The advertising world has changed so rapidly in the last ten years that traditional ways of reaching the world seem almost trivial in comparison. During the 1960’s advertising agencies saturated the modern United States. They controlled product placement, the branding of your business and the media vehicles you choose to utilize. Corporations, companies, businesses-you name it- were flocking to these agencies for their advertising needs. AMC has capitalized on these old traditional agencies in their series Mad Men. The norm of dark grey suits and red power ties combined with the rich cherry office furniture were typical characteristics of these marketing sages. Alessandra Stanley for the The New York Times comments “Mad Men mocks and celebrates forbidden vices, the drinking, smoking, and promiscuity that in the advertising business of the 1960’s flowed heedlessly, without health warnings or the sour taint of political incorrectness.” This television series reveals the inter workings of some of Americas most vice driven organizations. However, with all the political incorrectness and traditional robustness, these agencies delivered a whole new service that was not present before. They completely drove marketing and advertising from the company and placed it in their “professional” hands.
In contrast, looking at today’s advertising agencies only reveals a glimpse of the grey suit red power tie mentality. Pushing past the traditional cherry office furniture, today’s agencies are adapting a creative business causal laid-back atmosphere. Agencies are filled with graphic wall art, bicycles, rock walls, crazy light fixtures and snazzy decorative chairs. The modern agency is evolving into a social media and digital marketing entity. I think over the course of the next ten years we will see another complete evolution of advertising, but the same traditional vices of stiff bourbon and a stout cigar will remain.
