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'Once upon a time I was riding on the top of a First Avenue bus, when I heard a mythical housewife say to another, 'Molly, my dear, I would have bought that new brand of toilet soap if only they hadn't set the body copy in ten point Garamond.' Don't you believe it. What really decides consumers to buy or not to buy is the content of your advertising, not its form.'

David Ogilvy#11

AdvertisingConsumerDesignContent

About this quote

What does it mean?
Ad content matters more than visual design choices like font size.
In plain terms
The message in an ad determines sales, not the typeface.
What can you take from it?
Focus on ad content over design details.

Where it applies

  • ad creation
  • media planning
  • creative review

Putting it to work

  • test copy
  • prioritize message
  • simplify visuals

Questions to consider

  • What drives buying decisions more?
  • How much should design matter?

Another view

Design and font choices do influence readability and trust for some readers.

More from David Ogilvy

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  3. 'The pursuit of excellence is less profitable than the pursuit of bigness, but it can be more satisfying.'

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