Recession Billboards

Some new billboards around town are taking an optimistic approach to our nation's economy.

Charlie Robb, Charchin Creative: "I think they do really make people think. And that's what it's really all about."

Think what you want about the recession, but small signs of optimism are popping up all over the Hub City.

Robb: "People sometimes tend to overreact, and this is sort of a, hey, wait a minute, we will get through this."

You'll see them off US 87, off Clovis Road, even near the airport -- ten in total. The boards are part of the nationwide 'Recession 101' campaign. It's an attempt to bring a reality check to folks overwhelmed by an ailing economy.

Robb: "We've been through a lot of recessions. They happen all the time, and we always get through them. People were kind of forgetting that part of the equation on this most recent recession."

Creative director Charlie Robb says the idea was elementary between him and his co-designer.

Robb: "Recession 101 would be the title, and then there'd be all these one-liner things, and he goes, oh i got it! And he reaches over and picks up a notebook. And he goes, this is the look. And it was like, bang. That's what did it. At that point, I knew that was going to be the campaign.

The message is simple, but you'll never know who is spreading the message. The man behind the idea hired the advertising agency to create the campaign on one condition: That he remain anonymous.

Robb: "His point of view was this a public service thing that I want to do. And I don't believe in getting notierity for public service. You're not supposed to be recognized for it, you're just supposed to do it."

Some say the boards are insensitive, even inappropriate. But mostly, they're garnering positive feedback, even a few laughs.

Robb: "One of my favorites was the 'Don't switch to cheaper scotch, drink slower.' Hopefully the economy will bounce back and we won't need this billboard campaign any longer, but that remains to be seen."