Delta: More than a Shower, Somehow

This shower is more than just a shower. Not only is it a shower, but it can wash your clothes clean off. That's not true, but one of the ad's selling points is that it's more than your average shower. They focus on it being extra special because the center of the shower head comes away from the rest of it. On the top of the ad, it says that the showerheads can be used "together or separately to get water where you need it most." Now, maybe it is because I have never used a Delta shower and I don't know what I'm missing, but I generally don't have an issue with not getting wet enough in a conventional shower. The point of every shower is to get you completely wet, right? The information provided in the ad is not enough to convince me of an integrated showerhead's merits. However, I still find the ad effective. 

I found this ad in an issue of National Geographic. I thought it was very appealing because of the dramatic colors. The colors white from the water and the baby blue from the man's shirt contrast a lot with the black background, which makes it look, for lack of a better word, cool. The simplicity of the colors are what appeal to me most. The red Delta logo stands out against the other colors as well, so it is obvious who the company is. And by making the product stand out against the black background, it's obvious what is being advertised.

 I think the concept of the visuals in general is pretty interesting. The top of the ad says "wash the day away," and there's the man washing away his work shirt. He can relieve the stress of the entire day with an integrated showerhead, something he would not be able to achieve in a normal shower. The ad is saying that the shower won't just get you clean , but that it can relieve stress or worries from the day past. It would be wonderful to think that something as simple as a shower could have the capability to do such a thing, and Delta wants to provide this for people. Their advertisement does, at least. 

Diction also plays an important role in the advertisement concept. Delta has created a new word for the sake of this ad. The revolutionary showerhead is part The In2ition Two-in-One Shower. I think that the 2 in in2ition refers to the 2 in H2O. I mean, I think that's pretty clever, if not a little silly. However, I don't see how intuitive that kind of shower would be. Is it intuitive to use a new showerhead more complicated than the average one?  Delta thinks so! 

I believe this ad appeals to the need to dominate, because it's more than just a shower and its better than other shower designs. By using the shower, you can be better than people using normal showers. Overall, I thought that the ad was pretty effective in making its product seem appealing.

These Glasses Are No Fad

I found this ad while looking through an issue of Harper's Bazar. Out of all of the ads in the magazine, this is the one that said the most, which I found surprising, considering it still doesn't say that much. However, the diction that is used is very important to the ad. The name of the company (I think) is Silhouette, which sounds quite refined. The name wouldn't have quite the same effect if it was called "Shape" or "Outline." Directly underneath that it says "Authentic Eyewear. Since 1964." Now, I have no idea what makes eyewear authentic, but when I'm told Silhoutte has it, I want it. And I don't even wear or need glasses. By including the date that they were established, the company also establishes credibility. Or it attempts to establish credibility, at least. Since they've been around for forty nine years, they have to know what they're doing by now, and their product must be reliable. Well played, Silhouette.  

The ad also tries hard to compare its glasses to art, and not very subtly. It calls itself  "minimal art." Is art what you really need in a pair of glasses? Instead of giving any real description of the glasses, the advertisement just throws out words and expects to be believed. On the right it also says the brand is an icon. And even though I've never heard of the brand, I believe that it's an icon because the powerful woman in the center is telling me so. However, some questions are raised. How can a pair of glasses be dynamic? What does that even mean? Maybe that's why they put it in such small print. 

The ad is appealing to one's need for prominence. The woman looks like she could be a powerful businesswoman of some sort, and I'm sure she got there because of her cutting-edge glasses. 

If you wear the glasses, you too could be wearing a blazer in front of a bunch of high-rise buildings. Sweet.

All in all, I think the ad is a little silly. They downplay the glasses so much that at first glance, you could miss the product all together. The glasses blend into the background, so it was necessary they have the pop of red on the ends of the arm-things. However, it kind of looks like it could be an add for anything if you miss the glasses in the corner. I believe they're trying to sell the image more than the glasses themselves. 

P.S. The white splotch is the flash from my camera and is not part of the advertisement.