One of the most irritating adverts on TV at the moment may yet turn out to be one of the most memorable. But for all the wrong reasons.

Spam, originally launched in the UK in 1941, is making a come-back. Or so it’s manufacturers, Hormel Foods, are hoping. Among other promotions, they are pinning their hopes on a dreadful TV spot with an even cheesier catch-phrase, “Spam Up!”

The ad is right up there with all the other ‘worst ads ever’, such as Cillit Bang, online Bingo games and Just For Men. It even has its own appreciation group on Facebook (hmmm – I wonder who put that there?!).

But why did they pay big bucks to air such dire stuff? I presume they DID pay their performers…? I nearly called them actors, but that would be stretching the point. The look-and-feel of the adverts remind me of those awful 1960s washing powder adverts. They weren’t very believable either!

It may be a calculated gamble, but Hormel (via their ad agency Marsteller may have deliberately produced a retro-styled ad purely to cash in on the wartime heritage and 1950s-60s popularity of the product. Yes, it was popular once. Even the Monty Python team used it for one of their classic comedy moments.

Will a new generation of processed meat lovers be enticed to buy Spam in sufficient numbers to cover the ad agency fee? We’ll see…

(Opinion: John Dawkins, designer)

One of my design heroes is undoubtedly British graphic designer and consummate typographer Jonathan Barnbrook. Renown and admired for his pivotal role in British graphics and his strong political views and contribution to social causes, Barnbrook strives to use the power of his design skills as a weapon for social change and for the moral good.

I was pleased therefore, when I spotted Barnbrook’s unmistakable ‘Virus’ fonts in the latest British Heart Foundation television advert. Directed by Barnbrook, “The spot features a Virtual Heart Simulator, alongside a typographic treatment by Barnbrook of various words from the voiceover.”–CR. Whilst undeniably graceful, and wonderfully paced, I do slightly wonder at the choice of some of Barnbrook’s self-designed typefaces – as beautifully crafted and animated as they are. A pleasant change and real step away from recent BHF advertising.

Now to go home and dust off my signed copy of ‘The Barnbrook Bible’…ahhh.

Take a look at the advert here.

(Opinion: Jon Price – Designer)