https://fontsinuse.com/uses/14355/levy-s-ad-campaign-you-don-t-have-to-be-jewis This campaign is about 40 years old and is still more progressive/challenging than 99% of advertising running today. They did this in the 60's when Jim Crow and open racism was still acceptable. Just think about that. In an era where people were still being segregated, this ad ran. It's not even racist in the slightest. It's respectful. The photography is great. It shows different cultures, as they are. There's no white actors playing American Indians. No over-the-top stereotypes. No clever little quips about race. They just said 'fuck it, let's shoot a bunch of different ethnicities eating our bread' and they went and did it. What an amazing, amazing campaign to run in the 60's. Answer from sungodra_ on reddit.com
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Canva
canva.com › home › learn › business › 57 genius print ads with brilliant design techniques
57 genius print ads with brilliant design techniques
October 6, 2025 - This double-page spread for Adidas:Forever Sport⁠(opens in a new tab or window) uses the fold as part of its design. Open and close the pages and the athlete crunches, lift weights and stretches. ... Nobody likes bumper-to-bumper traffic – except perhaps motorcyclists who can dodge and weave through trucks, cars and buses like a maze. Honda Motorcycles captures this idea in a series of print ads that feature a variety of vehicles distorted and laid out like a maze.
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Play For Thoughts
playforthoughts.com › blog › the-best-print-ads
The Best Print Ads: Examples and Lessons From The ...
August 27, 2024 - During the "Golden Age of Advertising," Porsche stood out from its competitors with its unique approach. Porsche not only created numerous iconic print ads but also established its recognizable style characterized by white backgrounds, clear car photos, bold statements, and thought-provoking slogans presented in simple yet powerful typography.
Discussions

What are some of your favorite print ads?
https://fontsinuse.com/uses/14355/levy-s-ad-campaign-you-don-t-have-to-be-jewis This campaign is about 40 years old and is still more progressive/challenging than 99% of advertising running today. They did this in the 60's when Jim Crow and open racism was still acceptable. Just think about that. In an era where people were still being segregated, this ad ran. It's not even racist in the slightest. It's respectful. The photography is great. It shows different cultures, as they are. There's no white actors playing American Indians. No over-the-top stereotypes. No clever little quips about race. They just said 'fuck it, let's shoot a bunch of different ethnicities eating our bread' and they went and did it. What an amazing, amazing campaign to run in the 60's. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/advertising
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March 23, 2019
What are some of the best and most creative print advertisements you have ever seen?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.adweek.com/creativity/ikea-wants-you-to-pee-on-this-ad-if-youre-pregnant-it-will-give-you-a-discount-on-a-crib/amp/ This. An Ikea print ad (magazine) designed to work like a pregnancy test. If a pregnant woman pees on it, a special discounted price on cribs is revealed, using the same kind of technology in a normal store bought pregnancy test. Also very brave of Ikea to give the okay for this ad, knowing customers were going to pee on a picture of their product More on reddit.com
🌐 r/advertising
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February 26, 2020
What are your All-time favorite print ads?

I've always loved the classic VW Beetle ads.

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/marketing
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August 8, 2015
What are the most iconic (and simplistic) print ads of all time?
Porsche Nobody's perfect More on reddit.com
🌐 r/advertising
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April 16, 2015
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/branding › hey guys! i wrote an article on the best vintage print ads from the golden age of advertising. i hope you'll find it interesting! :)
Hey guys! I wrote an article on the best vintage print ads ...
March 10, 2024 -

Nowadays, with social media taking over, we are constantly bombarded with lots of low-quality ads, but there was an era where advertisement was a work of art. This era is often called “The Golden Age of Advertising“. It lasted from the mid-1950s to the late 1980s. During that time, advertising was incredibly creative and had a huge cultural impact.
The link for article is below:
https://www.playforthoughts.com/blog/the-best-print-ads

Top answer
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I really enjoyed these! Thanks for posting ☺️
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I would argue that these aren't the examples of the "best" vintage ads, just a certain type of ad – conceptual. Conceptual ads are generally well-received because there is an element of cleverness to them where the audience feels proud of themselves because they "get it". Many of your examples employ something called visual-verbal closure, where you have to combine the headline with the image to get the message. Others are humurous. But it is the psychological element of the audience feeling good about their ability to interpret the ad producing feel-good dopamine in their brains that is the reason they are "good". It is always about the dopamine. When it comes to the design style, it is important to note that these ads were created before computers were used to design. The style is a much a product of how designers worked at that time than anything else. Back then, we would outsource typesetting to a vendor, giving them a list of type specifications. We would tell them a typeface, the size and leading, the column width and they would return a piece of artwork to us, black type on white paper. We would take that piece of artwork, place it on boards with another set of instructions that another vendor would use to put together the type with images photographically, separating colors into CMYK and adding line screens. They would produce photographic films for the CMYK (or just K) plates that would be sent on to the publication to print. The design style you're showcasing was a result of those tools … and their limitations, such as only having a couple hundred typefaces available, Garamond and Futura being some of the few well-designed options to choose from. And not being able to play around with type on a screen as you worked meant the simple options were the most-practical. But ads in general were pretty simplistic back then compared to today, not just these. Designers and writers striving to create conceptual ads was more commonplace in that era because we had fewer tools available to us. The introduction of computers has inadvertantly allowed designers (and clients) to prioritize style over concept because style is often easier, faster, and less-expensive to achieve. And you see this in how trends are often started by the introduction of new tools in the software or the shift from offset printing to digital printing and to online content. I also will make a prediction that AI tools have the potential to ignite a new wave in conceptual advertising because it is now possible (or will be soon) to visualize ideas without staging expensive photoshoots or spending hundreds of hours creating artwork to work with your concept. But this is only if designers are able to recognize that conceptual ads are often more-powerful and more-effective. They have the potential to reach broader audiences because it isn't about whether or not they like the style, but if they "get" the concept/joke and receive the dopamine hit that comes with it.
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Best Ads on TV
bestadsontv.com
Best ads: TV, Print, Outdoor, Interactive, Radio
Advertise · Contact · Login · Best: TV · Print · Outdoor · Interactive ·
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Creative Bloq
creativebloq.com › design › graphic design › print design & publishing
The best print ads of all time | Creative Bloq
September 4, 2025 - Our pick of the funniest, cleverest and most impactful print ads we've seen.
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Ads of the World™
adsoftheworld.com
Highlighted Campaigns • Ads of the World™ | Part of The Clio Network
Creative advertisements from around the world highlighted by the AOTW team.
Find elsewhere
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Design Host
designhost.gr › γενικα › ειδήσεις από τον χώρο του design και hosting
100 brilliant print adverts - Ειδήσεις από τον χώρο του Design και Hosting - Design Host
August 31, 2017 - In these days of digital media, its easy to overlook the art of print ads. But the medium is still as relevant and powerful as vintage posters ever were, whether small scale magazine ads or huge billboard advertising. As Paul Arden states in Its Not How Good You Are, Its How Good You Want To Be: ...
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Ads of the World™
adsoftheworld.com › medium_types › print
Medium Type: Print • Ads of the World™ | Part of The Clio Network
Just because it’s adaptable doesn’t mean it’s adapted. ... The most important numbers aren't on your jersey. ... The Invisible Side of Dental Confidence. ... Don't miss out. Receive our free weekly newsletter to learn about the best creative work from all around the globe.
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
guides.lib.unc.edu › advertisements › print
Print Ads - Print & Television Advertisements - LibGuides at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A gallery of print advertisements from the 1920s-1960s. Browse ads by industry, brand, decade, or image type (magazine, newspaper, or poster).
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Adobe
adobe.com › creativecloud › business › teams › resources › how-to › print-ads.html
The complete guide to creating print ads.
In this guide, learn how to harness print ads for your business. Covering topics from best practices to creative examples of print advertising.
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Campaigns of the World
campaignsoftheworld.com › home › creative print ads
Best Creative Print Ads on Campaigns of the World
December 24, 2024 - Discover stunning Creative Print Ads that inspire and captivate. Explore innovative designs, bold visuals, and unique ideas for your next campaign!
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Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-greatest-print-advert-of-all-time-and-why
What is the greatest print advert of all time and why? - Quora
Answer (1 of 3): My choice for greatest print ad of all time would have to be "Lemon" from Doyle Dane Bernbach. The VW campaign launched in 1960. The Allies had defeated Nazi Germany just 15 years prior, and Bill Bernbach's agency was tasked ...
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Filestage
filestage.io › home › lessons from the 16 best print ads of all time
Lessons From The 16 Best Print Ads Of All Time
September 19, 2025 - We look at 16 of the best print ads of all time and what we can learn from them. Featuring The Economist, Ikea, and Porsche.
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Inklusive
theinklusive.com › the inklusive creative design studio › marketing › 20 best print ads that took advertising to new heights
20 Best Print Ads: Creative Ideas for Advertising Success
August 11, 2025 - Volvo’s print ad for their new XC90 model showed a simple image of the car against a clean white background. The tagline “This is just what a luxury feels like” spoke to the SUV’s sleek design and comfort, reinforcing Volvo’s commitment to premium vehicles. When it comes to the best print advertisements in advertising history, the best print ads campaigns consistently exemplify a unique combination of creativity, clarity, and emotional connection.
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inBeat
inbeat.co › articles › best-print-ads
20 Best Print Ads + What You Can Learn From Them
September 26, 2025 - Explore 20 standout print ads and the lessons behind them: creative ideas, copy tips, and takeaways to inspire your next campaign.
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Digital Synopsis
digitalsynopsis.com › home › 33 brilliant ads with amazing art direction
33 Brilliant Ads With Amazing Art Direction
August 23, 2025 - 37 Brilliant Ads That Grab Your Attention With Clever Headlines And Copywriting
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THE BIG AD
thebigad.com › home › best print ads
best print ads Archives - THE BIG AD
Collection of award winning, creative print advertising that attracts attention, generates buzz, and helps drives traffic and sales.
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Bridgingpointsmedia
bridgingpointsmedia.com › powerful-print-ads-of-the-last-decade
Print Ads: Powerful Print Media Campaigns of the last decade
November 29, 2024 - 1 Best Print Ads of last decade · 1.1 Share a Coke – CocaCola · 1.2 Burger King on Fire · 1.3 Tide – Detergent Beats Fish! 1.4 Sea Shephard Conservation Society – Plastic Fish · 1.5 PNet – Moss · 1.6 JBL – Block out the chaos ...