This touching concept is just crying to be used in a banking, hospital or insurance ad. I’ll be filing this under “inspirational concepts” in my creative morgue.

Today is Day 10 of my 28-Day Creative Challenge. If you’d like to participate, please send 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. Or you could just post a comment.

I found this ad from 2008 filed under “type treatments” and will be keeping it but throwing out everything else in that old folder. Why am I keeping this one? The headline is a great example of how to take a strong message and make it even stronger. To a reader quickly glancing at the headline they read “learn.” and “lead.” and that gets directly to the point in just two words doesn’t it? Be sure to select the correct words that emphasize your point when using this technique.

Does anyone else find the writing behind the headline distracting or is it just me?

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!

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!

This Lord & Taylor ad may be old but it’s not outdated. I love the whimsical, hand-drawn, black and white artwork that I see so little of today. I’m keeping this ad to remind me that in this digital world of computer graphics and photos, smart hand-drawn artwork will always stand out from the crowd.

See how the headline becomes part of the fun and helps to turn this ad into a real eye-catcher? I can almost hear those yappy dogs now!

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 promise.

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.

Today I selected the 2009 Annual Report of Fortune Brands. What better way to showcase the company’s 67 logos? They’re crisp and clean on a bright white background and form an interesting pattern all their own.

Would you like to be part of my 28-Day Creative Challenge? Send  me links to download or printed samples of creative work that inspires you, and if it inspires me as well, I’ll feature it here along with a link to your blog or website.

Have a great day!

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

Day 2 of my 28-Day Challenge. I’ve placed all my files into a big box where they can now “breath” and I can sort through them with ease. I’ve not thrown anything away so far.

The second keeper that I’ve selected is this insert from a trade journal magazine. It features the “World’s Smallest Bar Code Scanner” as a die cut that when removed and folded illustrates the actual size of the scanner.

What a creative concept — fun too! A more affordable but rather boring alternative would be to photograph the scanner next to a coin such as a quarter to show the size comparison. Since the scanner is also sold in Europe and Asia-Pacific and the quarter is American money, this would pose a problem. What could we use instead of a quarter that would be recognized in all 3 countries? A car key? Are they standard in size from country to country? Any ideas?

It’s Day 1 of my 28-Day Challenge and I don’t know where to begin so I’m cheating. I’m sharing with you something that I had taped to my wall because there was no room in my creative morgue for it. That’s just sad right?

I tore this page from a Pantone direct mail piece. The colors are vibrant and the image is wild! If a client asks me to design an energetic piece that really pops, I know just the colors to use. By the way, the Pantone Fashion Color Report for Fall 2011 is out and can be downloaded for FREE.

Maybe I should begin by moving all my files from the file cabinet into a BIG box…