Magazine ad for dental instruments

[shane-c]

This is an ad I'm working on for dental instruments made with 'XP Technology', a surface-engineering process that makes them sharper overall, and last longer with no sharpening. Anyway, my idea was to create a "flow chart" of benefits of using this product, and this is what I have so far:

http://www.am-eagle.com/images/XP-Full-Page---April-2007.jpg


I'm not too happy with the font and color... I'm trying to make it attractive and eye-catching, but it needs to be very clean and professional.

Keep in mind this is not intended to be a "WOW IT'S BEAUTIFUL" type ad... Just something that effectively and professionally delivers information...

Thanks for the help, guys!

EDIT: The "XP Technology" logo and the American Eagle logo are pre-existing... not my design.

[DDD]

I dont like nor understand why the features are laid out the way they are. I think I know the effect you are after but it gets kinda lost in the current implentation. Did they provide anyother angles of the device? I think a better more dramatic angle would be a bit more appealing in your current execution.

[ronnie]

I don't think the lines are necessary or helful to your design. The photo itself is nice and the type in different weights sets up flow chart hierarchy just fine. I think *clean* is the best approach considering the subject matter.

Sorry you got stuck with the XP technology logo, etc.

[shane-c]

I dont like nor understand why the features are laid out the way they are. I think I know the effect you are after but it gets kinda lost in the current implentation. Did they provide anyother angles of the device? I think a better more dramatic angle would be a bit more appealing in your current execution.

Well I have the slightly darker lines going from the instrument out into the basic properties of it, ie long lasting, never sharpen, thinner blade design, then I have more darker lines connecting those properties to the benefits they entail... Then the lighter lines connect the instrument to all of the benefits as well... But if that's not obvious to you then that's a warning sign I need to change it... and now that I'm explaining it it does seem kinda nonsensical.

And I actually have the instrument modeled in Lightwave, so I can do more dramatic angles - I think you're right about that.

Thanks.

[shane-c]

I don't think the lines are necessary or helful to your design. The photo itself is nice and the type in different weights sets up flow chart hierarchy just fine. I think *clean* is the best approach considering the subject matter.

Sorry you got stuck with the XP technology logo, etc.

I understand what you mean. However, it seems like the lines are integral to the "flow chart" theme... Here it is with the lines layer hidden:

http://www.am-eagle.com/images/XP-Full-Page---April-2007-n.jpg

Do you think I should just abandon the flow chart idea altogether? Or maybe rather than just straight lines I could use more attractive vectors?

[DDD]

I was gonna suggest modeling it too, if you had the time ability :thumb2: Yea I'd almost do a worms eye angle or maybe a few angles the bring them into one piece.

I understood your lines and I thought the concept would work better with a different angle. But Ronnie's suggestion is valid too.

[shane-c]

So I changed some stuff around in Lightwave, and took it in a new direction...

http://www.am-eagle.com/images/XP-ad-new-render.jpg

I just now threw that together, it's a totally incomplete design, but I thought I'd see what you guys thought about this direction before I took it too far... Better? Worse? Am I missing the point?

Thanks!

[DDD]

I still would do a more drastic angle more perspective and maybe slight DOF. Also keep it white or very bright (bgrd). Fits more with the clinical/sterile dentist environment.

IMO
a more drastic angle would make the product seem more:
Durable
cutting edge
interesting
appealing

The way you have it now its like....bleh a gold teeth scratcher

[shane-c]

bleh a gold teeth scratcher

Haha...

Thanks for the continuing help, DDD. I should also add that this will be in a dental magazine, targeted only at RDHs (registered dental hygienists) who will know exactly what this is - not sure if that makes a difference or not though, I still have a ton to learn about design.

And for the background, I have actually been getting positive feedback on it from the company - to me, black can be made to look sterile and high-tech... I've seen a lot of electronics companies using it lately.

Anyway, I'm still playing around with the DOF and whatnot... I'll keep workin on it. Thanks again!

[hybrid101]

the xp technology logo just makes the piece...ummm...ugly:(
i like the idea, yeah, i agree with the angle of that...gold tooth scratcher could be changed a bit more.

and the white bg looks better;)