The saying is that a picture is worth a thousand words, and I have to say that over the last weeks, I’ve begun to have new appreciation for graphic designers and their impact on Marketing.

I think it all started at the gas pumps. I was pumping gas when I noticed that the little graphical instructions for “how to use this gas pump” had the hand selecting which type of gas positioned over the expensive, high-octane button. How clever! I thought. A subtle, edge of consciousness prompt!

This kicked off a week of noticing such cues. I mean, I’ve known for years about cereal-box color coding (blue = sugar frosted, yellow = corn, brown = chocolate) but it’s still impressive to stand on an aisle and look down the rows of boxes… and how about technical diagrams? Great collateral has diagrams which (like text) are minimal, catch your eye, and yet let you understand the concept super-quickly. Take a look at billboards for the ultimate in good (and bad) graphics… can you understand the concept being marketed when you're doing 85mph down route 101?

So kudos, designers, and thanks. You’ve made me think I should be saying a bit less, and drawing a lot more.

[ps: Please buy my book. http://buynow.stupidmarketing.com -- and tell your friends!]