Advertising Now. TV Commercials

by Julius Wiedemann (Editor)

As seen on TV! From Apple and Audi to public awareness, the very best of today's television ads Though most of us change the channel or make a trip to the bathroom during commercial breaks, there are actually ads out there that are more like thought-provoking short films than the pushy, one-dimensional, in-your-face ads we know and hate. Whether it's an ad for the latest Nike sneaker or to raise awareness about the hazards of speeding, a commercial has lot to communicate in under a minute, and it takes the sharpest creative minds to figure out how to execute ads that are entertaining and even eye opening while getting the message across. This guide rounds up the best commercials of recent years. Chapters are organized by subject, such as socio-political, food and beverage, cars, technology, and media, and individual entries include screenshots, art director briefings, pre-production material (such as sketches and storyboards), and a fact sheet listing technical details. This book is a must-have not only for creative professionals, but also for anyone who's interested in inventive commercials and what goes into making them. All ads featured in the book are on the included DVD.

Genres: Reference

383 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Julius Wiedemann was born in Brazil, where he studied design and marketing, and has lived and worked in Japan, Germany, and the UK. An eclectic expert on design based visual culture, Wiedemann has produced books on a range of topics, from robots to record covers. He holds the positions of Executive Editor for Design and Pop Culture at TASCHEN. Wiedemann studied graphic design and marketing and was an art editor for newspapers and design publications before joining TASCHEN in 2001.

Wiedemann has edited over 40 books in 10 years, he is a regular contributor to magazines, and has been on the jury of several awards all over the world. His publications have sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide, and his titles are immensely popular. As an editor his work is grounded in an interdisciplinary approach to contemporary design, synthesizing a vast array of topics, including logo design, fashion design, graphic design, web design, and product design. Underpinning many of his books is a desire to understand creativity and explore the nature of reality in a world that increasingly takes place online and is populated by characters and creatures not entirely human but of our creation. The wonders of animation, manga, and computer graphics fascinate and inspire him.

Julius Wiedemann’s TASCHEN titles include the celebrated series Illustration Now! a staple of any designer’s bookshelf, as well as the compendium 100 Illustrators. He has also edited the Package Design Book collection. His award-wining Jazz Covers and Rock Covers books showcase his editorial variety and his publication on National Geographic magazine’s infographics demonstrates how wide his design knowledge and appreciation extends.

Reviews

[Nile Becklen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent survey of TV commercials from around the world during the first decade of the new millennium. Ads from North America & Europe make up a fair chunk of the book, but Asia, Oceania, and South America each receive a good amount of space too.

Some of the ads are hilarious; others are disturbing; and others are simply mind-boggling. These ads aren't the kind you usually see on TV -- fewer "call now" and celebrity endorsements, less loud music and models, and no mention of prices. I'd previously seen only one or two of the ads that were in here (even though most won awards, especially the Cannes Film Festival), so most of these ads can be filed as "underrated."

The best part was definitely the DVD, which includes about 75 of the ads featured in the book. Most (not all) of the ads in the book are also online, with a few disappointing exceptions...

Though the book has an outrageous sticker price ($40 or something), I got my copy in great shape for under $1 plus shipping -- and, at that price, I feel it was worth every penny many times over. Great for people who work in advertising, or simply appreciate ingenuity and creativity.