I’ve been asked to create some Facebook ads (for Amaryllis bulbs) and let me tell you, I have no idea where to start. Facebook isn’t something I interact with a whole lot, I’m more drawn to Instagram or Pinterest. However, I thought I’d look into Facebook ads and take ya’ll along for the ride.
So my main questions I need to figure out are as follows:
- What Photoshop dimensions should I use?
- What are the photo copyright rules for ads?
- What do typical flower ads look like?
- What makes an ad successful?
Which brings me to research!
Here are my findings:
Facebook dimensions vary by preferred ad layouts. However, my client will be posting the ads as Facebook posts. So I really need to figure out FB Photoshop post dimensions. I kept on running into dimensions for Facebook image/video post sizes. (Will report back with my final answer soon🫡)
When it comes to image copyright research, here is the situation. I’ve been tasked with creating amaryllis bulb ads. I want to be able to show customers the final amaryllis blooms, but the florist doesn’t have any of her own pictures with her current bulbs. Soo.. then I need to figure out the image situation. I found this website that brings up a few legal good points. My temporary solution is to use some of her old photos if possible.
General flower ads all display big, colorful arrangements. Then it has the basic ad elements such as a headline, call to action, etc. I’m kind of on my own because my client is advertising wax-dipped amaryllis bulbs. (Which is a bit too niche for Google)
Keeping your ad message clear and directed towards your audience is one way to create a successful ad. So my audience is primarily older women looking to buy flowers for themselves or others. My headline and visuals should align with my desired target market. Some more great tips are here.
Phew that was a lot. Hopefully, I can hit the ground running and drum up some great ideas. I’ll keep you posted! Until next time, keep designing.
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designing a portfolio: the saga
Welcome back ya’ll! Today I thought I’d walk you through my current challenge: creating a graphic design portfolio. I am by no means an expert, but with the power of the internet and my teachers, I think I can handle it. Where to begin? The most important part of your portfolio is the contents. You…
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design legends you should know #5 Paula Scher
Paula Scher is a painter, album covers, educator, layout artist and renowned graphic designer. Her Work Through The Years With a start at the Tyler School of Art, Scher graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in 1970. She then became a layout artist at the children’s division at Random House. Switching gears, she worked…
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analyzing design in movies: Labyrinth
Design is all around us! It’s on labels, posters, papers, hand towels, you name it. So today, I thought I’d look at one of my favorite movies, Labyrinth, through the eyes of a designer. Labyrinth is a dark 80s fantasy movie with a cast of puppets as well as humans. Because of its genre, the…
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design legends you should know #4 David Carson
Rulebreaker, Father of Grunge Typography, prolific surfer. All things that aptly describe David Carson. Carson started out as a high school teacher in Oregon, where he caught wind of a graphic design summer program at University of Arizona. Soon after he was off to Switzerland to another summer program under the instruction of instructor Hans-Rudolf…
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manipulating type in Illustrator
The college homework saga continues! We are currently designing the nameplate, or title, of our magazine. After scrolling through adobe fonts, I finally found my font: casserole. Which is such a fun name and just warms my Midwest heart. But picking a font was just the beginning. Now I have to expand my Illustrator skill…
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design legends you should know #3 Henri Privat-Livemont
Let me take you way back to the 1890s, when minimalism is out and fanciful Art Nouveau is in. My first exposure to this style was seeing one of my mom’s favorite prints in her room, Absinthe Robette. What is Art Nouveau? New art, or Art Nouveau was a popular art movement from around the…
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SD AAF student day reflections
I was able to go to the SD AAF (American Advertising Federation) student day! It was such a great opportunity and I thought I’d share what I learned with you guys. Some recurring pieces of advice that kept coming up during different panels were: Overall, I learned so much at this event. Hands down the…
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Trends in the graphic design world
To follow trends or not to follow trends, that is the question! And the consensus from designers is to avoid trends. The goal is to create timeless and iconic designs as years and decades pass. Think of Coca Cola or IBM. They can’t be defined as such an 80s or y2k design. So what are…
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concert diaries #2
Another concert for the books! This September I was able to see Conan Gray at the Armory in Minneapolis. I was able to go with my mom. She wasn’t a huge Conan Gray fan, but his performance and songs was enough to get a 10/10 rating from her. It felt like it took ages to…
