Mixed Signals: A Creative Muse Named Sharpie

Last updated on: July 29, 2011 at 12:05 pm by Erin Straza

Mixed Signals: A Creative Muse Named Sharpie 2011-07-29T12:05:54-06:00 Erin Straza

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Mixed Signals is Erin Straza’s weekly musing about marketing miscellany in advertising, branding, and messaging.

Cinema advertising has to be one of the best venues for advertisers because the audience is captive. There the moviegoers sit, waiting for the show, the TV-like ads bombarding, and there is no remote control to wield for protection.

But last weekend as I endured another cinema advertising attack, I actually saw an ad that was both entertaining and interesting. The creative was clean and focused, featuring a young artist who uses paper coffee cups as his canvas. He was explaining how he got started with the medium, and I was hooked. I didn’t even know what the ad was promoting, but the story, the art, and the filmography compelled me. Soon I discovered the product: my beloved Sharpie pens.

The ad was part of the new Sharpie pen and marker multichannel media campaign with the message points “It starts with a Sharpie,” “What are you going to start?” and “Uncap what’s inside.” Four avid Sharpie users are highlighted in this campaign, aimed at teenagers, to inspire them to use a Sharpie and get creative.

Because I have loved Sharpie products for years, my brain was already primed to accept the message. Even so, the campaign team has done a masterful job highlighting the core element of the product, that being personal expression. Sharpie has superbly attached creative thinking to their writing instruments.

That’s what I love about this campaign: It calls us to think creatively and use the gifts God has given us. Some people who are not interested or gifted in art or music or writing think they are not creative. I disagree. The scientist’s ability to test new theories and the mechanic’s ability to rebuild an engine are, indeed, creative acts. The work of our hands expresses the unique way we are designed in the image of our Creator. When we create, we reflect who God is to the world.

When I see the artistry poured onto a paper coffee cup canvas, I am inspired to keep on with my own creative bent so that my gifts are not wasted and God’s glory is not diminished.

Do I need Sharpie pens to accomplish that? No. But I want them because of what the pens represent and what they remind me to do. Thanks, Sharpie!

Asides

mixed signals

Sharpie

Previous Post

July 29, 2011

What Memes Mean: Rebecca Black And Pulse-Checking

Next Post

July 30, 2011 Grace Notes: Gang Gang Dance, M83

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz