Weekend Creative : February #5 : Ad Inspiration

Weekendcreative_3_2
Lookharder


I opened up my new issue of Domino magazine today and saw this ad.


The text reads: Are people who discover the priceless things in life looking harder?


A couple observations about this ad:
1. It grabbed me because it looked blank. No photo. No supporting text. No color.
2. I had to look twice to read the type + then had to squint hard to read ©2008 Mastercard.
3. I really like the look of the very light grey on the white. I love white on white.
4. I love the oversize type that stretches across both pages.
5. I applaud the sparseness. So many ads try to stuff as much as possible into the space.


Here's the prompt for this weekend: Take inspiration from this ad and create something with it: a scrapbook layout, a canvas, a photograph. Maybe you'll take away the inspiration of white on white (or a color on top of the same color), maybe it's the oversize type that stretches across a spread, maybe it is a layout without photos, or maybe it is the idea of discovering the priceless things in life. Take something from this ad and make something of your own.


And in case you'd like to share your weekend creations with others check out the Flickr weekend creative group.

Sign in or sign up to comment.

42 thoughts

  1. Alicia says…
    02/29/2008

    I love this idea. I will definitely use this as inspiration for a painting.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Karla says…
    02/29/2008

    oooooo Love it!!! I'm going to have to give this a-go!!!!
    Thanks Ali ^-------^,
    -Karla

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Aimee says…
    02/29/2008

    http://stationery.blogs.com/stationery_scoop/
    you are so inspiring...i came across this site in a blog hunt and couldn't help thinking of you...
    INGENIUS!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. leah eggers says…
    02/29/2008

    i saw that ad too, in wired magazine. it's definitely an eye-grabber.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Rachel Ellington says…
    02/29/2008

    I just saw this yesterday and went "WOW"!
    Left the mag open to that page and didn't go any further...left it sitting on my desk....so thrilled to see the photo of it in your blog this morning!
    Simply beautiful!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Jessica says…
    02/29/2008

    Ali,
    I love this ad.
    I love white.
    My future bathroom will be ALL white.
    There's something so clean and fresh about it.
    Can't wait to see the new Domino.
    See you soon!
    Jessica

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. noell says…
    02/29/2008

    Hey, Ali, IllustratingStories.com issued a challenge to take a photo an hour for a whole day. I blogged about it here:
    http://www.paperclipping.com/2008/02/28/a-photo-an-hour-challenge/
    I did it yesterday with the idea to do something similar to your 365 project. I wanted to take photos of the things I was doing every hour, trying to fit at least a little of myself into each photo. Thanks for inspiring me with all your timed photography. It's so interesting to do this type of thing. Here is my flickr page where all my photos are (still need to upload the last few):
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/noellhyman
    Just wanted to share!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. cathy walters says…
    02/29/2008

    yup, that ad is yummy. Nice prompt. thanks! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Deb Wisker says…
    02/29/2008

    Thanks for the Domino link! I signed up for their newsletter!!
    Hope all are well at your house!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. sue Treiber says…
    02/29/2008

    that is such a cool ad! Love everything about it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Jan C. says…
    02/29/2008

    Neat ad. However, I am a little surprised that Mastercard put their name in miniscule type, while printing the word "Discover" in huge type, lol!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. alexandra says…
    02/29/2008

    Love Domino!
    This ad also caught my attention - very cool.
    Thanks for the inspiration!
    A.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Heather says…
    02/29/2008

    Ali,
    Thank you so much for the Weekend Creatives! I love them and have had so much fun with the projects. Thanks for the inspiration and the time you put into these things.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. caro says…
    02/29/2008

    Yip! these creatives are GRAND!
    ... and as for w/w (white-on-white), it's unbeatable for beauty.
    ... the ultimate simplicity is a breathtaking challenge...
    Just added an oldie to flickr.
    Tx!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Camille says…
    02/29/2008

    yes, something about white on white is so refreshing and crisp. when i'v decorated with it, i found the shadows and lines of white on white create their own texture.
    great ad and inspration, thannks!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. sara korinek says…
    02/29/2008

    is it just me or is it ironic that a mastercard ad uses the word discover so large in the ad but you can barely read the word mastercard?!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Ashley says…
    02/29/2008

    Thanks for the inspiration...
    just what I needed!!
    http://www.tangiebaxter.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=414&ppuser=2

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Megan says…
    02/29/2008

    I blogged about my inspiration piece. Thanks for inspiring me!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Sonda T says…
    02/29/2008

    Got mine too and did a GASP when I saw it as well. Very well done! That whole magazine inspires me to no end!! LOVE IT SO MUCH! I will be taking on this challenge for sure...gotta fit it in this weekend. Hugs Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Kim Danielson says…
    02/29/2008

    WE are so blessed to have YOU inspiring US each weekend, and most every day. Just know that you touch so many lives, in a single day, in such a grand way. I am greatful. God Bless, KD

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Claire says…
    02/29/2008

    Just made something refreshing with this same concept this past week...felt SO nice and simple and meaningful. Thanks for your blog, love it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Stephanie Ainsburg says…
    03/01/2008

    I'm so inspired by this I almost can't stand it! thanks, Ali.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. jennyg says…
    03/01/2008

    Interesting that they typed "discover" in the ad. Great inspiration...although wish it wasn't from a credit card company LOL! Not a fan...they will try to reel you in any way they can!!! (Dave Ramsey fan..hee hee!)

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Brianna says…
    03/01/2008

    I loved this ad as well. Like you, it struck me because it was so simple. In a time when ads are all about loud music and tons of color, it was nice to see something more plain and stark.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. O says…
    03/01/2008

    Love the ad too. Loved the observations by a couple of people about Mastercard making their name so small and 'Discover' so big. When it comes to creating, sometimes I get so many ideas in my head that they bottle-neck and I can't seem to put one into action. Anyone else get that way? If/when I get my thoughts sorted out I'd like to try this. Thanks for the continuing inspiration. Hope you're having/have had a nice time at CKU :)

    Reply 0 Replies

Sign in or sign up to comment.