Funny Ad Fail Lessons

Ad fails are a great source of amusement. But their value isn’t just comedic. There are lessons to learn, or at least remind ourselves of. Here are just a few.

The Chevy Doesn’t Go

You may have heard of this one, as it’s one of the most famous parables about marketing gone awry. The legend goes that the Chevy Nova tanked in Latin America because “No Va” in Spanish means “Doesn’t Go.”

Are ad creatives becoming too specialized?

Over-specialization can lead to creative tunnel vision.

I’ve been thinking about this question a lot lately. It seems like most job postings these days, both for permanent employment and freelance projects, require experience within very specific segments.

There are times when you do want a specialist. If I ever need brain surgery, I certainly hope it’s performed by a neurosurgeon. And I hope that person has extensive experience performing the specific procedure. But what makes specialization such an asset in that case can actually be a detriment in advertising.