Diagram of a drug abuser

This 1973 anti-drug ad is both outdated and unintentionally hilarious. But behind the retro design is a surprisingly solid marketing principle: make information easy to scan and impossible to ignore.

Marketing analysis

The ad uses arrows and short, punchy text around a person’s image to teach signs of drug abuse. It’s simple, visual, and interactive in the brain—you start reading, and can’t help but trace every arrow.

Why it works

• Visual flow: your eyes are guided step-by-step.
• Uses curiosity—each label makes you read the next.
• Clear hierarchy: bold headline, central figure, short lines.
• Turns static info into a visual "tour."

Examples

• National Geographic infographics use this exact model.
• Apple’s product pages label design elements just like this.
• IKEA assembly guides rely on annotated visuals for clarity.