Car advertising is a waste of money? Discuss

I'm not a petrolhead, and I've never worked for a car manufacturer, so I really don't know what I'm talking about. Having said that, why do car manufacturers spend so much money on mass-market advertising campaigns? WHY?

In particular Ford's "Orchestra" campaign. It looks OK (though it sounds dire), but exactly how many people will choose to buy the Ford whatever-it's-advertising over any other car, just because you can play your spare parts as part of a whizzy orchestra. It must have cost a fortune to produce, and even more to buy the TV spots. It doesn't move on my thinking on Ford except to suggest that they've long ago given up talking about the product itself.





The difference between Ford's "beautifully arranged" and Honda's "problem playground" ads (below) are almost tangible. With Honda what you get is some clever creative, which pushes a strong brand message - as so much of their recent advertising has done. However, It's not going to get me to buy a Honda either. And neither did their great ad with the choir. Or the cog. Which was even greater.

Anyway, the thing about car purchases is that they're so rare, so personal and so expensive I'd be willing to bet significant money on people listening to recommendations or criticisms from friends and family way more than listening to TV spots.

There's undoubtedly a place for brand-building on TV - but why aren't car companies re-balancing their comms even more to make the most of recommendation based DM or social media compared to paid for? (Honda - again - seem to be taking a lead here)

Or maybe I really don't know what I'm talking about...and should leave it to Scamp, Amelia and James who've all had a good go at it last week while I was laid low with tonsillitis...

Honda, Rubik's cube and Space Invader's art

I really like the look and feel of Honda's new "puzzle playground" ad. Honda saves the puzzles we're all thinking about by making a Hydrogen cell car. Cracking stuff.

But I wonder if the artist Space Invader is now working at W&K London. Or is it just me who sees the similarities?

Art for Art's sake

While I'm at it, quick nod of thanks to Steve Davies to say thanks for the invitation to www.ffffound. A website of sheer genius - essentially a social network of quality images. Your very own online gallery - where you're invited to snoop over the fence at your neighbours' gallery too. Tasty.

Versions of the Tube map as art

I don't remember ever going to an art gallery when I was young, but I've been hooked on decent art ever since I can remember. I'm particularly keen on art which pierces the collective consciousness such that it gets ripped off by advertising agencies or simply by other communicators who recognise the intellectual brilliance of a fantastic piece of communication.

Simon Patterson's brilliant "The Great Bear" which itself was based on the Tube Map)


And then the Guardian's music map



and more recently this, from Information Architects



All quality stuff, taking a common and well-established thing and then tinkering with it ever so slightly to make it (for me at least) interesting and entertaining in equal measure. I guess it was pretty much the same sort of thing that got me first interested in adbusters years ago