Brilliant vintage sneaker ad

This old Keds ad looks simple… until you notice the “secret code.” Then you’re hooked. You stare. You try to decode it. Now the brand’s burned into your brain. That’s master-level attention-grabbing.

Marketing analysis

The ad doesn’t sell shoes directly. It sells curiosity. It breaks pattern, makes your brain itch for answers, and forces you to engage. That act of mental participation is what makes it memorable.

Why it works

• Curiosity loop: you want to solve the riddle
• Pattern interrupt: your brain stops scrolling
• Brand embedded in the solution (Keds = Cub Scouts = code = fun)
• Forces attention = longer impression time
• Involves the audience rather than shouting at them

Examples

• Apple’s “Think Different” posters made people think, not just look
• Dollar Shave Club’s first video used humor to keep viewers engaged
• Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” ad grabbed attention with absurdity
• Coinbase’s Super Bowl QR code ad made people stare for 30 seconds trying to scan it