Most of the time I’m distracted by billboards, not informed. Outdoor advertising consumes energy, clutters the landscape, and destroys trees. But there is a series of billboards that transcend these problems. They do what many public service announcement campaigns try and fail to do: they inspire. These boards combine short, punchy headlines with a single photo of a hero. But the Pass It On Foundation’s campaign isn’t really about hero-worship, it’s about building character.
The Pass It On billboard I see most often lately has the iconic Matthew Brady portrait of Abraham Lincoln. I’ve seen that photo a thousand times—no big deal. But the surprise comes from the headline: “Failed, failed, failed, and then…” Beneath that, in a bold red block is the word “persistence,” then the phrase “Pass It On.”
I’m crazy about this campaign. Here are links to a few of my favorite boards:
By: Candice on January 24, 2008 