EMCS Web Design

Now that the Olympics are over, I find myself critiquing their marketing imagery and themes because that's just the kind of nerd I am.

Recently on the Colbert Report, which I find myself watching more than every once in a while, a man brought up the topic that posters promoting the Olympics were no longer showing images of athletes in the act of competing like they were 20 or 30 years ago and in their place using abstract, almost corporate imagery. His idea was that the Olympics were focusing on the corporate aspect of the event, rather than the competitors themselves. I think is a very good observation, but for the most part, I have to disagree.

I will agree that the Olympics' marketing has changed and their posters have become abstract images rather than humans competing in the Olympics. You'll notice, however, that marketing strategies in general have moved in the abstract graphic design direction. In the 70's and 80's, you can look at any kind of packaging or promotional poster (which is basically just a type of "indirect packaging" if you will.) and see people in their period clothing pretending to enjoy that product, service, event, etc.

This was simply just a trend during this period in marketing. Designers were becoming sensitive to the kind of engagement they could get with the viewer incorporating a face into what they were trying to sell. Look at anything from this period and you'll see what I mean.

Today, after a long evolution in design, we have changed what we see as effective. Unless the person has an unusual deformity or is half naked, a photo of a person just simply wont be as eye catching as a well designed graphic. We have all seen more than our share of photos, and without a sentimental connection to them, people don't care. I have to admit, photos still have their place, just not as eye catchers. They are a great way to make someone feel welcome at a website, storefront, event, etc., but just not effective at getting people to look at them amongst the normal daily ads you see everywhere...which brings me to the cliffhanger ending of my last entry...

3-Dimensional advertisements.

Movies, video games, books; they're all becoming 3-D. It seems like it will be the next step for many things, but the craziest thing to become 3-D is advertisements. Just when you thought there were enough ways to advertise.

The biggest question you may have is "How are they 3-D if people don't walk around all day wearing 3-D glasses?" and the answer is actually pretty amazing. They will be holographic images on sidewalks and in stores you may literally have to walk right through. It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but take a look at this youtube video...

Now, this has amazing possibilities...3-D video games, 3-D movies, 3-D music videos, all of which you could be directly in the middle of and witness first-hand. Unfortunately, your gonna see your first real hologram as an advertisement. Its a shame.