Ogilvy & Mather launches a colourful poster campaign for the
Samaritans this week designed to make the crisis charity more
approachable.
The campaign comprises numerous bold typographical executions. One
poster shows a two-tone orange and white page with the words ’a problem
shared’ chopped in half. Another arranges the letters that make up the
word ’down?’ into the shape of a miserable-looking face. A third uses
the phrase ’way out’ in black letters on a stark white background. Other
headlines include ’need a line?’, ’24 hour emergency service’ and ’bad
trip’.
A number of special sites include a crumpled poster slumped in the frame
saying ’need support?’ and a poster far too big for its frame emblazoned
with the line: ’Don’t fit in?’
The campaign was devised by the art director, Marcus Vinton, and the
copywriter, Alun Howell. Other executions were created by four members
of their group - the art directing and copywriting teams, Matt Doman and
Ian Heartfield, and Karl Sanderson and Daniel Headey.
Vinton said: ’We wanted to use a bit of humour to perk people up rather
than constant doom and gloom. We are trying to make it a bit more
positive.’
The campaign, which appears in the run-up to Christmas, will run on
national Adshel sites. Support is provided by a small-space press ads in
national and trade titles.