The amount of creativity and thought you put into an advertising campaign speaks wonders of your brand. Design and copywriting wise, there are thousands of amazing advertising ideas and campaigns that serve as inspiration if you’re really looking for it.
But first, before you even start thinking about your next campaign, you need to know your goals:
Know your goals. What purpose is your campaign going to fulfill? Visibility, awareness, traffic to your site, branding. Ask yourself what kind of impact do you want to cause.
Now, let’s dive into the 50 of the Most Creative Advertising Ideas of 2019 and All Time that’ll really get that inspiration motor running.
1. KFC | Hot & Spicy for KFC Hong Kong
Tips: This amazing print AD launched in April 2018 is pure concept and visuals. Just one look at it, and you know its KFC and it’s hot & spicy. It’s all in the branding efforts, your audience should know who talking from the first moment.
2. McDonald’s | McDelivery 2019
Tips: This ad launched in February 2019. Don’t want to leave your warm, cozy home during a rainy day? McDelivery’s got you. This is what an amazing idea, concept and overall art direction does with an idea. Try it out! Create new visuals and get inspired by the things you see every day.
3. McDonald’s | Good Moments for Everyone 2019
Tips: On the verge of Pride Month, McDonald’s rolls out this print ad for McDonald’s Belgium, published in May 2019. Just goes to show that you can showcase your product as a concept overall. In this example, with just the packaging of McDonald’s fast food, they created an ad that speaks about the product and also real-time events.
4. Greenpeace Canada | Don’t Such the Life from Our Oceans
Tips: If you are looking to communicate something about awareness, don’t be afraid to be in-the-face. In this example, the impressive concept of showing how plastic straws are killing off many species in the oceans. Visually, it is an ad that communicates oh, so strongly. It’s basically a punch in the face.
5. Kiwi | Greatness Starts with a First Ste
Tips: An Ad created for Kiwi with the concept of “adventure starts with a first step”, reminds us of the greatest, most courageous characters of all time. Goes to show that copy, doesn’t always have to be short, but it has to be on point. Copy can also play an artistic roll in your Ads, use it to your advantage.
6. WWF | Sharks
Tips: If you have something to say, say it in the most surprising way possible. Don’t be afraid to go all the way. In this case, WWF is communicating that exploiting the ecosystem will also affect human lives. Visually amazing and the idea? On point.
7. Volkswagen | Precision Parking
Tips: Look for other elements that can create a visual cohesion, your product is not always the star. In this example, an ad from Volkswagen sought out to show you how good their precision parking is, with no cars in the ad.
8. Lego | Build the Future
Tips: Create an “umbrella concept” for your brand and you’ll have ideas pour in. Under Lego’s concept “imagine” they created an amazing campaign about what kids can imagine and build the future based off of it.
9. FedEx | China- Australia
Tips: Fedex wants to let you know that they can easily deliver to anywhere in the world with this fun, witty print ad. Try crafting something like this for your next campaign, especially if you are an international brand. How are you serving your international customers?
10. Keloptic | “Turning impressionism into hyperrealism”
Tips: How good is your product? Can you communicate it in a fun way? What resources that are already out in the world can you use to make it happen? With this ad from Keloptic, the idea is conceptualized brilliantly and gives great value to the product.
11. NESCAFE | It all starts with a Nescafe
Tips: Take your idea to the next step and apply your product in a creative way.
12. Burger King Switzerland | Open over Easter – 2019
Tips: When looking to bring awareness to a certain event your brand is going to take part in, it is brilliant to do it like Burger King has done for Easter in Switzerland.
13. McDonald’s | Say No More 2019
Tips: If your brand has strong visuals, what more is there left to say? Nothing. In this Example from March 2019 from McDonalds Puerto Rico, we all know the colors, and the idea behind this is that you don’t really need the full picture. With McDonald’s, you know what you want and where to get it.
14. The Economist | Lightbulb
Tips: How can you bring your concept out into the world? In September 2005, the economist launched this amazing billboard campaign, with an interactive billboard that lit up as you walked past.
15. Oreo | Wonderfilled
Tips: This is an Outdoor campaign for Oreos, which showcases custom illustrations with a fun witty concept that speaks “Oreos” from any perspective you look at it. How can you light up your branding efforts with different design techniques?
16. IKEA | Assembly Fail
Tips: Ikea has a way to cleverly inform you that they have an assembly service. If your brand has other services apart from your regular product. Is there some way you can creatively communicate it in a visually appealing way? We bet you can!
17. Animal Protection Denmark | Industrial Chickens Don’t Get Fresh Air
Tips: Play with literacy. This is a campaign from February 2019 and it is what it is. However, the element is what makes it truly unique. Still, a punch in the neck that created awareness.
18. Danish Road Safety Council | Unsharp Campaign
Tips: Where else can you take your ads? In this brilliant example, this campaign spreads awareness about taking the bus if you’ve been drinking. The design showcases how a person under the influence may potentially visualize the bus.
19. Wimbledon | History is there to be Beaten
Tips: Don’t be afraid to get vintage and classic with your ads, this hand-drawing of Serena and the copy are brilliant for Wimbledon 2018.
20. IKEA | Ikea Real Life- May 2019
Tips: A smart example of cross-referencing and implementing your product in relevant scenarios. Here, you can see this brilliant ambient campaign for IKEA, which shows famous family rooms and how you can also get yours.
21. Women’s Aid | Look At Me
Tips: Can you make an interactive billboard campaign? Here, Women’s Aid’s created an interactive and digital campaign. Those who look at the billboard are given feedback via a live feed placed at the bottom of the image, as a horizontal line.
22. Stabilo Boss | Highlight the Remarkable
Tips: Can your brand look back in time and find something you can “highlight” and bring into the spotlight? Stabilo Boss’s winning idea from June 2018, highlights the remarkable.
23. Head n’ Shoulders | Dandruff makes you look Stupid 2019
Tips: How insightful can your brand get? Have you looked for those hidden truths that your brand can talk about? Head n Shoulders took brilliant characters and made them seem “stupid” because they scratch their head due to dandruff.
24. Volkswagen | Think Small (Classic Tire)
Tips: DDB retakes this amazing campaign that was “think small” from Volkwagen and lets their audience know that they can get classic parts.
25. NIKE | It’s just a Bus Stop
Tips: You can make use of your environment to input your product out in the world. Like Nike did in this amazing ad “it’s just a bus stop”, or is it?
26. Pepsi | Dare for more
Tips: Another idea in which the brand takes its visuals into the outdoor. In this one, Pepsi finds its logo in the outdoor ocean, under the concept of “dare for more”.
27. Coca Cola | Try not to hear this
Tips: When your branding game is so on point you can make your audience hear the ads, without sound. A classic example of how Coca Cola can make you experience sensory without, the actual sensory.
28. Coca Cola | Coke Coffee 2019
Tips: Minimal design which communicates just what it needs. Less is more.
29. Safernet Brazil | Suicide Searches
Tips: When creating campaigns for awareness, the cruder and real the facts are, the better. If you want to bring social visibility upon a certain subject or situation, try different approaches, like for example, the search it gets.
30. Lego | Classic Paintings
Tips: Do you know what this cross-referencing is from Lego? They took famous paintings and built them to be “imagined” with Legos. Brilliant!
31. Apple | Shot on
Tips: What’s the best way to showcase your product value than with just putting into practice. Apple’s iconic “shot on” campaign, goes to show how amazing photos can be taken with just the iPhone.
32. Reebok | Shape your Style
Tips: Explore illustration and vintage type design for your next campaign. Like Reebok in this May 2012 print campaign that tells you that you can shape your style anyway you like.
33. Starbucks | Starbucks and
Tips: How many things can you do with your Logo? Make it iconic, for example. Like Starbucks on this very minimalistic campaign.
34. IKEA | Steps
Tips: How can I get to your store? Well… Literally, like this.
35. Wendy’s | Re-opening
Tips: Another example of how you can “very literally” play with your Logo and you’re already existing visuals. Play around with your brand, make witty advertising like this one from Wendy’s.
36. HEINZ Ketchup | Slices
Tips: What’s a better way to communicate “natural & fresh”? Yeah, from this we can tell that Heinz Ketchup is made from really amazing & good-looking tomatoes. Brilliant.
37. HEINZ Ketchup | When it Goes Wrong
Tips: Don’t be afraid to make those big ideas pop with great design and aesthetics. What happens when a good recipe goes wrong? You fix it with Heinz Ketchup, obviously. It’s insightful and on point.
38. BBC | Connect with the World
Tips: Take your design outdoors along with a great idea and make something like BBC’s “connect with the world” campaign.
39. Calgary Farmer’s Market | Open All Winter
Tips: Think about how you can communicate in a visually cohesive and minimal way. Farmer’s Market’s way of doing this was to knit some cozy clothes on their produce to let you know, they will definitely be available during winter.
40. LAY’S | Sardines
Tips: Ask your audience in a funny way, how they can exactly cooperate with your brand through advertising. In this example, Lay’s cleverly asks what new, crazy flavors you can come up with.
41. Pringles | Rice Bowl
Tips: Are you trying something different with your brand? This is a brilliant example for Pringles Japan (which is known for crazy, different flavors).
42. KFC | 100% Real Chicken
Tips: Communicate your product’s value by “passive agressively” comparing it to your competition. In this case, KFC’s preaches that their chicken is actually chicken. Not like other brands’ nuggets. Ehem, McDonald’s.
43. LEVI’S | Tough as Your Spirit
Tips: What makes your audience stand out from the crowd? Levi’s “go forth” campaign is a true example of how they portray their own product value and Levi’s lovers at the same time.
44. VOLKSWAGEN | Sightseeing
Tips: Much like Apple’s “shot on…” campaign. Volkswagen shows you the great quality on their rearview camera.
45. HEINEKEN | Concert
Tips: Beer is fun and so are music festivals. If your product or brand has a specific niche, show this value in a creative way!
46. KIT KAT | Break the Speed
Tips: An example of how great design doesn’t need much explaining, actually. Kit Kat preaches to take a break and so does this campaign.
47. KIT KAT | Take a Break
Tips: We love Kit Kat, that’s why we’re going to add another one of their campaigs that shows their strong visual ideas. Find the clown!
48. FRONTLINE | Get them off your dog
Tips: Try thinking about how your next campaign can be input into different scenarios and how it can work together to bring your ad to life. This is a great example of visual interactiveness.
49. PEDIGREE | Book
Tips: Look for insights! Like Pedigree’s truthfully amazing campaign on how kid’s move away, but they are replaced by loving pets.
50. DURACELL | Times Change Power Doesn’t
Tips: If you got great copy and design, you’ll get anyone to read it. Like this ad from Duracell. The concept speaks for itself.
BONUS:
51. POST-IT | Bright Ideas
Tips: Ask yourself how you can communicate visually. If you can come up with an image that best describes your brand, you got your next ad.
52. Burger King | Always Better with Fire
Tips: Never be afraid to look for different design and illustration options which will bring great value to your ads.
Get inspired! Don’t forget to always be searching for references and how you can transform ideas to make them your own. Create a board filled with amazing ads, color palettes, fonts, tone, and then you’re ready to start brainstorming your next big advertising campaign.
So there you have it. 50 of the most creative advertising campaigns out there! Who says, that in the future, your brand will make it to our list too? Stay creative!
