Minimalist advertising focuses on simplicity and clarity, cutting through the clutter to deliver a clear, impactful message.
Leonardo da Vinci once stated that Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Steve Jobs said, “Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.” The architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe also agrees with the notion that Less is more.
They say people die but their work stays with us. To ponder, to reflect, and to make good use of it. Even after half a millennium, the words of Leonardo da Vinci ring true. In the modern-day, minimalist advertising is something brands are leveraging to generate leads.
It’s hard to believe Steve Jobs himself said that it takes more brain power to design something simple. And when minimalist advertising is done right, it can leave an impact which can drive action from users.
Seth Godin in his latest book “This is Marketing”, highlights the power of using emotions to drive action. ‘It is not necessary to make complex ads; if you want to engage customers, work on their emotions.’
What is Minimalist Advertising?
The marketers are suffering not because they are not creative enough, it’s because they fail to offer something different. Minimalist advertising is all about clearing out the mist to gain instant attention.
Being out there and not generating sales is an exasperating experience. Do you know that overwhelming users with mountainous choices can leave them confused? And instead of taking any action, they end up not buying at all.
Chip Heath and Dan Heath in their best-selling book “Made to Stick”, talk about the Jam experiment.
In a study conducted by Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper from Columbia and Stanford University, shoppers at an upscale market were presented with 24 gourmet jam flavors and were promised a discount voucher upon sampling the spreads. On some other day, only 6 varieties of jam were on display.
The psychologists concluded that while the larger display attracted more crowds, people bought way more jams from the smaller display.
This, in a nutshell, is minimalist advertising. Using the power of simplicity to drive users to make one solid decision.
If you go through the minimalist M of any professional digital agency, you’ll conclude that they are breaking the pattern with simple marketing.
For instance, take the example below:
An ad created by Richter7 is a perfect example of how to turn heads with minimalist advertising. No complex design patterns, no hidden messages. Just a simple to-do action that will compel users in the throes of marital troubles, to contact StongerMarriage company.
As marketers, it falls on us to capture the attention of our consumers straightforwardly. Sometimes, minimalist advertising might seem less productive but when done right, it can help you land sales and establish a long-term bond with your customers. Let’s take a hawk-eye approach to analyze some of the most outrageously simple minimalist advertising campaigns:
A Powerhouse of Imagination: LEGO Genius
When it comes to imagination, nothing beats the fancy of a child. Time and again, LEGO came up with creative, thought-provoking ads that captured the attention of kids. In this ad, three pieces of LEGOS are put together, with their silhouette forming a tank. The consumers can easily recognize the imaginative and playful promotion of the LEGO brand.
Brands can learn a lot from minimalist advertising. Regardless of your budget, you can always come up with something simple and creative to send a powerful message to your audience.
Brand Recognition Combined with New Product Launch
Brand recognition is at the heart of every brand. Organizations spend a hefty amount of money on their branding, but what if that branding can be combined with advertising and product promotion?
Coca-Cola did an amazing job of promoting its new lemon flavor drink by peeling off a lemon in a C shape to resemble Coca-Cola’s iconic logo. This ad sets a brilliant example of combining brand recognition by promoting a new product.
Make a Statement with Samsung’s New Speakers
The amazing thing about minimalist advertising is that there is no need for any special tools to compose an ad. You can use everyday items to create something fascinating. Look at this ad by Samsung that aims to promote knock-out power speakers.
Not just promoting the product, Samsung applied the product colors to the theme to introduce familiarity with the product.
Brand familiarity brings higher ROI while an unknown brand or even a product can lead to lower ROI. To make a statement, try to pick objects that are already in the minds of your consumers and figure out a way to relate them to your product.
Nothing Wrong with Orbit Remote Cars
At a glance, you might think that something is wrong with the Orbit ad. But a closer look will reveal that the ad is a brilliant attempt to convey a crystal-clear message. The remote car starters can work even from a distance.
Now what makes these simple ads so promising:
They stay true to the brand: All these ads have product and brand colors that give the feel of the brand itself. This is the easiest way to promote your product and remain relevant at the same time.
Few words with more impact: All the ads have limited text with well-thought-out images. The ad is simply attention-grabbing and connects with the users on an emotional level.
The Company Logo: All ads incorporate the company logo to remind customers of the brand. The logo itself is a reason to trust the brand and make a purchase.
Each ad is crafted with care: While it seems that it only took minutes to design these ads, there is so much energy and deep thinking involved. From branding to product promotion, every aspect of the brand is meticulously crafted.
Not an exact science: Creativity is not an exact science. But it takes a whole lot of energy to create minimalist advertising campaigns that resonate with customers and make them loyal to your brand.
As per the words of Don Draper: “Make it simple, but significant”.
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