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Leisure, Lifestyle

40 Creative Ads That Will Inspire You

Written by Savannah Marie
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Advertising is often very difficult, but fortunately there are many different strategies to creating the perfect ad. In the age of image-based social media and infographics, many businesses are focusing their ads around a single large image meant to draw viewers in. Others are taking a slightly modified approach to traditional advertising. Instead of telling consumers why they need a product, they’re showing them.

Some businesses are literally turning the world upside-down with their ads. These ads encourage people to reflect on the world around them, so it will stick with them long after they see it. Here are 40 of the most creative advertisements out there. Hopefully these will inspire you to launch your own perfect ad campaign.

1. Panasonic Nose Hair Trimmers

This ad literally thinks outside the box. It also uses natural city surroundings – telephone wires – and seamlessly incorporates them into the ad.

nose

    2. Colgate Floss

    Many people don’t

    floss everyday but they definitely will if they have food stuck in their teeth. Colgate uses this knowledge for their ad.colgate

      3. Frontline

      This is an example of an interactive ad where the people around it actually become a part of it. The ad was on the lower floor of a shopping mall. From upper floors the people looked like fleas.

      frontline

        4. Adidas

        Bigger isn’t always better but the size of this ad allows it to be seen from pretty far down the road. The ad, which appeared near the Munich airport, also shows that you don’t have to be confined to a traditional billboard with highway advertisements.

        adidas

          5. IKEA Assembly Service

          This ad is big, bold and makes perfect sense when you see the URL. It shows just what can happen if you don’t use the company’s assembly services.

          ikea

            6. Heineken

            Heineken uses a 3D Bilboard to make it look like there is a hand grabing for the bottle.

            hein

              7. NHS Smokefree

              NHS Smokefree is a U.K.-based organization dedicated to helping people quit smoking. It can be hard to design a creative anti-drug ad but the guy on a fishing hook in this ad definitely grabs your attention.

              40 Creative Ads That Will Inspire You

                8. Garnier

                The caption on this Swiss ad translates to “for any hair type.” You have to admit the optical illusion is pretty cool.

                garnier

                  9. National Agency for the Fight Against Illiteracy in France

                  This ad cleverly draws readers in with bright red text and a bikini-clad model, but then it takes a serious turn.

                  bikini

                    10. Whiskas

                    Whiskas’ ad agency, Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, took photo of George Logan and inserted an adorable picture of a running cat. It’s sure to appeal to animal lovers.

                    40 Creative Ads That Will Inspire You

                      11.  Nivea Night

                      This ad for Nivea’s night cream is clean, catches your attention, and uses nothing but the actual product.

                      nivea

                        12. Guinness

                        This ad from Guinness is another creative and effective anti-drug ad. It shows how your reaction time slows significantly when you drink and drive.

                        guiness

                          13. British Airways

                          This electronic ad from British Airways will tell you which plane is flying overhead. 

                          british

                            14. Denver Water

                            This ad for conservation practices what it preaches. 

                            denver

                              15. The Economist

                              This billboard from The Economist is another great interactive one. The bulb lights up when a person walks under it.

                              40 Creative Ads That Will Inspire You

                                16. Jobsintown.de

                                This ad for a German job search company cleverly blends into its surroundings.

                                jobsintown

                                  17. Tampax

                                  This ad for feminine hygiene products says a lot without even saying anything.

                                  40 Creative Ads That Will Inspire You

                                    18. Nescafe

                                    This ad for a coffee company shows just how fast some caffeine can get you up and running. 

                                    nescafe

                                      19. Coffee Inn

                                      Speaking of coffee ads, this one is pretty memorable.

                                      coffee

                                        20. Careerbuilder.com

                                        Career Builder’s ad is less optimistic than the German company’s. However, it makes sense for a country still on the mend from a recession.

                                        40 Creative Ads That Will Inspire You

                                          21. Johnny Walker

                                          This ad plays on a popular whiskey brand name.

                                          jonnie

                                            22. Unicef

                                            This ad from Unicef shows just how marginalized impoverished children can be. The caption says “Don’t Ignore Me.”

                                            40 Creative Ads That Will Inspire You

                                              23. Viagra

                                              You’ll never look at light switches the same way after seeing this ad.

                                              VIGARA

                                                24. Eskom

                                                This is another conservation ad that speaks volumes.

                                                eskom

                                                  25. Kill Bill

                                                  This ad in New Zealand actually incorporates nearby cars.

                                                  kill bill

                                                    26. Hard Rock Cafe

                                                    This ad might not make sense if you don’t know the song.

                                                    hard rock

                                                      27. Australian Post

                                                      This one takes personalization to a whole new level.

                                                      australian

                                                        28. WWF

                                                        Even small donations can help save wildlife.

                                                        WWF gir

                                                          29. Mr. Pepper Hot

                                                          This really shows how hot the candy is.

                                                          pepper hot

                                                            30. Naval Museum of Alberta

                                                            Notice how this one blends in with the billboard.

                                                            alberta

                                                              31. Saveourclimate.ca

                                                              This multi-part ad is simple but speaks volumes.

                                                              cba

                                                                32. 12 Keys

                                                                This ad shows the dangerous effects of substance abuse on children.

                                                                more like you

                                                                  33. Kolstone

                                                                  The color for this hair dye ad changes throughout the day.

                                                                  kolstone

                                                                    34. Martor

                                                                    You have to look down to understand this ad.

                                                                    martor

                                                                      35. Hot Wheels

                                                                      Who remembers having one of these as a kid?

                                                                      hot wheels

                                                                        36. All State

                                                                        Location is everything in this ad.

                                                                        all state

                                                                          37. BBC World

                                                                          This ad really gives you a different perspective.

                                                                          bbc

                                                                            38. Oreo

                                                                            Oreo cookies meet Neil Armstrong in this historical ad.

                                                                            oreo

                                                                              39. Slimfast

                                                                              This ad is a twist on the traditional wedding cake topper.

                                                                              slim

                                                                                40. Evian

                                                                                This ad shows staying hydrated will help you feel young.

                                                                                evian

                                                                                  Which ads above are your favorite? Have we left any out?

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