occupy wall street

Building the Brand: Grading Occupy Wall Street Protest Signs

Protesters shout slogans while holding banners after marching to the courthouse where the trial for Michael Jackson's doctor continues on October 3, 2011 in Los Angeles. They say they are inspired by revolutions in the Middle East, but protests over economic grievances in Spain and elsewhere in Europe are a closer comparison as anti-corporate demonstrations spread across the United States. As the Occupy Wall Street protest entered its third week Monday, it is being taken more seriously with similar sit-in demonstrations popping up from Boston to Chicago and Los Angeles and this week the New York protest expects to swell with support from trade unions. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN/2011 AFP

There’s certainly been no shortage of catchy slogans at the Occupy Wall Street demonstration, but perhaps not surprisingly for an activist collective where no one is really in charge, the quality has been inconsistent to say the least. To apply some professional gloss to the revolutionary messaging, we asked Mallory Blair, the head of a public relations company, and an executive from a Madison Avenue ad agency to give some signage tips to the 99 percent. The ad man asked to remain anonymous on the off chance that his capitalist clients might not approve of giving aid and comfort to the enemy, but trust us, when it comes to crafting signs and slogans, both of these people are pros.

Building the Brand: Grading Occupy Wall Street Protest Signs