Bob Ross was popular in the 80s for his show 'The Joy of Painting,' which taught children and adults alike, in simple terms and examples, how to paint. Adobe decided to pay homage to this classic figure in a series of commercials.
After The Joy of Painting aired on Netflix in 2016, the show saw a surge in popularity on social media. Adobe noted this and decided to take advantage of it, with the goal of putting a modern twist on this classic TV show. In the brand's 'The Joy of Sketching' campaign, a children's book illustrator plays Bob Ross and teaches viewers how to paint and draw in Adobe's Photoshop Sketch.
Adobe's homage to Bob Ross fuses nostalgia with modern services in order to target consumers – whether they are familiar with the late painter's show or not.
Nostalgic Digital Painting Commercials
Adobe Paid Homage to Bob Ross in a Series of Commercials
Trend Themes
1. Nostalgia Marketing - Brands are leveraging nostalgia to target consumers and create emotional connections with their products by tapping into past cultural references.
2. Interactive Advertising - By incorporating a tutorial element, ads can use engagement to make the audience feel more connected to a product or brand while actively participating in the ad.
3. Digital Art Education - As digital art continues to gain popularity, there is an opportunity for companies to develop educational resources that teach users the technical and creative skills necessary to create digital art pieces.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - Nostalgia marketing is an expanding industry that brands can tap into to create successful marketing campaigns that connect with consumers emotionally.
2. Software - Digital art software companies can create educational resources for users to improve their skills and expand their customer base.
3. Education - Educational institutions and edtech startups can explore the growing interest in digital art and create courses and tutorials to teach students how to create digital art pieces.