I’ve completed my 28-Day Creative Challenge and even have room to spare in my file drawer. A big “Thank You” to everyone who followed along as I sorted, trashed and organized my creative morgue. Would I do this again? I don’t think so because it was more work than what I had expected. Thank goodness it’s over and that I’m no longer tripping over a big box full of files in the middle of my office. I think I may have just enough space in the back of this file drawer to store my new best friend “Jack Daniels,” lol.

It’s Day 21 of my 28-Day Creative Challenge and I’m well over halfway through sorting and organizing my creative morgue files. The ad that I selected for today is from March 1994. It shares a variation of a concept also used on the Day 11 ad. Both ads feature a powerful photo of two people who at first glance are very different from each other. The copy tells us that they ARE very different people but with something in common — the PowerBook.

The writer kept the copy to a minimum, giving us two easy-to-read lists to quickly skim. Subliminally speaking, because nowhere is it written, we understand that the PowerBook is liked and used by both the young and the old. The designer’s use of color for the Apple logo and white space to frame the photo works to make this a strong ad and a real keeper for my collection.

What an eye catching headline! The designer could have easily left the font (Helvetica Black Condensed) a solid red, but instead added an effect that makes it look as if it’s painted on the wall. I think it was well worth the extra effort, don’t you?

Join me in my 28-Day Creative Challenge. Let me know if you agree or disagree with my selections or if you can you provide a better example. I’d love to hear from you!

This Plus Membership Guide from AAA uses a silver metallic paper stock for the cover and both matte and gloss varnish on the cover images. When it’s opened there’s white stepped pages with gold metallic ink used for headlines, subheads and border trim. There’s also a sticker with three AAA decals for my car window glued to the inside front page. What an elegant piece, it can’t be fully appreciated unless you actually hold it in your own hand. I’m a paper addict, what can I say?

If this is the first you’ve heard of my 28-Day Creative Challenge, you may want to learn what it’s all about by reading: My Challenge: 28 Days To Clean Up My Creative Morgue. It’s a short post, only one paragraph.

I love simplicity, don’t you? That’s why I’ve selected this piece for Day 8 of my 28-Day Creative Challenge. It seems to be a fairly simple concept but ask any designer or copywriter — it’s not easy to be simple.

One of the most common advertising mistakes made today is too much copy/text. For advertising to be effective, you must use as few words as possible in both print and web. This creative 6-panel piece for a NE Ohio hospital system does just that.

Be part of my 28-Day Creative Challenge by sending me links to download or printed samples of creative work that you find inspiring. If it inspires me too I’ll feature it here along with a link to your blog or website.

Have a great weekend!

I tore this ad from a magazine ages ago and am keeping it because a lot of thought went into this concept. It’s a concept that can be used in ads for just about anything visual – from eye surgery to optics to anti-drunk driving campaigns.

Make this creative ad concept your own by selecting a different subject for comparison. The Northern Cardinal and rosebud work well for binoculars. What would you suggest for an anti-drunk driving campaign?

You can be part of my 28-Day Creative Challenge by sending me links to download or printed samples of creative work that you find inspiring. If it inspires me too I’ll feature it here along with a link to your blog or website.

Technorati.com seems to be having trouble finding me and my claim token number: CZDYB8SCUJBT. Can you find me now?

By showing a single row of shoes falling off the edge of an unusually narrow postcard, the designer has implied that DSW has plenty of these stylish heels to choose from. They’ve also used copper ink as an accent color which gives this piece an air of quality that translates to the merchandise.

The barcode at the bottom almost hides the text “Unleash your passion for shoes.” I wonder if the United States Postal Service charged DSW extra for this postal infraction? Always leave room for that barcode and if you’re not sure, check with the USPS Mailpiece Design Analyst assigned to your area.

I’m keeping this cleverly designed postcard in my creative morgue. This completes Day 5 of my 28-Day Creative Challenge.

I’ve finally thrown away a handful of old and outdated pieces and it feels GOOD!  I think it will get easier as my 28-Day Creative Challenge moves along.

Today is Day 3 and I’m keeping this attractive brochure that exudes serenity. It does an excellent job of promoting and explaining a very delicate business – a Nature Preserve Cemetery. By skillful color and photo selection and good copy and design, this brochure gets it’s message across in a dignified and respectful manner. The matching website carries it off as well. This brochure can be downloaded from the website for closer inspection and while you’re there check out the video as well.

Remember, you can help me with my 28-Day Creative Challenge by letting me know if you agree or disagree with my selection. If you’d like to share something that you find inspirational, and if I decide to add it to my creative morgue, I’ll feature it here along with a link to your blog or website.

CZDYB8SCUJBT

Being a designer, I never know what might spark my next great idea and as a result, I love to save things. My file cabinet, home to my creative morgue is so packed with unique and inspiring design pieces that I can’t pull the files out. To make cleaning up these files fun, I’m creating my own version of the 30-Day Facebook Challenge. Over the next 28 days I’ll be going into my creative morgue and deciding which pieces are still inspirational and which are just old and outdated. I’ll share the keepers with you here and on Facebook daily. You can help me by letting me know if you agree, disagree or can suggest something better. Please join me tomorrow for Day 1!

As an artist I never know when or where creative inspiration will strike. Take this old sign for example. I spotted it while cutting through an old, industrial part of town on my way back to the office from a client meeting. The client had said he would love to see his new store logo printed on a sign made from old barn siding. Voilà — here was a great example!

I turned my car around and went back for a second look. Yes! It would be perfect for inspiring me later. I drove down a short drive lined with several closed machine shops and parked my car. I took my Blackberry camera phone and cautiously left the safety of my car. Walking around the side of the building, I had a momentary thought about trespassing and rats but it was fleeting. Standing beside the building with a large, rusty, trash dumpster at my back, I took this shot.

How about you? What do you do to get your creative juices flowing? Is there a special place that you go or a unique creative ritual that you do? Any stories of great ideas inspired by unusual places or circumstances?