5 Examples Of Memorable Billboards

March 26th, 2024

By: Valentina Baker

Spotify

Surreal Cereal

1. These billboards from Surreal Cereal strike the perfect balance of comedy, cleverness, and eye-catching design – the three essential ingredients for capturing attention in advertising. Leveraging household names without hefty payouts typical for smaller companies, they boldly display the name in eye-catching bold print, prompting viewers to wonder, "Is this really Serena Williams' favorite cereal?" The addition of a disclaimer at the bottom adds a touch of humor and legal precaution. I encountered one of these ads in the New York subway, and it immediately grabbed my attention, lingering in my memory whenever I think of clever billboard campaigns.

Oatly

2. I've long been a fan of Oatley's ads. As a pioneer in alternative milk, their marketing team excels at employing witty wordplay to captivate audiences – often with minimal imagery, relying solely on their product. For instance, their ad stating, "You actually read this? Total Success," humorously acknowledges the challenge of grabbing consumers' attention. It leaves passersby curious about the brand behind such snarky yet clever marketing. I also appreciate how Oatley's ads seamlessly blend into their surroundings, often painted onto building exteriors in bold, oversized letters, creating visually appealing displays compared to standard billboards.

Guinness

3. This Guinness billboard is a stroke of genius both visually and in terms of copywriting. Shaped like a colossal pint of beer, it's bound to turn heads. To further engage viewers, it incorporates a "hangman" style guessing game, cleverly playing on the word "Guess," which is a part of "Guinness" as well. Not only is this a visually striking billboard, but the text enhances the visual impact with a very clever and creative play on words, coupled with creating a larger-than-life ad that seems to leap out of the billboard space in three dimensions – which is always an exciting sight in itself and will get people to read/be interested in what you have to say and your brand, creating impact that will stay in their minds.

Kit Kat

4. This Kit Kat ad brilliantly showcases the brand's product without explicitly stating what it is. By featuring something universally familiar – a calendar schedule – and cleverly inserting Kit Kat bars to fill the lines, it emphasizes their "It's time for a Kit Kat break" campaign. This approach is both visually appealing and relatable, conveying a message with minimal words while remaining highly memorable. It's the kind of ad that may evoke laughter or prompt viewers to crave a Kit Kat from the nearest corner shop, ensuring they won't forget this clever advertisement.

Seconds Apart

5. Ads that tug at heartstrings are an effective way to capture attention, often prompting people to take photos of or with them, and subsequently share it on social media – providing excellent exposure for the brand. One such example, put up by "Seconds Apart," features a simple inspirational quote that stands out and can brighten someone's day. Such ads offer comfort and humility, steering away from the intrusive "in your face" sales pitches/ads we encounter daily. They encourage people to pause, appreciate, and foster a sense of trust in the brand. Additionally, they create memorable experiences that can uplift the spirits of commuters.