Flipping the Script: What a 10-Year-Old Skittles Ad Teaches Us About Bold Design
- Neil Fletcher
- Jun 25
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
# Stand Out Like Skittles: Creative Branding Lessons from the Super Bowl
## Embrace the Weirdness
During the Super Bowl, every brand goes loud. Millions of dollars, celebrity cameos, and explosions. So how do you stand out?
You do what Skittles did in their iconic "Romance" commercial. You lean into the pure, unadulterated weird.
Quick recap: A guy throws Skittles at a girl’s window to get her attention. Classic rom-com setup. Cut to the inside: she’s catching them in her mouth. But so is her mom. And her dad. And a grandmother. A burglar. A cop. And... a gopher.
It’s bizarre. It’s hilarious. It’s a masterclass in creative branding. Here is what we can all steal from it:
1. Disrupt the Boring Stuff
The ad hijacks a classic movie trope (the Romeo-and-Juliet window scene) and completely breaks it.
The Takeaway: You don’t always need to reinvent the wheel. Take a familiar design layout or concept. Inject one totally unexpected twist. Watch people actually stop scrolling.
2. Lock Down Your Brand, Then Get Weird
This works for Skittles because they’ve spent decades owning "the unusual." Their core identity is rock-solid. They have the freedom to get chaotic in their campaigns without confusing anyone.
The Takeaway: Consistency isn't a cage. When your branding (logos, colours, vibes) is dialed in, you earn the license to get incredibly experimental with your content.
3. Keep the Product Center Stage
Strip away the gopher and the burglar. What is the ad actually showing? People desperate to eat Skittles. The candy's bright colours and that distinct clink against the glass are the heroes of the whole story.
The Takeaway: Never let a clever concept overshadow the actual thing you're trying to sell.
4. Connect Emotionally
The ad evokes laughter. It’s relatable. It taps into nostalgia. It’s a reminder of simpler times.
The Takeaway: Create an emotional connection. Use humour, nostalgia, or surprise. Make your audience feel something.
5. Use Visual Storytelling
The imagery is vivid. The action is fast-paced. It tells a story without words.
The Takeaway: Show, don’t tell. Use visuals to convey your message. Make it memorable.
6. Be Bold and Authentic
Skittles embraces its identity. They don’t shy away from being different. They own their weirdness.
The Takeaway: Be bold. Be authentic. Let your true self shine through your branding.
7. Engage Your Audience
The ad invites viewers into the absurdity. It’s interactive. It makes you think.
The Takeaway: Engage your audience. Ask questions. Encourage interaction. Make them part of the story.
8. Test and Iterate
Skittles didn’t get here overnight. They’ve experimented. They’ve learned. They’ve adapted.
The Takeaway: Test your ideas. Gather feedback. Iterate. Keep evolving.
Conclusion: Crafting Your Unique Brand Voice
Great design isn’t about shouting the loudest. It’s about knowing exactly who you are. Knowing what people expect. Then giving them something delightfully different.
Want to bring that same "gopher-catching-candy" energy to your own brand's visuals? Drop us a message - let’s make something people actually remember.
Let’s create authentic design and marketing solutions together. Your brand deserves to stand out.
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