Danger, Food and Sex: Effective Vehicle Wrap Imagery

The key to an effective vehicle wrap is to catch people’s attention first. Only when you do that can you convey a relevant message. But what gets attention these days? And more importantly, how can you make sure that attention is valuable to your brand or business?

Since we specialize in vehicle wraps and have a graphic designer on staff, we know a thing or two about visual communication.

The Most Effective Imagery

• Food, sex, danger
• Animals (fall into the danger category)
• Humans (especially ones making eye contact)
• Babies (yes, they’re human, but are a special kind because they may require our help for survival)
• Motion (physical motion, optical illusion, blinking, video)
• Depictions of stories (because they connect rational and emotional ideas)
• Animals (generally fall into the danger category)

Can I Eat It? Have Sex With It? Will It Kill Me?

These are the three primal questions that govern our reactions to visual stimuli. The reptilian brain, one of three types of brain function, is responsible for our survival as a species. This part of our brain is constantly scanning our surroundings for things we can eat and mate with and threats we should avoid. These images get a compulsive, automatic response because it’s a situation our lowest-level brain is primed to recognize.

This doesn’t mean that all of your graphics should include these images, however. There are higher orders of thinking and reasoning involved here. You need to consider the imagery you want associated with your brand. So while these are an almost surefire way to compel attention, you must also consider what effect this is going to have on how people perceive your business.

Nostalgia, Emotion and Values

The limbic brain is responsible for storing memories of our experiences, whether pleasant or unpleasant. This is where emotions come from and where value judgments are formed. Both have an especially strong influence on our behavior and help keep our primitive, reptilian brain in check.

When the images we see can be associated with pleasant memories we feel nostalgic, which is especially captivating — especially when paired with a relevant message.

This is the part of the brain where we’ll also make judgments about what is right or wrong about the use of certain imagery, such as whether your sexual imagery is gratuitous or tantalizing.

Appealing to Our Shared Humanity

Responsible for the development of human language, abstract thought, imagination and consciousness, our neocortex has almost infinite learning abilities. This forms the basis of human cultures.

This is the part of our brain we use to decipher text and evaluate an image for relevant context. It’s not just about primal or emotional response here; this is where we put those to types of brain function under a microscope and examine their worth.

The best visual communications actually activate and satisfy this part of the brain with a meaningful call to action or positive associations with the brand.

For Example

When we see attractive women in a commercial selling tools or technology, it’s the neocortex that allows us to realize that the women are just there to catch our attention. While some would say this is risk, others would say that the pay off is worth it.

Just keep in mind that some consumers will be turned off by overtly attention-seeking tactics, so keep your target audience in mind when choosing the imagery you want associated with your brand.

Whatever route you decide to take, visual elements will always grab more attention than all text and bullet points.

Start Grabbing Attention Today

Get meaningful attention from potential customers every day with a vehicle wrap. When you choose Team Acme, we’ll make sure that all visuals are in line with your brand and still able to attract attention on the street.

Get a quote today or contact us for details.