Jeffrey Zeldman Presents: The Ad Graveyard

<funhouse: ad graveyard>

Utility bills are hard on everyone

Rejected small space ad. Client: ACTEW Corporation. Agency: Green Advertising. Art Director, Writer: Michael Honey. Cause of death: see below. MORE »

Michael Honey speaking: "This is from a series of adlets on utility bills—thus the limited design. The official reason for rejection (the ad requests that people keep foliage away from power poles in case they need to be inspected) was that the ad was 'too suggestive' (another, about water conservation, was headlined 'Turn your squirt into a dribble') which of course was the whole point, but I think they were worried that little old ladies might get a bit too excited and actually enjoy reading their water bills. Sheesh! Mind you, they spend over a million a year with us, so they have some pull. Back to earnest but boring...."