Billie Jean

 

Billie Jean 30 years of Nike basketball shoes advert

Billie Jean, a well known artist from Chicago created this advert for Nike in 2004 as a part of their ’30 years of basketball shoes’ campaign. Him and a collection of other street artists created pieces to denote the anniversary and the history of worldwide brand Nike. This advert appeals to audiences everywhere, the design and layout of the advert contains a piece of art, hand drawn with a byro. This not only establishes the artist as a down to earth, creative and modern artist, with lots of imagination he also manages to bring older audiences back to their care free, rebellious days of school, doodling instead of paying attention and the freedom of youth. The advert also finds ways to revert back to 1985, the use of three dimensional shapes, symbolic refrences such as space invaders, a peace sign and geometric style maze patterns influence a retro sportswear feel to the advert and empthasises the fame of the Nike brand and how it is and has been perceieved throughout the years.

In this advert the bold use of a byro, not the usual artists tool for a work of art instantly gives the audience a mutual understanding, even a friendship with the artist, as if your school friend had drawn it and showed it to you. The use of such a basic tool creates a likable character within the advert, not having used programmes, tools or techniques that regular people can get a hold of or acquire easily, influences a positive feeling towards the artist as he creates pieces of art, naturally.

The obvious connotations of this advert would include the sporting and basketball themes also featured lots in the advert. Simple logo-esque designs such as the basketball symbol also denote an 80’s feel to the advert as well as illustrating the interests of Nike and contemporary design. Sports people and cartoon characters playing basketball across the page also denote a passion and play.