Bruce K.Cantrell

I fail to see why, because it is a mockup, I don't need to give my honest opinion about the ad in it's entirety, please explain this to me. In a design class, when we review each other's rough ideas for an ad, we don't piddle around with less then a completely honest opinion about the piece in its entirety. Let me repeat that: in it's entirety.

Also, I you would look at your original post, it says nothing about a mock-up, only that you would like to get opinions before it's printed. I see that you mentioned mock-up in response to someone else, but again, the fact that this is a mock-up does not impact the fact that in this ad there is a poor design decision to include a woman with no nipples.

In your response, the first thing you spoke about in reference to the inclusion of the woman was its ability to target the male audience. It was the first thing that you said, I therefore feel that the other reasons come secondary. Indeed the position of her form is frontal, her vagina is on the cusp in being seen and she has no coverage what-so ever. Hers is a stance that is by nature much more sexualized then other positions of nude women. I have seen elegant nude ads and no matter how much pretty lighting you use, you can't remove the sexualization apparent in her position and stark naked treatment.

Now the role of a woman in the context of an ad marketed toward the male market is in emphasizing her sexuality. Male audience=MMM PRETTY CHICK WITH BOOBS. You did not say 'intellectual' market' 'high-end' market. 'designer' market. You split it up between male and female market. I shaped my opinion of your direction based on the information you told me.

Sophistication needs to be prevalent in every design choice you make not only in the service/product but also in the ad. The ad reinforces the mission set by the photographer.

You admitted (perhaps misspoke) that the woman's role in the ad was to market towards a male audience. If I (as a audience to the ad) were to believe this, I would feel it is anything but sophisticated. Again it was in believing that her primary role was to seduce the male audience (a fact you had admitted) and the position of her body, that shaped this opinion.

I see where you are going with in terms of the concept and I understand it and it can be veryvery elegant, the way it is now is not elegant. For this to be successful, you will have to pick a more artistic position for this woman, you will have to have a clever way to cut in the 3D interior spaces and have it balanced in a way where the woman REINFORCES the service/product, not overshadows it.