Breaking The Rules for Good

1987 Print Ad

Back then, it became clear that both condoms and clean needles were essential in preventing the spread of AIDS in America. Unfortunately, it was illegal to advertise a condom, let alone distribute clean needles. Nonetheless, we airbrushed out the brand name and ran this ad anyway. We thought the silhouette of the condom might be mistaken for a UFO or a graduation hat, but we think most people recognized it. As far as we know, this was the first time a condom had ever appeared in an ad in the US. (And as for any legal issues, we must have got one over on the authorities.)