Ad Attack

There’s an ad campaign running in Germany right now, encouraging companies to spend budget on billboard advertising: Billboards show a single person being hit by colourful dust, looking like a Holi attendant, only with lots of make-up. And dressed up to the nines. And not smiling at all.

The slogan below reads: “Outdoor advertising hits. Everyone.”

Ouch. This must be one of the most tasteless campaigns I’ve seen in recent months. But at least there’s a kernel of truth in it: The only emotion that can be inferred from the people displayed on the billboards is slight disgust—which seems like a fitting reaction to most billboard advertising, and this one in particular.