Visual metaphors are like a hook to catch the viewer. It snares your attention via juxtaposition. That is the definition for this design resource. Visual metaphors make a common reference point between two or more apparently unrelated subjects. They can help us comprehend complicated ideas or emotions more efficiently. As a result, they are a compelling form of visual stimulation and an effective means of communication, especially when it comes to expressing a brand message through marketing or advertising.
Ads using visual metaphors can fastly capture attention and change perceptions about a product. In fact, they have been shown to evoke more positive reactions in an audience and enhance ad recall. Moreover, research suggests that the effect of visual metaphors follows an ‘inverted U-curve’. Those ones that moderately challenge the viewer are said to have a more significant impact than simpler or more complex metaphors. In other words, a visual metaphor that is just challenging enough to decipher is more likely to hold someone’s attention and create a more compelling message than one that is either too easy or too problematic to understand.
This conclusion has crucial implications for advertisers who want to create memorable and persuasive campaigns. By using visual metaphors that strike the right balance of challenge and simplicity, they can maximize the impact of their messages and ensure that their ads appeal directly to the target audience.
Visual Metaphors 101
In a nutshell, visual metaphors use a picture or object that implies something else. It is essentially a picture representing a different idea. Visual metaphors work because they tap into the power of your inner mind. You might not process everything right away, but you will understand some parts of what is being communicated on a deeper level. With repeated exposure to a visual metaphor, you will figure out what is being said underneath the surface.
In case you were wondering, there are many common visual metaphors that you may be familiar with. For instance, a red rose is often used to represent romance. A picture of someone walking out of the darkness and into the light can represent enlightenment. A great example of a visual metaphor is Apple’s famous logo, which depicts an apple with a bite taken out. This image represents the biblical story of Adam and Eve, which talks about knowledge gained by eating from the tree of good and evil. The bite of the apple indicates that Apple, the company, has gained knowledge from taking a bite off of the apple. They applied this knowledge to its innovative and cutting-edge products. The apple logo can also represent the computer, the modern-day tree of learning.
The Benefits of Visual Metaphors In Ads
The following statements are some reasons why you should consider implementing visual metaphors in your advertising efforts.
First of all, visual metaphors help your brand stand out. It can be challenging to distinguish yourself from the market. Luckily, visual metaphors can help you stand out from your competition. In second place, visual metaphors add a sense of creativity to your ads. By using them, you are not only getting your audience’s attention but also their admiration for how creative and unique you are. Then, this design resource gets your point across quickly. Using visual metaphors can save you the trouble of spending time describing something. It will result in less effort on your part while still attracting more attention from your audience.
Furthermore, visual metaphors generate curiosity. They encourage audiences to pay closer attention to what you are delivering them to figure out the meaning of the metaphor. Once you have made your audience curious about your ad, they will become more curious about your brand. Lastly, visual metaphors are memorable: Your target audience will remember ads that use them because they are exceptional and innovative. As a result, it makes it even more likely that they will remember your brand.
But then you wonder: is there actual evidence to prove that visual metaphors work? Yes, indeed. There is actual empirical evidence to show this. The attitudes and purchase intentions of customers are influenced by visual metaphors, undoubtedly The results analyzed the impact of visual metaphors on perceptions and how those changed based on how familiar a customer was with a product.
Besides that, four very well-known brands, including Ariel and Land Rover were used to conduct the analysis. The study concluded that when visual metaphors were used, customers adopted more favorable attitudes toward the brands. They also noted increased purchase intentions. In another study from Radboud University, the same conclusion was observed. The study said that visual metaphors were key in advertising and that consumers understood messages better when they were used. Ads with visual metaphors were also appreciated more.
However, there is a fine tipping point. This has to do with when a visual metaphor becomes tough to get. The less obvious a visual metaphor is, the fewer customers appreciate it. And once it becomes too complex people just failed to understand or engage with the message at all.
2 Examples of Visual Metaphors in Ads
Here are two examples of good use of visual metaphors in advertising.
1. Look at the Product from another Perspective
Here is a case study of this example. As a way of letting customers know that Burger King will remain open through Easter Sunday, Burger King took to the screen with a visual metaphor. They made their famous burger look like an Easter egg. The meaning is immediately clear to the customer, but there is certainly something attractively unique about it as well. Because of how well they used a visual metaphor they were able to drive traffic to their outlets.
2. Combining Elements Differently
A solid visual metaphor combines everyday objects and elements to create a powerful message in an unusual way. The Smart brand designed the ad below to show people the best possible modes to navigate through the city at busy times. In this case, the difficulty of threading a needle is compared to driving a big car through a dynamic city.
Bottom Line
Visual metaphors are key for advertising, so if you want to have advertising that works, then you need to work on the design of your visual metaphors.
