How many billboards did you take a look during your walk or driving in your life? I’m sorry that I can’t remember many of them, but I sincerely believe that it’s not my problem, as the billboard itself should be great enough to attract me!

What makes a great billboard then? Or ask yourself a question, what can cause the drivers to endanger their lives to take a look at your billboards while they’re driving? Great billboard can answer this question well. It should be graphic-oriented, informative, interesting and most importantly, creative.

Sounds insane? Nah. There are just too many billboard ads that did it, and in this post I’m gonna bring up 40 billboard ads that are extremely creative and attention-grabbing. Once again, they gonna prove you that creativity has no boundaries, enjoy them all!

Anando Milk: Building

Considering every child lives in a world of fantasy, the idea was to exaggerate the benefit of milk into almost giving the child superhuman powers.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Australian Childhood Foundation: Invisible

A totally out of the box billboard poster created to dramatize the issue of neglect. You can even see the message ‘Thanks for seeing me’ on the wall, just in case that someone pulled out the plastic model.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Belt Up

The back seat’s no safer, belt up! Well-executed ad to get people feel what will happen during accident, if they do not belt up.

Image Source: Eat Liver

Bergey: Sky

A billboard produced by JWT agency from India, which implemented optical illusion to express the message, ‘Natural Finish Colours’, in a clear manner.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Bic Razor: Billboard

Sometimes you don’t need to explain how great your product is, just put a razor that ‘shaved’ the grass and the message is deadly clear!

Image Source: Ads Of The World

BMW: Checkmate

I won’t discuss if this is ethical, but really, I remembered Santa Monica BMW after the first time I saw this ad. After all, it’s funny and attention-grabbing!

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Calgary International Film Festival: Crying Billboard

Only the best firms make it. Best billboard ad that utilizes the water drop in a creative way.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Coca-Cola: Straw

Adding just a ladder to make this billboard ad extremely attractive, superb idea.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Coca-Cola: Straw, Poster version

Similar idea with previous ad but utilizes billboards beside it, I wonder what advertisers of those ads will think and act. Anyway, brilliant idea!

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Colorado State Patrol: Billboard Collision

Tailgating isn’t worth it, and you can feel this fact by just looking at this billboard ad.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Dairy Milk: Chocolate

Wanna explain how tasty your chocolate is? You don’t need to, just put a giant chocolate to make all passengers feel hungry.

Image Source: Jen44

DHL: Maze

For this gigantic 3D billboard, a small, red ball rolls from point A to B via the shortest route. After it finished the journey, it will be transported through an invisible conveyor belt within the billboard back to the top to begin the journey again. Again and again, yes, always the right way.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Donastos Pizza: Model

Had a fun time on this, a billboard ad that utilizes another billboard ad! I think I remembered Donastos Pizza very well, and you can see another Donastos ad that uses the same method.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Elm Grove Police Department: Slower is better

Probably a creative and, may be a scientific way to remind people that slower is better. There’s also Accident Bills version and Chance Of Crush version, enjoy these interesting variants!

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Ford Mustang: Burnout

“This billboard was showcased in Detroit, MI at the Woodward Dream Cruise, the world’s largest one-day automotive event. A smoke machine was installed behind the board, and every few minutes the rear wheel would spin, spewing smoke for the ultimate one-minute burnout.”

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Ford Mustang: Fast

How to express speed on billboard ad? Ford knows it very well. Constructed from GE Lexan EXL semi-transparent resin, the billboard accurately blurs the scene behind it regardless of day, weather or season.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Formula Toothcare: Bite

Build strong teeth that can tear off the metal, with Formula Toothcare! What I can say for this billboard is, totally creative!

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Frontline: Mall

“The insight – you may be close to your pet but totally blind to flea infestations. Huge 22 sq.meter stickers, across 3 malls crawling with people were used citywide to highlight their leading product range.”

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Heineken: 3D Billboard

A small touch of creativity can change the entire effect, and Heineken’s 3D billboard proved it.

Image Source: Creative Criminals

Hotwheels: Curl

Perfect execution for the brand, keep it rolling!

Image Source: Ads Of The World

International Campaign: Amnesty

The great awareness-raising method is to utilize sympathy. In this ad, the billboard has clearly illustrated the contrast of a peaceful world, and the world with the amnesty infested. Check out more versions, here and here.

Image Source: Dreamer7112

Jobsintown.de: Life’s Too Short For The Wrong Job

Well, a genius idea. Simply speechless.

Image Source: Mighty Optical Illusions

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Kolestron Naturals: Change

“This outdoor execution was strategically positioned on a promenade. It had an unspoiled view of the sea and skyline behind it. The woman’s hair is die-cut in the billboard to capture the variations of Kolestron’s Naturals’ colors through the different phase of the day and night.”

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Law And Order: Outdoor Lamp

Again, a small twist of creativity can change the entire ad. Simply brilliant.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Leica Binoculars: Brown Bear

Get Close. With the Ultravid from Leica.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Leica V-Lux 1: Ivy

Beautifully and brilliantly done. Leica has hired the right agency to do the right ads.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Maker’s Mark: Liquor

Winner of all liquor billboard ads. Absolutely unique.

Image Source: putzunow

Mars Chilled: Tongue

Great work on using 2 billboards to set up a creative ad that’s never seen before, and the lip is too great that it looks like 3D!

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Martor: Razor Blade

Extremely sharp razor blade, which can cut down the pigeon. Purely ingenious.

Image Source: hatalska.com

McDonald: Sundial Billboard

If you are creative enough, an ancient idea can help to build a creative billboard ad. Idea is everywhere.

Image Source: dsgnWrld

Nestle

Lovely and delicious at the same time.

Image Source: creativecriminal

Nike: Barge resistance

One of the principles to do attractive billboard ads is to defy the rule of the nature, and this billboard ad done by Nike is one of the best examples.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Penline Stationary: Strong Tape

No other tape advertisement can be better than this one, a tape that can stick up a billboard firmly.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Adidas: Petr Cech

To celebrate the opening of the EuroCup 2008 Adidas installed a 60m tall image of Petr Cech on the Prater Ferris wheel, the main tourist attraction in Vienna. Simply rocks, Adidas.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Quitplan: Big Butt

“Our Paul Bunyan sized cigarette should get Minnesotans thinking about quitting smoking in a really big way. With every trip back and forth to the cabin or the casino, smokers will be reminded that QUITPLAN.com is ready to help when they are ready to quit.”

Image Source: Clarity Coverdale Fury

Real Hip Hop: Black Power

A rocking billboard ad about rocking company, created by rocking agency. Totally rocks.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Red Cross: Optical Illusion Billboard

Liked this one, big and realistic enough to shock passengers, thus raising their awareness about amnesty.

Image Source: Mighty Optical Illusions

Regional Environmental Awareness: Swimming Pool

Well-placed creative ad that can add up the effect due to the environment, but viewing numbers might be an issue.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Serve: Escape

Perspective might be a little bit weird, but the idea is well-executed. Simply nice.

Image Source: Ads Of The World

The Comedy Channel: Naked

“Clothing was placed at bus shelters in conjunction with posters to promote the TV series The Power Of One, in which renowned Hypnotist Peter Powers got people to carry out outrageous tasks under hypnosis. An innovative form of typography was used in the poster to make the type appear to move.”

Image Source: Ads Of The World

Reflection

Overall, common techniques used in producing creative billboard ads are to make the ads defies the rule of nature, like Nike’s Barge resistance mentioned above, or make it as realistic as possible, like adding smoke or building 3D version of the product. If you scan though billboard ads showcased above, you will notice that all of them are also quite funny. Do you know anymore tip that helps to build a creative billboard ad?

Also, I believe these 40 creative billboard ads are just tip of the iceberg. In fact, there are just too many creative ads in the world! So if you spotted one either on road or web, be sure to share to us. After all, we’re hunger for creativity and inspiration!