The Genius of Guinness

On the 3rd floor of the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, is a retrospective of Guinness advertising. Few brands can brag of an advertising portfolio that spans a decade—advertising people want to see, and will pay to put replicas of in their house.

The first official Guinness poster appeared in 1929, bearing a slogan that would become one of the most well known in advertising history. Based on the belief that the beer contained health-giving properties, it proclaimed "Guinness is Good for You".

When the Guinness clock was built in Central London in 1931, "Guinness Time" posters started showing up in cities around the world. 

Designer John Gilroy made Guinness Posters from the 1930s to 1960s, his "Guinness For Strength" posters were so popular, people began ordering Guinness by asking for a Girder.

Gilroy also designed the famous "My Goodness My Guinness" posters, which featured a hapless zookeeper and his whimsical, thieving animals. This series is among the best-known graphic art of the 20th century.

The iconic Toucan appeared in 1935, and became a token icon of Guinness well-through the 1950s. 

Pure Genius was the creation of agency Oglivy and Mather in the 1980s, an idea so strong that they were told to run with it on the spot.

Personally, I hope Guinness returns to the illustrative style of advertising. It's uniquely theirs. But no one can deny the majestic power of the image of a well-poured Guinness. I have faith, that whatever direction they go, it'll probably be brilliant.