Awesome and Controversial Ads from BenettonListThumbs

Awesome and Controversial Ads from Benetton

October 07, 2009

We all have to agree that Benetton already marked their spot in the advertising world with their famous United Colors of Benetton campaigns. We can all remember at least one of the hundred clever, colorful and sometimes controversial Benetton's ads. The first slogan to appear was 'All the colors of the world', that later was replaced by the famous 'United Colors of Benetton'. The concept of united colors was so strong that for the first time in its history, the company adopted the slogan as its actual logo.

The fame, the force and the messages behind Benetton's ads began gained fame and recognition from 1986 on. All their ads have something to say... sometimes they it's loud and clear and sometimes its under a beautiful controversial image! The point is that you need lots of creativity, talent and courage to do these kinds of ads. Ads that mean something, that support a cause, that have an important message... or ads that simply show different colors together.

I hope you enjoy the selection! And in case you want to read more about Benetton's campaign history and details, check out their campaign website. Enjoy. :)

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About the author

Someone with a bachelor degree in Foreign Trade that really likes technology, design, photography and creativity. A person ‘digging’ a new way as a ‘geek apprentice’, blogger 'wanna be' and a communication lover! Current location: Porto Alegre, RS – Brazil
Twitter user: gismullr

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25 Comments

late_ante10/07/2009

great work!
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http://lateant.deviantart.com/

DEF1310/07/2009

Benetton ads which have been producted during the 80's and the 90's are best ads for ever ! Nothing else to write.

Hybrid5910/07/2009

Cool, j'ai toujours aimer les pub benetton très créatif et engagé.

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http://hybrid-creation.deviantart.com/

Anonymous10/07/2009

c'est vrai!

Madichiban10/07/2009

Very nice collection… I have been a fan of Benetton ads since the late 80's.

lkc10/07/2009

As a collection, these ads seem to water out the effectiveness of each other. When you look at one of these ads alone, however, you see just how remarkably simple, witty and bold they truly are.

ejm39910/07/2009

Very creative, great work!

http://emeyers399.deviantart.com/

Franziska10/07/2009

For all of Benetton's "thought-provoking" advertising, in the 80's and early 90's their own inadvertent prejudice was evident.

The hair in the 3rd and 4th pictures, particularly on the Black models speaks volumes about (their own deep-seated) prejudice, much more so than the first image.

I doubt that it was deliberate.

Even the constant exotification and tribalism of their non-White models is indicative of their own (Benetton's) closely-held stereotyping/exotification.

I'm German and I always waited to see if Benetton would show us in dirndls and lederhosen...but alas, that sort of stereotyping/exotification is consistently reserved for our Asian/African friends.

Thanks for making us think, Benetton.

Most Interesting Ideas10/07/2009

Nice list of Benetton ads

Dominique Trudeau10/07/2009

You might want to know more about Toscani.
http://www.designboom.com/eng/interview/toscani.html

Pedro Albuquerque10/07/2009

Great selection, we can't forget to mention the awsome work of the polemic photographer Oliviero Toscani, responsable for some of these ads.

Check it out his works too!!!

:)

TigerBuchanon10/07/2009

beh nn c'è altro da dire....stupefacenti ;) There's nothing to say....stunning

Divius10/07/2009

The most controversial one is missing, the one with the man on his deathbed, if I'm not mistaking.

Ureal10/07/2009

Kinda dissapointed the one with the aids patient ain't between it. Wich is like these an amazing image that serves as a wake-up call. Nice collection tho.

Lypo10/07/2009

I miss the one with Princess Diana and the mercedes emblem in her arm

kbllodude10/07/2009

Gotta love the condom one bloody brilliant!

tiltshift10/07/2009

Very creative ads, i don't get all of them(understand) but the ones that i do are very effective... love the condom one haha

ARTELEVISUAL10/07/2009

you missed probably the most controversial of all: the one with the working children and the one with the death row guy.

Wrong-Code10/07/2009

Those are cool Ads. The hearts one is awesome.

Nacs10/08/2009

good stuff. love it

hottiffanyshop10/08/2009

Morality is not really the doctrine of how to make ourselves happy but of how we are to be worthy of happiness .
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Naito10/08/2009

Olvidaron este...

http://www.taille-du-sexe.com/index2.htm

Rolando Bouza10/08/2009

Exellent! I´ve always enjoyed this ads. And congratulations, very nice & cool redesign in Abduzeedo!

Kirvi Inci10/08/2009

Yes they are thought provoking, but I still can't tell you what the hell they are trying to "sell", either litterly or metaphorically, to me.

Daemon10/08/2009

pretty nice...:-)

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