The Save the Children 2014 ad campaign is a nesting doll of despair. As though inspired by the traditional Matryoshka doll, it depicts the legs of an adult and head of a child. Although inside is an innocent soul, on the outside is a lost one. Whether that is depicted as a drunk or as a sex worker, it shows that "time doesn't heal all wounds," as stated by the tag line.
Conceived and executed by McCann Erickson, an ad agency based in Lima, Peru, the Save the Children 2014 ad campaign was art directed by Giovanni Macco with creative direction by Mauricio Fernandez-Maldonado and Nicolas Romano. The pessimistic images, which encourage people to stop child abuse, were shot by photographers Leonel Ortiz and Alvaro Soto.
Pessimistic Nesting Doll-Like Ads
The Save the Children 2014 Campaign Urges the End of Child Abuse
Trend Themes
1. Anti-abuse Ads - Opportunity for ad agencies to create impactful campaigns that bring attention to sensitive issues like child abuse.
2. Nesting Doll-like Imagery - Potential for artists and designers to incorporate the concept of nesting dolls to create visually captivating art or products.
3. Pessimistic Messaging - Opportunity for companies to approach marketing with a negative or pessimistic tone to bring attention to important causes or societal issues.
Industry Implications
1. Non-profit Organizations - Organizations can use powerful and thought-provoking imagery to raise awareness and increase donations towards causes like ending child abuse or poverty.
2. Advertising - Opportunity for advertising agencies to create impactful campaigns for clients by utilizing emotionally charged visual elements and messaging.
3. Art and Design - Artists and designers can experiment with the concept of nesting dolls to create visually interesting and thought-provoking works.