Simple Ideas Are Tough
February 21st, 2007 by Chief NutWhen designing logos for a client, I always explain that simplicity in design is tough. It’s much harder to pull off a simple, elegant design than it is to create a complex one. In a similar vein, marketing and advertising concepts are the same. Simple; hard. Complex; easy.
A couple of weeks ago, Lani Voivod wrote this scathing comparison of Toshiba’s magazine ad to the popular “I’m a PC, and I’m a Mac” ad campaign. This morning, after finding this post at Scootinger.net, from a 1996(!) MacAddict Magazine ad, I start to wonder. Are either, or both, of the new ads a blatant rip-off? … or is it a coincidental use of a similar, simple idea? The world may never know.
Important note; If you’re going to create “simple”, pay particular attention to the possibility that your idea isn’t new. In fact, it may be so “NOT new” that it crosses the line of trademark infringement.
February 26th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I think the ad is simply riding Mac’s coat tails on a theme. Although the tagline is a sadly ironic. The general concept takes me way back to the 70’s I think with an ad from Rolling Stone magazine where they pitch Perception versus Reality of their readership. Ex: Perception = hippies, reality = young business men. This was shown visually. So in a way exactly like the PC/Mac sample.
If I ever find a sample I’ll post it here.