Unlike the endless stream of dancing dogs and singing cats, birds (or “feather friends” as we affectionately call them) haven’t achieved A-list status in advertising history.
Think about it: a penguin waddling across the screen instantly evokes ideas of travel and adventure. An owl perched on a stack of coins seamlessly conveys financial expertise. This ability to connect with viewers on a subconscious level makes birds powerful brand ambassadors.
Even in today’s digital age of flashy visuals and complex narratives, their appeal goes beyond mere cuteness. Birds offer versatility. Their playful antics can inject humor and grab attention, while their majestic presence or symbolic associations can elevate a brand’s message.
Here, I share seven ads featuring birds.
Get organized with Peter Walsh: OfficeMax
Billboards in Chicago, Los Angeles and Phoenix introduced organizational expert Peter Walsh’s branded office system at OfficeMax or Office Depot. See those little guys in the middle there? Talk about pigeon holes, so to keep your file folders, document sleeves, document wallets or various accessories in separate categories. We are talking about 2009.
The Birds is coming: The Birds
Alfred Hitchcock, known for his masterful suspense, caused a stir with his advertising campaign for “The Birds” in 1963. He unveiled the campaign by featuring birds and a slogan “The Birds is coming!” which, while grammatically correct (referring to the film as a singular entity), felt off to many. This sparked outrage from language purists and even concerned letters from schoolchildren, all giving the film unintended but valuable free publicity. Hitchcock, it seemed, had achieved his goal – a suspenseful build-up to the film’s release, fueled by a seemingly simple slogan.
Stomach Birds: Chromax
“Silence the birds in your stomach. Chromax. Helps in decreasing weight” is a a slogan from the 2013 Egyptian print campaign “Stomach Birds” for the brand Chromax. The campaign’s concept is based on the Egyptian proverb “My stomach birds are humming”, which is used to express deep hunger. The campaign’s goal was to communicate Chromax’s main function, which is to increase feelings of fullness.
Credits
Advertising Agency: DDB, Cairo, Egypt
Creative Director: Bassem Sabry
Art Director / Illustrator: Mohamed Gaber
Copywriters: Ramy Badr, Heba El Habashi
Published: June 2013
Penguins: MakeMyTrip
Think Blue: Volkswagen
Advertising Agency: DDB, London, UK
Creative Director: Jeremy Craigen
Art Director: David Mackersey
Copywriter: Jonathan John
Designer: Pete Mould
Published: April 2012
Globally yours: Turkish Airlines
This Valentine’s Day, take your beloved one and fly away…
Advertising Agency: McCann, Istanbul, Turkey
Chief Creative Officer: Folker Wrage
Creative Group Head / Art Director / Retouch: Firat Yildiz
Copywriter: Yavuzhan Gel
Photographer: Stock
Make room for nature: National Geographic
Make Room for Nature.
Advertising Agency: FoxP2, Cape Town, South Africa
Creative Directors: Justin Gomes, Andrew Whitehouse
Art Director: MIchael Lees-Rolfe
Copywriter: Gavin Williams
Illustrator: Arri Reshcke
Published: June 2012
More strength and health for your birds: Three birds
Advertising Agency: RBA Publicidade, Novo Hamburgo, Brazil
Creative Directors: Felipe Schlickmann, Minwer Daqawiya
Art Director / Illustrator: Vinícius Cunha
Copywriter: Angelo Pilla
Published: April 2009
Every trip begins at Rikushet: Rikushet
Creative Director: Tzur Golan
Published: July 2014
Similar post: Cats vs. dogs: The battle for slogans in pet food ads
