EMP: Bill Bernbach's lasting impression - VW

As previously discussed 1960's advertising revolutionary Bill Bernbach’s work moved away from the use of bold design & illustration and more towards the use of great photography and intelligent copy. The merging of copywriters and art directors is a technique created by Bernbach that still exists today as the most common structure within a design team.

Below are some examples that illustrate how Bernbachs work in the 60’s has impacted the aesthetics of modern day advertising. Its interesting to compare the execution of Bernbachs work for Volkswagen in the 1960’s to the advertising used by volkswagen today.

Here are two 1960's campaigns, one for the Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter (also known as the camper/bus) and the Volkswagen Type 1 (also known as the beetle).


And here are two more recent versions, The top advertising the new Volkswagen Polo, and the lower promoting the Volkswagen Polo ladies rally event.


All of the same principles applied to Bernbachs 1960’s Volkswagen advertising work is evident in the print based campaigns used by volkswagen today; Intelligent imagery that speaks volumes in itself supported by sharp snappy & often witty copy.