Advertising Technique: Visual Stories

About Visual Stories

Here's the challenge: Tell a visual story. Create a visual, a photograph or illustration, that communicates the main idea of the ad.

It could be a visualization of a product benefit, or a problem the service can solve. Or an important product feature.

But focus on the picture or illustration. Not the words. And no 'smiling faces,' or 'happy customer' cliches, OK?

Later you may need to add copy. But to start, bend your brain on just a visual. Like the ad that shows a safety pin bent into the shape of a Volvo to symbolize safety. Which demonstrates how a picture can communicate information faster than words.

Pictures or drawings? Readers tend to prefer photographs over illustrations because they are more believable, more real.

Illustrations are appropriate when your concept is very abstract, or too expensive to actually photograph. Or when you have an idea that lends itself to a cartoon or drawing.

Consider mixing photography with illustration. Or play with your photo in the computer to produce a fresh visual treatment. Assuming your hot with the box. And the software inside.

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