American advertising executive and copywriter, a pioneer of the subtle, low-pressure advertising that became a hallmark of the agency he helped found, Doyle Dane Bernbach, Inc. The firm quickly became one of the most influential in the business, and Bernbach’s approach to advertising copy was widely adopted.
Background
Bernbach was the son of a clothing designer, and as a boy he was interested in art and wrote verse. He was educated in New York public schools and earned a B.A. degree from New York University. His first job was in the mail room of Schenley Distillers. While there, he wrote an advertisement for Schenley and sent it unsolicited to the advertising department. In due course the ad was recognized as having merit, but its origin had been lost. It was inserted—verbatim—in The New York Times. Bernbach saw the ad and quickly claimed authorship to Schenley’s chairman, Lewis Rosenstiel, who gave him an immediate salary increase and transferred him to the advertising department. He worked for other agencies and began to develop an interest in advertising graphics.
After U.S. Army service in World War II, Bernbach joined Grey Advertising as a copywriter, and it was there that he met Ned Doyle. The two joined forces with Maxwell Dane in 1949 to form Doyle Dane Bernbach. Their first account was a bargain department store in need of a new image. Bernbach’s campaign created a fashionable, sophisticated image and made the store’s name, Ohrbach’s, a watchword. One of his most successful campaigns was for Volkswagen automobiles: “Think small.” He turned the Avis car rental company’s second rank in its industry into an asset by claiming that Avis “tries harder.” A writer from the start, Bernbach was in charge of the agency’s creative activities, aiming always to create advertising that was fresh and original. For years he alone approved each campaign before it was presented to a client.
After stepping down as president of Doyle Dane Bernbach in 1967, Bernbach assumed the position of chairman of the board, and later chairman of the executive committee, a position he held at his death in 1982.
Education
Bernbach studies in art, philosophy, and business administration that would serve him well during his career.
Career
After U.S. Army service in World War II, Bernbach joined Grey Advertising as a copywriter, and it was there that he met Ned Doyle. The two joined forces with Maxwell Dane in 1949 to form Doyle Dane Bernbach. Their first account was a bargain department store in need of a new image. Bernbach’s campaign created a fashionable, sophisticated image and made the store’s name, Ohrbach’s, a watchword. One of his most successful campaigns was for Volkswagen automobiles: “Think small.” He turned the Avis car rental company’s second rank in its industry into an asset by claiming that Avis “tries harder.” A writer from the start, Bernbach was in charge of the agency’s creative activities, aiming always to create advertising that was fresh and original. For years he alone approved each campaign before it was presented to a client.
Bernbach's love of philosophy inevitably led to his study of human motivation. He realized that emotions such as love, hate, greed, hope, fear, etc., drove people to action and he tried to apply these emotions to his advertising in order to get the reader's attention.
Quotations:
"I warn you against believing that advertising is a science." -- Bill Bernbach
"Rules are what the artist breaks; the memorable never emerged from a formula." -- Bill Bernbach
"Advertising doesn't create a product advantage. It can only convey it." -- Bill Bernbach
"Logic and over-analysis can immobilize and sterilize an idea. It's like love -- the more you analyze it, the faster it disappears." -- Bill Bernbach
"There are few things more destructive than an unsound idea persuasively expressed." -- Bill Bernbach
"Research can trap you into the past." -- Bill Bernbach
Membership
Member Urban Design Council of New York City. Member board overseers Graduate School Business, New York University. Member of advisory board Library of Congress Center for the Book.
Named Man of Year Pulse, Inc., 1966. Member Copywriters Hall of Fame. Member American Association Advertising Agilysys (vice-president, director.
Clubs: New York University Alumni, City Athletic.
Connections
Married Evelyn Carbone, June 5, 1938. Children: John Lincoln, Paul.
Father:
Jacob Bernbach
Mother:
Rebecca Bernbach
Wife(1938- 1982 ):
Evelyn Carbone
Bernbach married Evelyn Carbone on June 5, 1938. They had two sons, John Lincoln and Paul.
