Associating “Volkswagen” with “Pee”.

by Rand on 2009/12/14

in Print, Volkswagen

Post image for Associating “Volkswagen” with “Pee”.

Ah yes; the holy grail of advertising is to somehow link your brand to urine. Wait; that doesn’t sound right…

I’m not sure what the thinking behind this one was; I guess they were able to check the “catch attention” box; but whether they got the “memorable brand message” is something else altogether; cause in this case, do you really want the reader to remember the connection between your brand and pee?

The mind of the consumer: When I think of BMW I think “high-class”, “sporty”; when I think of Rolls Royce, I think “elite”, “elegant”; when I think of Volkswagen, I think “pee”. Hmm, something seems to have gone wrong with the branding there, but maybe it’s just me and my anti-pee mentality.

This ad is most effective if viewed while you are eating.

This ad is most effective if viewed while you are eating.

The sex appeal is sort of dampened when you find out the woman pee'd herself, no?

The sex appeal is sort of dampened when you find out the woman pee'd herself, no?

Maybe they should make the iconic "beetle" shape withthe pee? Ah, wait wrong product! Silly me!

Maybe they should make the iconic "beetle" shape with the pee? Ah, wait this is for the GTI, not the Beetle! Silly me, I almost made a huge mistake with the brand!

Advertising Agency: BIG Advertising, Beijing, China
Creative Director: Jun Zhang
Art Director: Tao Meng
Copywriter: Yang Yu
Illustrators: Zhigang Li, Xiaoming Cheng

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Andrew 2009/12/14 at 10:24 pm

What’s next ‘golden’ car washes?

Reply

2 Fabs 2009/12/29 at 3:35 pm

First post on LRB – actually the ads pretty interesting, considering what they’re trying to convey is that the GTI is so fast /sporty with grab-you-in-the-jewels-and-squeeze-ever-so-slightly cornering that you’d pee yourself driving one…not sure how to get that across in Chinese ;S tho…but good creative nevertheless….

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