To surprise someone is to encounter them suddenly and without warning. The sensation of surprise is wonder, astonishment or amazement at something unanticipated. Take a look at these innovations which will leave you "surprised," including an IKEA turning into a night club, musicals turning into mega hits, soap with hidden surprises, and a fashion show surprise.
Image Credit: FranUlloa
Implications - Creatives in every industry aim to evoke emotion in their target market. Surprise, along with shock, are some of the popular tropes used in the ad industry, especially for interactive promotions and ambient campaigns. The fashion industry has also used the element of surprise to inspire wonder and incredulity in viewers.
15 Innovations That Evoke Surprise

15
Soap With Hidden Surprises
"Soap Gifts" Encourage Waste Reduction

14
Sex Toys As Furniture
Matteo Cibic's Objects of Pleasure Include Furnishings and Jewelery

13
Gmail Paper: Surprise Paper Mail by Google
12
Surprise in a Can
Anything & Whatever Drink
11
Super Auto Surprises- BMW Launches Concept CS in Shanghai
10
Fashion Show Surprise
Model Faints, Alexander McQueen Closes Paris Runway in Bunny Suit
9
Wrinkly Sidekick Campaigns
Dolce & Gabbana Surprise With Aging Background Models
8
Surprise Megahits
High School Musical's Astronomical Success and Next Steps
7
Cheap Tickets to Promote Albums
Metallica Surprises with $9 Concerts
6
Parking Lot Excavations
Surprise Discovery at La Brea Tar Pits Yields 700 New Fossils
5
Pop-Up Books for Grown-Ups
Visionaire's
4
Celebrity Surprise Christmas Carols
Britney Spears & Ellen DeGeneres Become The Jingle Bells Girls
3
Hidden Campaigns
Colgate Has A Sweet Surprise For You To Inspire Teeth Brushing
2
Impromptu Raves
Surprise IKEA Nightclub Homage
1
Vibrant Surprises in Design
Milan Design Show Preview
Related Ideas
Luxury Bag Pop Ups
Hermès Debuted a Designer Bag Installation Pop Up in Manhattan
Playful Pet Accident Campaigns
IKEA Unveils the Don't Worry, You Can Afford It Campaign
Sound-Focused Ice Cream Ads
Magnum Ice Cream Ads Bring the Ultimate Sensory Experience to Life
Luxe Designer Beauty Activations
YSL Launched an Entertainment-Themed Light Club 2.0 Concept
Humorous Brand Campaigns
The Ikea Rewards Program Embraces Its Late Arrival with Humor
Multipurpose Pre-Cut Fabrics
IKEA Tyg Shares Pre-Cut Textiles to Inspire Creativity & Connection
Playful Designer Knitwear Series
UNIQLO Partners with Anya Hindmarch for Winter Comfort Essentials
Aesthetic Home Collections
The Ilan Collection Marries Everyday Utility with Timeless Design
Immersive Fashion Pop-Ups
SHEIN Launches Multi-Category Toronto Shopping Experience This Spring
Gen Z Advertising Initiatives
Tubi Targets Younger Viewers with Ad Innovations at IAB NewFronts
Nostalgic Kitchen Campaigns
Frigidaire is Running the Cheeky 'Daire to Expect More' Campaign
Invisible Furniture Capsules
IKEA's Invsbål Campaign and Capsule are a Playful April Fool's Joke
AI-Lead Car Ads
Ford Launched an AI Campaign Dubbed 'Be Surreal, Be Ford'
AI-Powered Shopping Experiences
SOOT Introduced Moodboard-Inspired Shopping
Modern Newsstand Skincare Pop-Ups
Neutrogena x AIRE Health Hosted a Thematic Event
Feminine Rebellion Campaigns
Songs of Siren Campaign Reimagines Femininity With Fierce Urban Edge
AI-Powered Ecommerce Technologies
Hugo Boss Launches a New AI-Powered Product Content Feature
Immersive Festival Haircare Activations
Method Returns to Coachella with 'Dream in the Desert'
Heartwarming Bank Campaigns
Chase's Next Thing You Know Campaign Captures a Full Life
Parisian Airport Pop-Ups
Moët Hennessy's Paris Concept Event Featured Travel Exclusives
AI-Inspired Fantastical Bridal Collections
Pronovias Attempts to Fuse Fashion and Technology
Hug-Inspired Olympics Campaigns
Coca-Cola's Summer Olympics Campaign was Inspired by True Events
Anniversary-Honoring Furniture Series
IKEA Presents its STOCKHOLM Collection for 2025
Unique Concept Clothing Stores
The BASE Store in New York Offers an Unexpected Style Oasis
Athlete-Backed Shoe Campaigns
Nike Released Awaken Your Madness with International Soccer Players
Immersive Brand Concepts
LG Hosted its 'Affectionate Intelligence' Event at CES 2025
Demystifying Skincare Pop-Ups
The Power Of Simple Experience Pop Empowers Consumers
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
GenAI Home Shopping Tools
Wayfair Muse Elevates the Customer Search Experience with AI
Fashion Brand Christmas Ads
Chanel's 'Winter Tale' is a Magical Holiday Ad from the Luxury Icon
Modern Furniture Designs
IKEA Revealed a New Collection at Milan Design Week 2025
Concept-Driven Retail Experiences
Artist Miya Ando X Saint Laurent Create an Immersive Exhibition
Exaggerated Holiday Displays
Nordstrom NYC's 'Wonder All the Way' Campaign is Larger-Than-Life
Coffin-Shaped Ice Cream Tubs
The Alchemist by JDO Satisfies Consumers' Desire for the Unexpected
Icon-Led Travel Experiences
Airbnb Icons Offers Experiences Hosted by Icons in Music, Film, & More
Surrealist Phone Cases
The Salvador Dalí x CASETiFY Collab Elevates Everyday Accessories into Art
Revived Celebrated Home Decor
Ikea Brings Back Archives in the Nytillverkad Vintage Collection
Virtual Holiday Shopping Experiences
Amazon Introduces a New Holiday Shop with 3D Technology
Analog Creativity-Inspired Installations
Moleskine Presents 'Unleash Your Genius' at BASE Milano
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Artfully Functional Home Accessories
Ilan Rubin Introduces the New ilan Collection of Decor
Sneaker Tag-Inspired Car Keys
Nissan's Kicks Key Merges Auto Technology with Streetwear Culture
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Iconic Character-Inspired Campaigns
Etsy's Christmas Ad Celebrates Personalized Gifting
Luxe Pop-Up Experiences
Victoria Beckham Beauty Hosts an 8-Day Pop-Up for New Fragrance Launch
Tech-Driven Sexual Wellness
Experience the Future of Intimacy
Offbeat Fashion Campaigns
ASOS 'Inspired By' Delivers Non-Traditional Inspiration to Style-Seekers
Immersive Jewelry Exhibitions
The TIFFANY & CO. Tiffany Wonder Exhibition in Tokyo is Engaging
Immersive Living Room Concepts
Moooi Presents an Immersive Journey for Milan Design Week
New Years Specific Campaigns
Dove’s Unready for Anything Campaign Celebrates End-of-Night Rituals
Novel Fitness Raves
Les Mills and adidas Offered a Ground-Breaking Fitness Rave Event
Beauty Innovation Contests
Estée Lauder Launches The Catalysts Program
Automotive Design Philosophy Exhibits
Kia Showcases Two Exhibits at Milan Design Week 2025
Curated Design Initiatives
Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity Launches The Curious 100 List
Film-Inspired Whimsical Rental Homes
Airbnb Adds the Latest Addition to its Icons Program
Exhilarating Cocktail Perfumes
An Energy Drink Cocktail Inspired iPiccirilli's Shocking Bull
Experiential Marketing Campaigns
MIKE AND IKE, HOT TAMALES, and Marvel Team Up for Campus Tour
Creative Auto Campaigns
The Electric Capri Campaign Revives a Legend with Modern Flair
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Modern Tissue Brand Makeovers
Turner Duckworth Redesigns the Kleenex Branding Aesthetic
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Mystery-Style Holiday Ads
Waitrose Adds Mystery to the Festive Season with ‘Sweet Suspicion’ Ad
Innovative Outdoor Advertising Campaigns
Unilever's Dirt is Good Turns Billboards into Playgrounds
Whimsical Uplifting Soda Campaigns
Coca-Cola Unveils It's Magic When The World Comes Together
Nostalgic Explorer SUVs
These Nissan X-Trail Concepts Include the Unwind and the Remastered
Neighborhood-Inspired Campaigns
Kotn's F/W 2024 Collection is Released with a Witty Short-Film
Creativity-Inspiring Kids Campaigns
Cra-Z-Art Inspires Young Creative Beauty-Focused Campagn
Functional Household Product Concepts
Dami Seo Designs the Soom Concept for Household Items
Secret Salon Campaigns
Salon X Lets Consumers Experience a Secret Product Line
Telenovela-Inspired Makeup Campaigns
The 'Descubre e.l.f.ecto' Campaign is Launching in Mexico
Mood-Enhancing Fragrance Collections
adidas Partners with Coty to Launch Vibe Perfumes
Tactile Soap-Adorned London Shops
A New Aesop Outlet Features an Installation in London
Elusive Premium Perfume Projects
AVESTAN is a Perfume Project by Brandon Truaxe
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
Festival-Inspired Fragrances
Natura Captured Molecules at Music Events to Make Two Fragrances
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Swedish Streetwear Campaigns
Axel Arigato Launches its Festive 2024 Campaign
Pop-Up Sensory Showers
Dove's South Bank Activation Spotlights MicroMoisture Technology
Immersive Virtual Pop-Ups
Benefit Launches Virtual 'Benemart' Concept for Holiday Shopping
Co-Branded Sleep Studies
IKEA U.S. Partnered with the National Sleep Foundation
Domestic Awareness Campaigns
IKEA Australia Presents the This is Not a Home Campaign
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Co-Branded Custom Ads
Lexus and Universal Pictures Partner for the 'Experience OZmazing' Spot
Mid-20th-Century Holiday Campaigns
Saks Fifth Avenue Unveiled its 'Gifts of Delight' Campaign
Dreamy Dance-Centric Ads
Apple and Spike Jonze Reimagine Heartbreak with the AirPods 4 Ad
AR Fashion Creations
The ETERNITEE AR Platform Enhances Consumer Interaction
Traveling Fashion Showcases
The Guess Bus in Sydney is an Example of Experimental Marketing
Surprise Fashion Line Drops
Alessandro Michele Introduced a Surprise Valentino Collection
Custom Inspirational Quotes
Muse Combines Quotes with Creative Themes for Social Media
Evocative Everyday Fragrances
Modern Magic is a Fun, Affordable Fragrance Brand for Gen Z
Music Video-Inspired Supermarket Campaigns
Albert Heijn Pays Homage to Wham!'s Last Christmas
Quirky Plant-Based Food Ads
Gosh! Food's Falafel Advertisement is Surprising
Social Media Fridge-Decorating Trends
Lynzi Judish Released Several Viral 'Fridgescaping' Videos
Marketing Idea Generators
Thunderbucket Provides Marketing Ideas and Observations at Speed
Pop Culture-Inspired Rentals
Airbnb Unveils the New 'Icons' Experiences for Short-Term Guests
Storybook-Inspired Fragrances
Classic Fairy Tales Inspired Mischief Academy's Debut Eau de Parfums
Cube Toy-Inspired Projectors
TCL's Playcube Projector is Designed Inspired by the Rubik's Cube
Nostalgic Branded Pop-Up Events
AriZona Iced Tea Launches a New York City Pop-Up Event
Surreal Artist-Inspired Tech Accessories
CASETiFY Presents a New Salvador Dalí Collection
Sensory Explorative Art Exhibitions
Chromasonic Presents the Making Sense of Color Exhibition
Feminist-Forward Contemporary Fashion Collections
Songs of Siren Blends Depth and Precision
Interactive Influencer Features
YouTube's New 'Hype' Feature Allows Viewers to Share in Success
Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns
Michelin Launches the On the Road and Beyond! Campaign
Illuminated Curtained Light Installations
Lachlan Turczan Adds to Making the Invisible Visible
Exploratory Art Exhibits
The Saga of the Department Stores Exhibit Explores Shopping’s Evolution
Sensory Museum Experiences
The Museum of Illusions Features Immersive Attractions
Artful Illusory Ads
giffgaff's Large-Scale Illusion Artwork Challenges Inattentional Blindness
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
Online Idea-Sharing Platforms
Collaborate, Share, and Discover Projects with Oasis of Ideas
Performance-Driven Designer Experiences
Hermès Hosts the Cinematic 'On The Wings Of Hermes' Event
Poeticized Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Club 21 Debuts its Cinematic 'Salute The Detail' Campaign
Indulgent Comfort Home Fragrances
Febreze Named Vanilla Suede the 2025 Scent of the Year
Travel Lifestyle Brand Ads
Away’s 'Travel Changed Me' Film Captures the Power of Exploration
Fantastical Collectible Dolls
L.O.L. Surprise!'s Fantasy-Themed Dolls Share New Play Patterns
Japanese Creative Innovation Hubs
Karimoku Furniture Introduces the Karimoku Research Hub
Palaeolithic Art-Inspired Collections
Taras Yoom Unveils a New Capsule Dubbed Echoes of Time
Influencer-Starring Car Commercials
Toyota's New Short Film Seeks to Resonate with Gen Z Customers
Imaginative Cocktail Menus
Dean & Nancy on 22's World of Dreams Menu Evokes Wonder & Exploration
Miniaturized Product Art Photographs
Taysuya Tanaka Highlights MUJI Products with Small Muji
Paper Sheath Lighting Solutions
Samuel Wilkinson Designs the Sorpresa Light with Astep
Immersive Audio-Visual Installations
180 the Strand Unveils Its Latest Exhibition, 'Reverb'
Mysterious Perfume Project Expansions
AVESTAN is Introducing a New Fragrance with a New Store
Emotionally Engaging Holiday Advertisements
Teleflora Captured Attention with The Power Of Wishes
Inspirational Learning Management Tools
'Get Inspired' Offers Digestible Snippets of Content
Uncharted Web Journeys
'Visit a Random Website' Sends You to Unexpected Corners of the Internet
Reinventive Denim Campaigns
Chapter Two of the REIMAGINE Campaign Honors Levi's Denim Heritage
Celebratory Anniversary Exhibitions
K-Way Celebrates 60 Years with an Immersive Display in Milan
Enigmatic Graffiti Incidents
Toronto's Museum of New Calls Attention to Mystery Graffiti
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Ad Inspiration Archives
Nobody Reads Ads Showcases Print and Outdoor Ads With Notable Success
Mystery Ice Cream Shops
Surprise Scoop Invites Ice Cream Lovers to Play Flavor Roulette
Interactive Prank Tools
Scratch & Reveal Sends Custom Surprises and Jump Scares to Friends
Reflection-Encouraging Edible Oil Campaigns
Simply Fresh Marks the New Year with a New Campaign
Celebratory Odd Designs
Ridiculous Design Celebrates Weird and Wonderful Ideas Within Design
Imaginative Children's Holiday Campaigns
Aretto and Hamleys Partner on an Engaging Campaign
Politically Artful Textile Shows
Barbican Hosts Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art
Enchanting Folklore-Inspired Hotels
Marcel Wanders Designs the Kimpton BEM Hotel in Budapest
Efficient Personalized Idea Newsletters
Sofon Curates Personalized Insights From Numerous Sources
Salon-Honoring Joint Exhibitions
Signe Hytte Curates the Enter the Salon Exhibition in Copenhagen
Surprising Romantic Inspiration
Love Fuel Offers 450 Ideas to Liven Up a Relationship