Print ads are meant to sell products or promote brands. Many of them are created to amuse and entertain the consumer in order to effectively make an impression. But there are those that are intended to shock the audience.

Shock advertising is meant to provoke strong emotions and generate interest. Adding shock value in your print ads can be a great way to attract attention.. or alienate your audience.

Truth be told, “shockvertising” is not for everyone. But as long as it can help create awareness for a brand or a cause, the least one can do is to be sensitive and try to get people to understand the rationale behind the use of such technique. Keep in mind that an effective print ad that relies on shock value still requires a significant amount of restraint, responsibility and creativity.

Below are several examples of shock advertising in print. Brace yourself.

MTV: Shot, Girl ”Girls, protect yourself. Demand your partner to wear a condom.”

Caribú Bitter: Poison “The dark side of sweetness”

Colin glass cleaner: Spider “Invisible glass with Colin”

Aware Helpline: Verbal abuse, 1 “Verbal abuse can be such as horrific”

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation: Chair ”Second hand smoke in the home hospitalises 17,000 UK every year”

Equinox Fitness: Nuns ”What’s your after? It’s not fitness. It’s life.”

PETA: Boss models “Turn your back on fur”

WWF: Blood “Don’t but exotic animal souvenirs”

Luxembourg Government: Human trading ”If you pay a prostitute, you’re financing human trading.”

Benetton: Priest & Nun