Here are ten tips to get you thinking about creating your great ad design.

1. We all like surprises.
Can you state an ordinary message in an unusual way? Not comedy, but differently. Commercials done this way are the ones we talk about with family and friends the next day.

2. Keep It Simple.
Don't let the design overpower the message. The idea is the most important part of the message.

3. Get me involved.
Shock me, make me mad, make me happy, make me cry, but don't bore me and leave me cold.

4. Make me curious.
Isn't the real purpose of an ad to make me want more information? Grab my attention and hold it.

5. Great ads command answers.
They demand that you respond to the ad. They are like an unanswered question that must be resolved.

6. Draw your own conclusion.
Isn't the strongest conclusion the one we draw ourselves? An ad that brings me to a conclusion is powerful indeed.

7. The headline and the image tell the story.
The headline should never tell you what is in the picture. Only what you don't see. The headline and picture together create the story.

8. They never brag.
Yellowstone Harley-Davidson in Belgrade, Montana, population 3,000-4,000, has a billboard on the edge of town proclaiming, "The largest Harley-Davidson dealer in Belgrade!" They are not only the largest, and only dealer in Belgrade; they are the only dealer in over a hundred miles. Just a fact, not a brag.

9. They're always well executed.
They have good design that doesn't overpower the message. They have sharp photos, good typefaces, etc.

10. They Sell.
An ad can look great and still not sell anything. In advertising, what you say is as important as how you say it. What good is an ad that wins award after award if it doesn't sell?Great Ads

We encourage you to find sources, which showcase great ad designs. Understanding why these companies have decided to take creative risks with their ads. Here is a list of books and or magazines.

Archive Magazine 
 
Creative Advertising: Ideas and Techniques from the World's Best Campaigns
by Mario Pricken

Advertising Today
by Warren Berger

Advertising: Concept and Copy, Second Edition
by George Felton