The above image is a print ad for REDESMA, a Bolivian environmental group. The ad features an unbranded version of iconic Little Trees air freshener surround by a grim dirt road and tree trunks with the message, “You will never replace the air you take away from nature.” Little Trees is notoriously protective over trademarked tree silhouette which Nexus BBDO Bolivia, the agency behind the ad, arguably violated. The ad is a public service critique, so perhaps it’s not necessarily a violation, but I wanted to note the use of product displacement in ad messages.
image via: Ads of the World
FRESHJIVE - PROPAGANDIST :: HOPE IS FADING FAST
Via BoingBoing.
The product information page states, “This is actually the first item releasing without the Freshjive brand name on it.” Notice the label is just a black box. Read my post, “Unbranding Fashion: Strategically Ditching the Logo.”
”A convex logo substitutes for a colorfully sprayed can. Naked can helps reduce air and water pollution occurring in the coloring process. It also reduces energy and effort required to separate toxic color paint from aluminum in the recycling process. Huge amounts of energy and paint required to manufacture colored cans will be saved. Instead of paint, manufacturers process aluminum with a pressing machine that indicates brand identity on the surface.”
Althought the Coca-Cola logo is still visible, I feel this is a moderate form of unbranded displacement since the color red is such a huge part of Coca-Cola’s branding.