April 23rd, 2007 by: Ashley
I need your advice!
“ART + ACTIVISM
engage
participate
support
subscribe
www.ashleycecil.com”
“art springs from creativity
activism creates change
ashleycecil.com, painting activism”
This is the front and back of a postcard I’m nearly ready to send off to the printer, but I can’t decide if the copy is too obscure. The final 4″ x 6″ postcard will be a direct mail piece. I’ll also leave stacks of them at various places such as coffee shops. My guess is that there isn’t enough information for someone to understand what the card is about, or what it’s asking them to do. In case it’s even unclear to you, the goal is get people to visit ashleycecil.com and buy the art that supports the nonprofits featured here.
I’m not wed to any of the text and I would greatly appreciate your input/suggestions. So, what do you think? What would hold your attention until the next time you were online?
18 Comments
April 24th, 2007 at 8:17 am
Hi Ashley,
It’s so funny you are having difficulties with this. I do this EVERYDAY in my job and it never gets easier. The best approach I have learned though is to be direct. People will take 1 second to look at this and it must be exceedingly clear as to what you are trying to get them to do. I hope it’s no surprise to you when I say that there are some pretty dense people out there and they need all the help they can get.
Your wording was wonderful. It represents you well; however, I would let your art and your website represent you. If this postcard is meant to grab their attention quickly then the wording needs to be just that. Quick.
Examples:
Visit http://www.ashleycecil.com to learn how art and activism work together.
Support the arts and activism by visiting http://www.ashleycecil.com.
To learn more about art and activism visit http://www.ashleycecil.com.
Support numerous non-profit’s by visiting http://www.ashleycecil.com for more information.
I know none of those are very creative but it is direct. I can’t emphasize enough how many times I thought I was being so quirky and creative and no one got it but me. It was very disheartening.
Good Luck!
Mary
April 24th, 2007 at 8:50 am
I think the copy on the front is engaging. I’d go to the website. On the back, I’m wondering if you should promote the blog – even if it’s in how you define yourself (painting activist, blogger?) I don’t know the right way, but on my part, the blog keeps me really interested, and I tend to follow links you include to various places (ex: the earth day blog led me several places to learn more).
Love the use of color vs. black and white on the front … the painting you’ve chosen works well to promote both the activism and the portraiture side of your work. Good use of the same image on the website right now to link them.
Being nit-picky, now. (It’s the teacher in me, and I’m in the midst of a lot of grading now…) the leading on the back (math problem) bugs me. I’d like to see the top 2 lines closer together. It looks like the leading on all 3 lines is the same, but once the line goes in, it throws the visual spacing off.
Anyway, keep up the good work.
Take care,
Kathy
April 24th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Ashley, I think you hit the nail on the head with the post card. Obscure, it is not. The painting you chose is perfect and there is enough writing on both sides to understand exactly what you are doing. The white lettering are great descriptions and highlighting your website in orange looks great and stands out. Way to go! I can’t wait to see them around town!
Bridget Csizmar
April 24th, 2007 at 10:16 am
I like your postcard the way it is. If I saw it I would put it in my pocket for the next time I was online.
It is not too obscure. It will get people to come to the website and find out more about what you do. That is exactly how I found out about your work.
Also- you have a great website. I am trying to get my office to update our website. The “older” crowd does not seem to realize how important a website is for outreach.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:28 am
I’m just curious — why no more “painting journalist”? Did I miss that change somehow?
Are you changing directions? Which I could understand — and either way, the paintings are fantastic. Ah! I see that now even your e-mail address has changed. I think “activist” and “journalist” might both have definitive audiences. Not that you can’t get past any stereotypes, but I was honestly kind of in love with “the painting journalist” idea … I was thinking of it as a citizen journalist kind of thing.
If you were to add more copy — I don’t know about that, sometimes less is more when you’re trying to get people’s attention — you might add something about the nonprofits and how you “cover” them?
April 24th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Ashley,
You’re intuition is right…. It is unclear. Go ahead and just state the fact the site features artwork that is for sale and that the proceeds go to featured non-profits.
Greg
April 24th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Thanks everyone; lots of great suggestions (including from a former design professor!) I love witty and creative design, but not at the expensive of confusion. I do think it’s needs a little more explanation.
Some of you emailed me great copy to think about. I spend far too much time of things like this, so it’s wonderful to out-source it to all of you
Paula, I changed the title of the blog after several suggestions to do so. It seems like a more accurate description of my work, but I’m with you, I also like Painting Journalist. But I am foremost an activist, the journalism serves that end.
Thank you!
April 24th, 2007 at 11:42 am
love the postcard
i think that if your goal is subscription then maybe you should make “subscribe” larger or bold. Also could you put your website in the black at the top – it would be more pronounced.
Hope that helps – let me know if you want my mailing list – great folks – you are a great cause
sincerely
Lynn
April 24th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Hey there, you asked for advice on the cards, so here it goes…
I disagree… I think they’re great… I think they leave the intelligent and conscientious consumers out there (your target audience) just curious enough to pick up a card and take it with them. By leaving it a little mysterious and ambiguous, you peek their curiosity and they’re left with this innate drive to get online and find out what they’re missing.
They may be of less interest to the general public, but I think they’ll more than make up for it by being more interesting to the interested… if you get me…
Kudos.
James Boutcher
April 24th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Hmmm. You really want my opinion? You do know what that means…
First, the kids on the front are too passive for the work that you’re doing. they don’t even seem interested…. but I like the idea of bright, big faces.
Second, I really like the four words you chose for the front.
Third, I like the paintbrushes on the back for sure.
Fourth, I am not sure about the text on the back. It doesn’t move me to check out your site. Where art meets activism (is that on your web site already) Where painting meets .
April 24th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Colleen, I always want your opinion. I call you when I want a straight answer and hide from you when I’m not ready to face the truth.
Points all well taken, but you’re vetoed on the choice of painting. I still love you though.
April 25th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Ashley,
I love your card but I am afraid that you need to somehow be more specific about your donating a portion to the charity represented by the piece of work that you do. I, too, am an artist and I know your dilemma…you want it to be subtle and tasteful and it is but I don’t think everyone will “get it.” On my way to the dentist….will think while I’m in the chair and perhaps thing of some ideas. But, again, it is lovely the way it is…I just find that people don’t always “get it.”
Peace,
Mille
April 25th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Ashley,
I do think it is too obscure for a leave-behind promotional piece.
Seems to me it would be worthwhile to use your “painting journalist” sobriquet. If not, I would suggest “painting activist,” instead of painting activism.
Maybe a simple, declarative sentence would help, such as:
“To help support nonprofits, please consider acquiring artwork by painting activist Ashley Cecil.”
Sincerely,
Ed
April 25th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
To be honest, I love it the way it is. To me, the single words are dramatic and I would definitely be intrigued and would want to learn more. The chosen painting is perfect and, I too, love how you went with the colour plus black and white contrast. Personally, I like the term ‘Painting Activist’……it’s different. My advice is to go with whatever name you really feel describes YOU. Good luck with whichever way you decide to go, Ashley.
April 26th, 2007 at 4:04 am
Place your face on the front and let it bleed off necessary card edges. Use your icon graphic from mybloglog perhaps (at the needed print rez)? I like that one. The eyes make users click it. This postcard needs to be picked up physically offline as the icon needs to be clicked online to find out first, (top side of card) who you are and then, about what you do (flipping the card over to read).
Place your Web address on the front side of card.
Place your body copy, logo(?) and contact information you want known on the back side of card.
No paintbrushes needed so to speak. *KISS
*keep it simple stupid
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:18 pm
This might be a little late, but I think you need to put a big fat RECYCLE logo on it
That would show some activism.
As to the copy, it is fine and I think the kids are inspiring.
Keep up the good work!
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:13 am
you just got yourself a place in my bookmarks
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:29 am
Thanks! I hope you enjoy new posts.
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