Ugly Is Only Skin-Deep

The Story of the Ads That Changed the World (Advertising History) (Volkswagen Beetle) (Volkswagen Ads) (Bill Bernbach) (DDB) (Creative Revolution)

De: Dominik Imseng

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

IT WASN’T GERMAN ENGINEERING ONLY THAT MADE THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AN ICON. IT WAS A MANHATTAN ADVERTISING AGENCY, TOO.

Created in 1959 by Doyle Dane Bernbach and continued through the ’60s and early ’70s, the campaign for the Volkswagen Beetle is considered the best of all time. More than just promoting a car, it promoted a new kind of advertising: simple, charming, intelligent and, most of all, honest.

In “Ugly Is Only Skin-Deep,” Dominik Imseng retraces the creation of Doyle Dane Bernbach, sneered at by the big players on Madison Avenue because of the “ethnic” background of its founders and employees, who were mostly Jewish. Readers will then learn how the agency won the Volkswagen account and how an unlikely creative team—copywriter Julian Koenig and art director Helmut Krone—set the tone for the most admired campaign in advertising history. Finally, the book examines the evolution of the Volkswagen campaign and how advertising greats such as Bob Levenson, Len Sirowitz, Roy Grace or Bob Kuperman managed to convince more and more Americans that smaller was better. In fact, the Volkswagen campaign didn’t only fundamentally change the ethos of advertising—it also helped trigger the cultural revolution of the 1960s.

“A spirited, fully illustrated history of a pivotal era in American advertising.” —Wallpaper

“A fascinating read that is hard to put down.” —VolksAmerica

“Dominik Imseng has done an amazing job of weaving personality, history and practice into a wonderfully written book.” —Steven Heller, School of Visual Arts, NYC

“I can’t recommend it highly enough. Get it.” —Neil French, former Worldwide Creative Director of WPP and author of “Sorry for the Lobsters”

“A timely as well as masterful piece of work.” —Richard Huntington, Chief Strategy Officer of Saatchi & Saatchi London

“Pure inspiration that makes you love the business all over again.” —Edward Boches, Professor of Advertising at Boston University and former Partner and Chief Creative Officer of Mullen Lowe

“Damn good book.” —Ed McCabe, Co-Founder, President, Worldwide Creative Director of Scali, McCabe, Sloves, Inc.

“Dominik Imseng helps us understand why the Volkswagen campaign changed advertising.” —Dave Dye, Stuff from the Loft

“Do yourself and your career a favor. Forgo two days’ worth of pretentious caffeine. Spend your money instead on Mr Imseng’s surpassing book.” —George Tannenbaum, Ad Aged

“If the author’s command of his subject is masterful, then his ability to tell it as a story is even more impressive.” —Steve Harrison, author of “How to Do Better Creative Work” and “Changing the World is the Only Fit Work for a Grown Man”