Amateur Ads
This morning, ,Wired News is abuzz about a homemade ad for the iPod Mini produced by a 36 year old high school teacher with an interest in motion graphics. The story’s author and cited experts are gushing about the this new viral marketing trend:
“It’s a sign that consumers want to have a role in promoting a product they love,” he said. “There’s a real trend toward consumer-generated media. People are creating news, they’re blogging. People will create marketing as well. This guy is a great example.’
While I agree in principle with what they are saying, I am not so sure that this guy’s intent is quite what they are assuming. Working and going to college as a graphic designer I have created and know of the creation of tons of similar pieces. As a designer you do them to hone your skills. Students do them for in-class projects. Professionals create them to pad a portfolio or learn a new skill/technique. They are probably thousands of similar pieces out on the web.
I by no means wish to belittle this guy’s work as it is a well-executed piece. However it might be jumping the gun ever so slightly to suggest that millions of people (bloggers or not) are going to suddenly start home brewing commercials for products that they love. I love my iPod and I tell my friends that, but I am certainly not going to design a magazine ad to convince them.