The golden age of advertising has come and gone, but Taschen Books is preparing to release a collection of digitally mastered advertisements from the Mad Men era. The book showcases a multitude of campaigns that give insight into consumerism ethos prevalent at the time.
The popularity of television shows like Mad Men and Pan-Am have inspired the people at Taschen Books to celebrate the advertising achievements of the 50s and 60s. The book is called 'Mid-Century Ads: Advertising from the Mad Men Era' and covers ads that were successful, shocking and most of all, groundbreaking. One ad that really stands out is the Leotard campaign. It shows a male hand placed on the buttocks of a female with the tag line, "we're pushing leotards." This ad is borderline sexist and blazed the trail for beer companies in the decades that followed. Another poignant ad is the Pontiac campaign, which is essentially selling the "America Dream" to consumers.
Mad Men-Era Ads
Taschen Books Publishes a Bevy of Digitally Mastered Mid-20th Century Campaigns
Trend Themes
1. Nostalgia Advertising - Companies can take inspiration from mid-20th century campaigns to create nostalgia-driven ads that connect with modern consumers.
2. Retro Design - Designers can draw on the design aesthetics of Mad Men-era ads to create retro-infused products that appeal to consumers' love for vintage styles.
3. Authentic Branding - Brands can adopt the genuine, straightforward tone of mid-century ads to differentiate themselves and build trust with customers.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - Ad agencies can use the trends and techniques of Mad Men-era campaigns to create impactful, memorable ads for their clients.
2. Publishing - Publishers can create similar collections of vintage ads or art books with high quality digital mastering, opening up opportunities in the nostalgia market.
3. Fashion - Fashion brands can incorporate retro design elements from mid-20th century ads to create unique, nostalgic clothing and accessories that appeal to vintage-loving consumers.