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In our Power of Imagery segment, we explore a number of concepts based on these Rorschach Plates. We arent necessarily trying to keep true to the classic interpretations. We are throwing spaghetti at the wall to see if it sticks. Plate IV, a full color plate, starts making us nervous. Even to our untrained eyes, the sexual undertones are obvious. From an advertising perspective, does the …

Unusual in our exploration of Rorschach Slides to date, Plate VIII has significant amounts of color – soft pastel colors. While we have seen bold and meaningful reds, in slides 1 to 7, this is the first slide that completely rejects the black and white. Why? Does the power of color extend to pastels? Do we react to soft colors with the same gravity and passion ignited by the more stark …

In a segment The Specialist Works US calls the Power of Imagery we look at Rorschach slides to inspire our conversation on advertising images and layout elements. This week's Plate VII, though evocative, is sparse in its color and its presence. Is less more? In this case it likely is. Do advertisers take on too much in a single full page ad? Is the suggestion more powerful than the disclosure …

In our Power of Imagery segment we have been posting images of our Rorschach plates. We have a beautiful vintage collection here in the office. in print advertising, there is little that is more important than an image. Ad copy is important, messaging is crucial, but you have to get the attention of the consumer before you can try to sell them the product. Plate VI in the Rorschach test is an …

In our segment the Power of Imagery, we explore the impact of pictures on ourselves as consumers and individuals. This image is of the Rorschach Plate V, commonly known as the "Bat" How much of traditional imagery is also laced with symbolism that we don't credit when first viewing an image, and does it really matter?. "Bats are symbols of rebirth - the facing of fears and being reborn." Do I …

These Rorschach slides were originally produced in 1921. The inkblots are a projective test using "bilaterally symmetrical inkblots". What you see in the inkblot is expressive of your personality. The fact that not everyone sees the same thing is essential to the test. As with art, these inkblots evoke responses based on what we bring to the table. They are not fixed or finite. They are …

In our continued exploration of the power of Imagery, we are on Rorschach Plate III. Black, white and red the plate is sparing in color, but not so in impact. The addition of the red to the image is both jarring and powerful, if not extremely evocative. In newspaper advertising, red is often the selected "Spot Color" chosen to give pop to an otherwise plain black and white ad. It is an eye …

Monday's at The Specialist Works US are hectic days where we each wear many hats. That can get confusing. There is nothing that adds clarity like a glimpse at a Rorschach plate (or perhaps not). Here is Plate 2 in the series. What do you see? Adding clarity to an advertising message with imagery seems to be a lost art. Conversely, adding confusion to an advertising message with imagery is a …

It is Throwback Thursday at Elarbee Media. We happened across this vintage Hanes ad that we just love. A woman who reads books, a woman who wears glasses, a woman who is attractive and overtly sexual, and all of this is an ad to sell product to women. It is not demeaning, but it is SEXY. The imagery is superb, and the clean background allows the content to skim the body of the image to ad …

One of the most interesting things about print advertising is the impact of the visual on the person viewing it. We don't all see the same things in an image, so it can be difficult to determine in advance how ad images will play out in the marketplace. Sometimes results are surprising as is the power or people's reactions. The Specialist Works US, oddly enough, has a set of vintage Rorschach …

It is Throwback Thursday at Elarbee Media. Here is a more recent throw back ad from Smirnoff Vodka circa 2000.
Why so modern you ask? This ad incorporates three of our favorite ad elements: Red, clean imagery and humor.

It's Art Tuesday at Elarbee Media. This painting on board is one of many we have in the office of trees without their leaves. In fact we walked around and counted four of them. One is an oil, two are acrylics and one is a pastel. Do we keep buying the same thing because the imagery resonates with us? Perhaps.In advertising, is that also what compels us to buy? Imagery is a powerful tool in …

It's Throwback Thursday at Elarbee Media. This 1968 American Tourister ad is the perfect example of clean simplicity with its use of color and graphic imagery. We love it! 

They are selling a SUITCASE, and the functionality and features of......a SUITCASE. Shocking but true! Selling the benefits of a product actually works.