Collected by Aquil Akhter

We’ve all become aware of how important advertisements can be to help put any company’s message across. Many ads contain a lot of content as well as colour even though this is nota must. In fact, a simple ad can also do wonders — given that it carries a particular strong message. Take a look at these ads and share with us your opinions on minimalist designs!

Feel free to pass by our recent collection on more effective ads to boost your inspiration.

Minimalist Print Ads

CNN: Net – This minimalist ad illustrates CNN’s strong network saying that there is no story that can escape from the CNN network:

Dig2go Glasses – This uniquely designed ad for Dig2go audiobooks suggests that Dig2go audiobooks allow listeners to read with their ears:

Black Ribbon R.I.P. Michael Jackson – A wonderful example of a minimalist ad by MTV that represents the legendary singer Michael Jackson’s legs through a ribbon:

Olay: The ‘Undo’ Effect – This ad brings to mind that Olay skin products can ‘undo’ the effects of aging. Creative use of Ctrl + Z:

LA Bicycle: Folding bike – A folded sheet of white paper is a symbol of the simplicity of collapsing and constructing the cycling machine. A great example of minimal simplicity:

Stairs : Parents Say / Children Do – A simple and creative use of colors and composition that embodies a health care plan for children:

Columbia: Shades – The Prolam Y&R Santiago advertising agency has creatively illustrated this minimalist ad of titled shades for Columbia’s clothing and footwear:

ATM: Connecting the City – This creative ad clearly represents the concept of ATMs being capable of ‘connecting the city’ with the help of a puzzle:

Lego: Tank – This minimalist ad shows that real objects can be created by LEGO toys by showing a shadow of a tank:

CNN Turk: Lightning – This creative piece of advertisement shows that 99% of the weather reports by CNN are accurate:

Micro 16 GB USB Flash Drive – This visually alluring minimalist ad suggests that a relatively large amount of data can be stored in a SanDisk Flash Drive:

Subaru Impreza STI: Scars – A truly unique concept for a car ad that does not feature the vehicle itself, rather just shows the stitched-up road that has been apparently damaged by the ‘unkind’ wheels of the Subaru Impreza:

Assault in Israel: Two Seconds to Spot – The excellent use of negative spacing demonstrates the hand of a criminal holding the neck of a girl:

Canon: There’s More Under Water – Simple and effective use of color palettes and the shape of a whale represent that there is more to see under water:

FedEx: Statue of Sugarloaf – Another great concept portrayed with the help of minimum elements. This ad features two statues colored with the FedEx purple and orange colors:

Nestlé Kit Kat: Vuvuzela – The controversial horn used in the FIFA World Cup 2010 has been featured in this ad — communicating the concept ‘Break a vuvuzela, have a Kit Kat’:

CNN International – A simple and easy way to relate CNN’s concept to get a story behind a story:

Garden Cafe: Opening – Opening of Garden Cafe is being represented in this ad with a handle of a mug:

MasterCard Canada: Darkness – This darkness ad was served up to the hungover masses in morning papers on New Year’s Day:

McDonald’s: Medium – The menu in McDonalds in Israel has changed to less calories and fat and so the M represents a healthy diet:

Levis Slim Jeans – This minimalist ad signifies that Levis Jeans simply cannot get any slimmer:

BMW – This BMW ad is quite clever in having swapped the ‘M’ and ‘W’ to convey the message efficiently:

Tzomet Sfarim Bookstore: Faceabook – This ad signifies the importance of reading a book and encourages people to disconnect from Facebook and the internet overall:

Volkswagen Snow Tires: Crystal – This minimalist ad represents that Volkswagen’s snow tires have significantly improved their grip in winter:

Orbits: Small – A straightforward ad for a device that shows you can start your car from a distance:

95% Advertising Academy: D&AD – A cool iceberg aesthetic is used in this visually pleasing design:

Smoke it Outside – This ad highlights the restriction of smoking inside pubs, clubs and restaurants from the 1st of July 2007:

Listerine: Ashtray – With the minimal usage of elements this ad successfully portrays the message of the product:

Zoo Bucuresti – This ad promotes love for the Bucharest Zoo by portraying a lipstick kiss with a bear’s muzzle:

Bosch Electric Screwdriver: The Fly – This ad represents that Bosch cordless drills are pretty much faster than you think:

Listerine: Fish – Listerine’s breath-freshening effects are being reflected by this speech bubble design:

Jeep: Bushman & Eskimo – This minimal ad represents that the 4×4 is appropriate for adventures at all ends of the Earth:

WWF: Shark – This WWF ad illustrates a game of fish and food to represent how important it is to consider the dying out of certain species:

Coca-Cola Light Lemon: Lemon Peel – Another simple yet creative minimalist ad that only uses a twisted lemon peel forming the characteristic shape of Coca-Cola’s standard typeface against the plain background:

3M Scotch Brite – Although the message of this ad is a bit ambiguous, the design is simply minimal and fun to look at:

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Bonus: This is the first known photograph ever taken of a surfer. Hawaii, 1890.