Show and Tell 9

Anyone who has tried to fold a fitted sheet understands why you might need instructions. Mine always end up a big mess. I haven't tried following these directions yet, but since they came from Martha Stewart's website, they must be good. The instructions are very clear, and there is a picture for each step. Also, there are not too many steps and they are kept short, so those interested won't give up reading halfway through.

See the full instructions and pictures here.

Show and Tell 8

Apartment Therapy is a decorating website with a focus on small spaces, such as studio apartments. It posts designs from several interior designers showing layout and organization solutions, DIY projects, and fun spaces that they have found. The website has several divisions, so browsers can find exactly what they're looking for.

The site is set up like a typical blog, with the posts running down the middle. Despite the standard layout, I find Apartment Therapy interesting to look at because of the bright colors and professional photography. The audience for this site includes actual decorators and probably other wanna-be DIY-ers like me.

Show and Tell 7

We're all so familiar with the Chiquita Banana logo with the woman and her fruit hat that we probably don't even take much notice of the stickers anymore. We know that there are sticker, but that's about it. In 2010, Chiquita held a contest for customers to design new stickers for the fruit. The winning stickers appeared on the bananas for the entire month of November to modernize the product and to get younger customers' attention. The stickers used the same colors as the original label so that the brand was still easily recognizable.

Show and Tell 6

These containers are both for Trader Joe's coffee, but they are for two different types and they use different marketing techniques.

The top can follows a more traditional approach. The only image is small and simple, and the colors are uncomplicated as well. The use of only two colors keeps the container straight forward. The only aspect that is not very traditional is the Aztec border around the entire label.

The second coffee can is much more modern. It uses a less structured font that seems to match the rainforest motif. The birds don't have anything to do with coffee, but they still fit in with the theme. This label adds to what is being sold because you almost know where this product comes from before reading the text on the back. The colors are eye-catching and add to the story.

Show and Tell 5: Magazine Ad

This ad is from National Geographic Traveler's February issue. The call to action of this ad is to look into visiting India. The message is not direct; that is, it doesn't say "Go to India," but the ad gets readers who may be planning their next big trip interested.

The text in the ad is a play on words with what is happening in the picture. It relates the picture to a fashion show with catwalks and saying India is "in vogue" this season. I feel that many people who visit exotic locations like to be trendy. The only contact information is the website, but I think that is all that is needed.

Most of the magazine's ads relate to travel, but this is the only one that caught my attention as I was flipping through. The first thing I noticed was the black and white. You usually see some color in an ad, and this one has almost none. The other thing that got my attention was that it is landscape. I don't think I've ever seen a magazine ad in landscape.

Show and Tell 4: Postcards

This is a postcard promoting a web designer so it had to be visually interesting. I like this card very much. Even though the flower is white, it is so bright against the black background that it is what pops out the most. The flower draws in people's attention and then they notice what is being advertised.

I like very much the use of minimal text on the front. You want to grab notice first, and then draw people into reading the additional information on the back. Unfortunately, I don't have an image of the back of the postcard, so I'm not sure how much text there is.

The designer's website includes a gallery with several other images.

Show and Tell 3: Social Issue Poster

This poster is for the World Wildlife Fund. The cause is to help keep endangered animals from becoming extinct. I think the call to action is probably getting more people to visit the website since the organization's logo is the only element besides the panda. The audience may be a group that is already aware of the issue and prone to wanting to help since the poster is very simple. I am not sure how effective the poster is. The picture definitely caught my attention, but I already know about the issue and the World Wildlife Fund, so I am not learning anything new from the poster.