The Strength of Nike

Nike is a fitness brand that has become very popular over the 50 years that it has been around. Nike brags about its good quality and reasonable prices. Their signature swoosh and slogan, “just do it,” can often be seen in gyms or on fashionably workout clothing donned by fitness gurus and newbies alike. People buy Nike products because not only are they fashionable, but they are good quality as well. 

This advertisement is made by someone who supports Nike and wants people to buy their products. While there are some negative qualities about it, this ad is successful in getting its message across - Nike’s products are very good quality and will endure years of use, lasting the owner a long time. 

In this advertisement, there is a crocodile biting down on a bright pink Nike shoe. The crocodile appears to be unable to close its jaws and crush the shoe, showing that the shoe is very strong. 

The message presented in this ad, the message the creator hopes will urge more people to buy Nike’s products, is one of the quality of Nike products. Not only is the shoe well designed, drawing the attention of a younger audience, but it is also very sturdy and well constructed. The shoe in this picture may not actually be able to withstand the strength of a crocodile’s jaws, but it is well made and will not fall apart quickly. The creator of this ad wants their viewers to know that they can wear Nike’s products many times without them wearing out and falling apart. Along with the shoe being sturdy, it is also fashionable. Not all clothing companies can boast that their products are both fashionable and sturdy, so this Nike fan is proud that their products contain both qualities. 

I would also argue that there is a subtle hint of feminism in this message. Instead of using a shoe with a neutral color, the designer of this ad chose a bright pink shoe, a color that is often associated with women. This gives off the message that women are strong. At the least, it shows that they can be strong with Nike’s products. This ad and its message would resonate well with people of feminist tendencies, or at least people who think women are strong. 

Even though it is flawed, I like this ad. The crocodile in it is facing the words, which directs the eye flow toward the words. The focal point of it is the bright pink shoe, which fits with the commonly used rule of thirds design technique. The shoe’s color also brings attention to it as the bright pink contrasts with the neutral, dull browns and greens behind it. 

That being said, the shoe in the crocodile’s mouth is not very well edited, and the word “really” is misspelled. It is apparent that this is not a professional ad, however I like the manner in which its message is given. The crocodile being unable to bite down on the shoe and destroy it is a creative way to produce a message of its strength.