARE the characters, so to speak...To run next week, turning up the heat a bit.... --I doubt anyone will really "get" the text, but I thought I'd post it all the same... Posted by Frank Smith (Member # 146) on :
The preceding message has been approved by Frank Smith.
Posted by Mark Matyjakowski (Member # 294) on :
seems odd to me that a having plan to fix roads would have anything to do with being a judge
Posted by Barry Branscum (Member # 445) on :
