Top-notch Outdoor Advertisements: A Compilation of 50 Striking Billboard Ideas
Brash billboards can catch your eye, commanding attention with larger-than-life design, witty copy, and novel formats. Although TV commercials might boast additional audio support, the standout visual impact of billboards ensures a long-lasting impression. Leveraging big screens, these out-of-home ads can make a real impact through bold imagery, clever phrases, or groundbreaking static formats.
01. The Lightbulb Spectacle
In 2005, BBDO crafted an impressive 3D billboard ad featuring motion sensor technology. As people strolled by, a giant light bulb would light up, gaining widespread attention and exposure across social media channels. "It's an original take on the lightbulb idea, which has been repeated numerous times but remained uniquely effective through its interactive element," notes designer Mathew John. The brilliant use of color, clean design, and 3D appearance made it more noticeable than the average, busy ads of the time.
02. Specsavers' Jovial Mistake
To celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2022, Specsavers launched a guerrilla-style marketing campaign featuring minimalist billboard posters erroneously placed over frames on buildings, ladders, and other unexpected spots. "They have proven to be effective via humor, continuing the running gag while maintaining their signature style," says creative Ciara Stonley of agency syn.
03. River Action's Poisionous Poo-Sodden Notes
Due to launch in 2024, River Action's charity ad aimed to call attention to the issue of water companies profiting while polluting the UK's rivers. Production involved collecting polluted water from major rivers and mixing it with sewage to create poop-sodden water used for soaking £50 notes, serving as a poignant message about the state of UK waterways. According to Uncharted creative Laura Jordan Bambach, managing the safety of the team and the efficiency of the process presented challenges. However, the end result sparked a significant protest in London just one week later.
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04. Go Compare's Self-Defacement
Dare, an advertising agency, orchestrated an amusing campaign for insurance comparison site GoCompare, playing off public disdain for the brand's curly-moustache opera singer character, Gio Compario. The campaign showcased Gio belting out tunes while defacing his own posters in a witty example of an "accidental fail" campaign that left audiences chuckling.
05. BBC's Golden Cloak Award
As the UK's series of The Traitors gained momentum, the BBC responded with a clever billboard ad in London, awarding standout villain Linda the 'Golden Cloak Award' for her dramatic performances. The billboard captures a shared moment in entertainment, promoting the show while also providing amusement for viewers in-the-know.
06. Twister's Damaged Spectacle
Warner Bros created an intriguing billboard for the sequel to the 1996 film, Twister. The billboard, showcased in Paris, claimed to have been destroyed by a twister, offering an attention-grabbing photo opportunity and social media coverage. "This is a perfect example of a 'pay close attention' moment in marketing," a keen observer remarked on X, and we couldn't agree more.
07. NASA's 3D Experience
NASA embraced the latest technology for its 3D billboard, offering an incredible spectacle showcasing the journey of space exploration. Installed outside the Kennedy Space Center, the billboard boasts a towering display screen and intricate frames, with 6.1 million pixels used to create a 6-minute long, imaginal experience. The brilliant blend of art and technology garnered attention in our coverage, NASA's 3D billboard is out of this world.
08. Gymshark's Interactive Campaign
The athletic apparel brand Gymshark showcased its ingenuity in interactive marketing through this billboard, offering real items pinned to the structure for passers-by to nab, teasing a sale promotion in a daring and entertaining way.
09. Surreal's Laughable Cereal Ads
Breakfast brand Surreal revamped the traditional cereal box marketing with a series of humorous, yet atrocious billboard ads that poke fun at post-Christmas fitness fads. Despite the playful design, complete with basic WordArt and typos, the campaign managed to leave a lasting impression. Surreal's rebellious campaign proved that defying the rules can lead to refreshing personality for a brand.
10. Dracula's Sinister Billboard
This ingenious ad promotion for the BBC's adaptation of Dracula featured bloodstakes protruding from the billboard during the day, while transforming into a shadowy likeness of Dracula at night with a well-placed light. This intricate design is sure to catch the eye.
11. KFC's Ikea Prank
Fasting food chain KFC played a clever trick on consumers by setting up billboards mimicking furniture store Ikea's logo. The location was quite fittingly known as "Where the Ikea is," leading enthusiastic social media banter with the furniture store.
12. Corona's Sun-Reactive Billboard
This billboard campaign for beer brand Corona exemplifies the use of natural elements in advertising. By taking advantage of sunlight, the ad displays a message containing the brand name and using the light to cast a shadow of a beer bottle. The simple yet ingenious design highlights the brand's association with the natural world.
13. Adidas' Underwater Billboard
This impressive ocean-dropped billboard from Adidas offers a unique swim experience, complete with diving opportunities to promote women's swimming. The campaign successfully grabs attention through an interactive and thought-provoking approach.
14. Rust's Gradual Transformation
Heimat's billboard for Tyrolit's Iceline knife range demonstrates the power of time in advertising. Initially, a sheet of metal displays only the brand's logo, but within a few weeks, it becomes covered in rust, leaving only the outline of a knife untouched. The memorable tagline "Flawless. Forever" drives home the product's staying power.
15. Wave of Waste
Corona and Wieden + Kennedy created a moving billboard advertisement campaign for World Oceans Day in 2018. Artist Andy Billette sculpted a 3D "wave" made from ocean pollution, highlighting the severity of plastic waste affecting our oceans. The interactive initiative invited passers-by to drop off their own waste at the site.
16. Who is America?
Sacha Baron Cohen's TV series "Who is America?" roped in Belgian advertising agency Happiness to create a provocative billboard campaign for BeTV. Walls adorned with barbed wire and resembling Mexican restaurant exteriors highlighted the show's controversial and divisive themes.
17. McDrive's cheeky Billboards
Taking advantage of the higher number of McDonald's drive-through restaurants in France, agency Cossette and Spencer & Jordan teamed up for the Follow the Arches campaign. The billboards deconstruct the iconic golden arches into directional symbols to guide drivers to the nearest McDonald's.
18. Reebok ZPump 2.0's Speed Test
Swedish agency Animal came up with an innovative way to generate buzz for Reebok's new running shoes. A speed camera was set up on a busy street in Stockholm, challenging runners to beat a specific pace and claim a free pair of ZPump 2.0 shoes.
19. Coca-Cola's Eco-Friendly Recycling Billboard
Publicis Italia's ad campaign for Coca-Cola encouraged recycling by transforming the iconic ribbon design into arrows pointing passers-by towards recycling bins. The ads raised questions about the company's environmental impact, sparking ongoing discussions.
20. Air-Ink
Air-ink, an innovative ink created from air pollution, recruited artist Kristopher Ho for a billboard campaign in London's Shaftesbury Avenue. The billboard allowed passers-by to appreciate art made from pollution, drawing attention to the concept behind the project.
21. McDrive vs Burger King
In an effort to capitalize on McDonald's having more drive-through restaurants in France, TBWA\Paris orchestrated a clever campaign comparing the ease of reaching a McDonald's to a distant Burger King location.
22. The Human Billboard
Leo Burnett France and Le CRAN used a unique form of advertising to draw attention to the harmful effects of racist language. Racial slurs were etched onto a man's body, transforming him into a "human billboard." The message emphasized the long-lasting impact of such language.
23. Unitech's Lego Buildings
The Unitech billboard, designed by JWT New Delhi, stands out with colossal Lego buildings promoting a gated community at Karma Lakelands in India. The ingenious use of 3D sculptures demonstrates the unique architectural designs of the development project.
24. IBM's Carnival Billboard
Ogilvy, the advertising agency, partnered with IBM for a billboard campaign that combined art, technology, and everyday necessities. The ad showcased bathroom fixtures, water taps, and electrical outlets that provide power, water, and Wi-Fi, raising awareness about Smart Cities initiatives.
25. Lego's Bus Stop Art
Lego approached bus stops in a fun and creative way by commissioning Lego artist Nicholas "Blackbulb" Foo to design intricate murals. The projections appear to come alive as people and animals walk through the scenes.
26. Leica's 12X Optical Zoom Illusion
The team at Advico Young & Rubicam showcased Leica's 12x optical zoom capabilities by displaying images of objects on billboards, creating the illusion that they are much closer than they appear in reality.
27. OBI's Adhesive Billboards
OBI opted for a more impactful and memorable approach by positioning ads on dilapidated buildings instead of traditional billboards. The campaign aimed to demonstrate OBI's ability to create beautiful homes from unattractive ones.
28. McDonald's Price Comparison
DDB Stockholm orchestrated a billboard campaign for McDonald's in Norway and Sweden, highlighting price differences between the two countries. The billboards pointed out cheaper prices on the Swedish side of the border, drawing attention to the cost-effectiveness of the brand's products.
29. British Airways' Real-Time Flight Tracker
This innovative billboard, designed by Ogilvy, tracked flights in real-time and displayed a child holding a flight map, pointing towards the nearest airport. The captivating design awakens the excitement of traveling.
30. Oreo's Centennial Celebration
To commemorate Oreo's 100th anniversary, The Martin Agency and Brand New School created an engaging billboard exhibit in Times Square, showcasing a visual tapestry of 100-year-long Oreo history.
31. Formula Toothcare's Broken Billboard
This powerful billboard advertisement from Colenso BBDO warned about the dangers of tooth decay by portraying broken teeth on its surface. The lifelike visuals draw attention to the importance of good dental hygiene.
32. BMW's Halo Illumination
Posterscope created an illuminating outdoor advertising campaign for BMW i3, using Halo lighting and custom billboards to emphasize the car's sleek, futuristic design. The intention was to emphasize the vehicle's uniqueness and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
33. Orphea's Insect Trap Billboard
This billboard, designed by Soulful Creative, raises awareness about insect pollution by capturing various types of insects, displayed through a transparent glue on the billboard.
- A photographer's eye captured the vibrant colors and creative layout of the BBDO's 3D billboard, effectively turning heads in the art and design world.
- The poster contest for the upcoming 3D animation film showcased winning designs from local artists, highlighting the fusion of UX, animation, and design elements.
- The recent exhibition showcasing the illustrious Lifestyle Magazine's photography collection at home-and-garden stores drew in art enthusiasts seeking inspiration for their own homes.
- A painter's workspace featured software such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, crucial tools in the dynamic process of creating captivating art and imagery.
- In an effort to make a statement about climate change, several UI and UX designers came together to create a thought-provoking poster campaign highlighting the alarming consequences of plastic waste.
- The street artist's hand-painted mural of a colorful abstract scene added a pop of art to an otherwise dull office building, bringing a new energy to the local community.
- The designer's home office had a layout filled with design books, a sketchpad, and mood boards, inspiring a blend of creativity, organization, and functionality.
- The gallery displaying works by local designers attracted design enthusiasts who couldn't get enough of the sleek furniture, captivating layouts, and innovative design concepts.
- Poster presentations at the annual art conference featured exciting artwork from students across various disciplines like photography, painting, and graphic design.
- The art teacher introduced her pupils to the world of design, illustrating how elements of color, typography, and layout come together to create visually appealing and impactful billboards.
