It's a scary, unpredictable world for marketers these days and sometimes companies don't realize they've engaged in some problematic branding techniques. Other times, well, let's just say they know exactly what they're doingâ€"and it gets results.
At any rate, here are some of the most offensive, silly, awkward, and problematic branding techniques, from inappropriate dessert branding to offensive stuffed animals.
Implications - When a brand creates ultimate shock with an advertisement or product, it gains much more attention from the consumer world. When people are shocked about something they often tell others and that is how the ad or product manages to go viral. Going viral for good or bad reasons still gets the business a huge amount of attention. Like the saying goes, "any publicity is good publicity."
37 Branding Blunders
Problematic Brand Strategies, from Offensive Gum to Religious Co-Branding:
Katherinev123 — Oct 3, 2009 — Marketing
37
Offensive Magazine Features
Rolling Stone Reports Michael Jackson's Nose Missing
36
Offensive Advertising Mistakes
Mega Logo Blunders
35
Offensive Splash Pages
Hugs for Monsters Punishes IE6 Users With Scathing Anti-Welcome
34
Cheeky Packaging Designs
Brooklyn Fare's Branding Puts the Fun in Functional
33
Offensive Children's Clothes
The PeanutButter Mofo TShirt
32
Failed Sexvertising
Matthew McConaughey's Film Made $36,497, Despite Gratuitous Nudity
31
Violent & Offensive Video Games
'Rapelay' Removed From Amazon After Public Objects
30
Offensive New Yorker Covers
Obama Loves Osama
29
Innappropriate Dessert Branding
The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck Roams NYC
28
Offensive Candy
Fat Pig Chocolate
27
Offensive LEGO Figures
Shocking Toy Terrorists and Nazis
26
Guerrilla Grocery Labels
Shop Drop Montreal Rebrands the Shopping Experience
25
Abbreviated Fail Branding
Companies Named WTF, OMG & STD Could Give the Wrong Idea
24
Offensive Chewing Gum
Too Shy to Say It? Express Your Opinion With Chewing Gum
23
Mega Unbrandings
McDonald's Abstract ‘Quarter Pounder' Store
22
Accidentally Offensive Branding
Eyebrows Raise With 'Jewnail' Cosmetics' Contentious Name
21
Harrassvertising
Coke Bots Attack When You Buy Other Brands
20
Offensive Video Games
‘Fat Princess' Outrages Feminists
19
Catastrophic Candy Branding
Skittles Relaunches Website as Twitter Search, Offensive Tweets Ensue
18
Catholic Cross-Branding
Boston College Fashion at Victoria's Secret
17
Shocking Ironic Art Installations
Is Eugenio Merino's Damien Hirst Piece Offensive or Artist
16
Cross-Promotional Fails
Burger King Un-Friends Facebook Over 'Whopper Sacrifice' Snafu
15
Microsoft Branding Blunders
"I'm A PC" Ads Made on a Mac
14
Offensive Stuffed Animals
SpiderCamp
13
Stupid Names Get Attention
Catchword Branding Creates: Vudu, Promptu, BooRah, ItzBig
12
Beyond Offensive Political Wear
Supporters Hit New Lows (NSFW)
11
Offensive Viral Disruptions
Pantless Streaker Dances Across Courts at Australian Open
10
Offensive Child Toy Marketing
Strapya's Hip-Shaking Product Description Misses the Mark
9
Offensive Ringtones
'Psycho Teddy' Tune Protested by Mental Health Charity
8
Offensive Desk Toys
Terry the Swearing Turtle
7
Religious Co-Branding
Catholic Mobile Phone Carrier
6
Recession Rebranding
RecessIsOn Pursuades Us to ‘F_ck the Recession'
5
Offensive Cell Phone Ad Parodies
LOLz AT&T 'No Bars' Commercial
4
Offensive Traveling Billboards
Aborted Fetus On Moving Truck
3
Drug-Themed Eateries
'Marihuana' Restaurant in Taiwan Uses Smokin' Branding
2
Apple-izing Ordinary Objects
The Kraft iSnack 2.0 Attempts to Create Cool Through PC Lingo
1
Offensive Charity Promotions
Controversial Donation Cup Ad
Related Ideas
Playful Pet Accident Campaigns
IKEA Unveils the Don't Worry, You Can Afford It Campaign
Aggressive Athlete Ads
Nike Launches the Winning Isn’t for Everyone Campaign
Sneaker-Stealing Campaigns
Rob It To Get It by Distance Challenged Customers to Outrun a Sprinter
Anti-Consumption Natural Ads
The 'Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants' Ad Aims to Reducing Consumption
Halloween-Inspired Pretzel Campaigns
Snyder’s of Hanover Debuts the 'Pretzelface' Campaign
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
Premium Clean-Cut Drink Branding
The Sparkling ICE Branding Refresh Enhances Visibility
Film-Inspired Condiment Ads
GUT New York Forms the Heinz Smiles Campaign to Celebrate Joker 2
Beer-Pouring Party Billboards
JUBEL Made a Billboard That Pours Pints Invites People in to Party
Lollipop-Inspired Toothpastes
The Chupa Chups x Hismile Flavors Sweeten Daily Oral Care Rituals
Hug-Inspired Olympics Campaigns
Coca-Cola's Summer Olympics Campaign was Inspired by True Events
Ketchup Dispenser Billboards
'Smack for Heinz' Helps Fans Complete Meals with a Favorite Condiment
Athlete-Backed Shoe Campaigns
Nike Released Awaken Your Madness with International Soccer Players
Distorted Burger Campaigns
Burger King's A.I.LLOWEEN Features Unsettling People Eating Burgers
Illustrative 420 Campaigns
Vizie Unveils His Latest Work for Grassroots' 420 Campaign
Break-Encouraging Soda Branding
The Diet Coke Break Campaign Includes Customized Cans
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Modernized Coffee Product Branding
Nescafé Branding Has Been Overhauled for a Refreshed Profile
Hug-Activated Marketing Machines
UNIQLO France and The Pull Launch the Hug to Unlock Ad
Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards
Gymshark Unveils the Shoplift Campaign Ahead of Sale
Lazy Cereal Campaigns
SURREAL Cereal Cheekily Pokes Fun at New Year's Resolutions
Candy-Scented Squish Toys
These New Squishi Products Were Created with Mondelēz International
Curious Whiskey Campaigns
Four Roses' Don't Mention It Campaign Targets Younger Whiskey Drinkers
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Cookie Re-Branding Makeovers
BrandMe Gives Lotus Bakeries a New Visual Branding
Refreshed Colorful Candy Brands
Elmwood Reinvents the New Skittles Branding Update
Retail Overconsumption Campaigns
Coachtopia's 'The Wasted Parts' Explores Overconsumption Culture
Provocative AR Campaigns
NotCo's 'Not So Happy Animals' Presents Food Logos in a New Light
Gen Alpha Marketing Campaigns
Claire's is Targeting TikTok Growth for its Latest Ads Spending
Activewear-Branded Smartphones
The Conceptual Adidas FOG Phone Highlights the Three Stripes Logo
Influencer-Inspired Ads
Tomcat's Ad Shows an Influencer Mouse with a Fatal Unboxing Twist
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
Modern Tissue Brand Makeovers
Turner Duckworth Redesigns the Kleenex Branding Aesthetic
Suggestive Spread Campaigns
The Marmite First Timers Campaign Targets Gen Z
Luxury-Inspired Chocolate Campaigns
The Toblerone 'Never Square' Campaign Takes a Cheeky Approach
Playful Retail Pop-Up Installations
Selfridges Unveils the Joke Shop with a Slapstick Generator
Cross-Category Refreshment Campaigns
Sprite and Pringles Hot Have Teamed Up for a New Campaign
Whimsical Snack Machines
Jaffa Cakes Assembled an Interactive Installation to Entice Gen Z
Humorous Collab Fashion Campaigns
Barbour and Maison Kitsuné Launches a New Campaign
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Confident Smile Campaigns
Aquafresh's New Oral Health Campaign Boosts Children’s Dental Confidence
Collaborative Butter-Brand Sweaters
Ugly Sweater x Danish Creamery Partner for a Festive Sweater
AI-Powered QSR Campaigns
allplants Leverages AI To Transforms Fast-Food Ads
Smile-Reflecting Toothpaste Campaigns
Colgate & Oglivy Create the #FreeYourSmile campaign
Condiment-Flavored Toothpastes
Hismile Makes Toothpaste Sachets with Mustard and Ketchup Flavors
Pastel-Hued Energy Drink Packaging
The Rockstar Energy Rebranding Has Enhanced Graphics and More
Confetti-Filled Snacking Commercials
Frito-Lay Launches the Taste of Super Bowl Campaign
Video Game-Themed Candy Branding
The Hershey Company and Nintendo Announced a New Partnership
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Unholy Skincare Campaigns
e.l.f. SKIN's Divine Skintervention Saves All Skin Types
Scannable Snack Charity Campaigns
This Pringles Movember Campaign Updates the Brand's Mascot
Visual Beer Brand Identities
Grolsch Has Unveiled a New Visual Brand Identity in Canada
70s-Style Cat Snack Ads
Temptations' Creamy Purrrr-ée Treats Star in a Nostalgic Holiday Ad
Limited-Edition Food-Inspired Collections
The TUMS x FLAN Labs Gummy Bites Collection is Playful
Anthropomorphized Bath Products
Uoga Uoga Kids' Packaging Can Be Customized with Stickers
Heritage Brand Boot Ads
Blundstone Launches Global Campaign Celebrating Personal Boot Stories
Rebranded Spicy Chip Brands
Frito-Lay Announced it is Reviving Flamin' Hot as its Own Brand
Brand-Led Global Studies
The LEGO Group Conducted a Study That May Inform Market Decisions
Heritage-Driven Bread Branding
The Gonnella Baking Company Has Modernized its Legacy Profile
Stylish Soda Pop-Ups
Poppi World Enticed Health-Conscious, Fashionable Visitors During NYFW
Cheeky Holiday Collections
Fruit of the Loom Introduces the Conversation Stoppers Collection
Gen Z Breakfast Campaigns
'Start the Day the Totino’s Way' Targets Teens Who Skip Morning Meals
Adorable Holiday Campaigns
Burberry's Holiday Campaign Spotlights Dogs and Ducklings
Cheerful Healthy Snack Campaigns
Garden Veggie Snacks' YUMbelievably Delicious is Innovative
Cringe-Worthy Photo Campaigns
Sour Patch Kids is Challenging Fans to Choose "Cringe or Candy"
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Festive Savory Snack Ads
Frito Lay Canada is Encouraging Canadians to Leave Out Chips for Santa
QSR Burger Chain Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Unveils the Whopper Island Rebranding
AI-Powered Gelato Packaging
Sweet Cheeks Partners with Bravo to Debut Gelatos with AI Packaging
Festively Branded Sweater Collections
Unilever and notjust Collaborated on Christmas Jumpers
Ethical Tea Branding
Typhoo Fear Free Tea Promotes its Mission to End Sexual Violence
Wasteful Shopping Billboards
Not On The High Street's Billboards Highlight a "Don't Gift Guide"
Dramatized Caramel Candy Ads
Reese's Big Game Ad Shows Exaggerated, Relatable Reactions to Change
Tongue-In-Cheek Soda Campaigns
Pepsi Jokes at Coca-Cola in It's Tastes Better Campaign
Adult-Targeted Milk Chocolates
Gnaw Chocolate Makes Bold Flavors That Evoke Childhood Memories
Biodegradable Bubblegum Packages
Milliways Launches a New Biodegradable and Recyclable Box Design
Collaborative Candy Apparel
The JCPenney x HARIBO Collection Puts Candy and Branding in Focus
Specialty Cheese Campaigns
Alouette Unveiled its Creative 'Flavor That Sings' Campaign
Branded Holiday Candy Collections
The Frankford Candy Holiday Collection is Packed with Options
Candid Celebration Campaigns
Edible's "There's an edible for That" Celebrates Even Awkward Moments
Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads
The Coca-Cola Family is Spotlighted in this Unique Ad
Cookie-Twisting Commercials
The OREO Super Bowl 2024 Spot Revisits Pivotal Moments in History
Time Capsule-Style Branding Campigns
Coors Light & Patrick Mahomes Present a Unique Project
Bottled Milkshake Mixes
Crusha's Refreshed Identity Appeals to a New Generation
Interactive Toothpaste Packaging
Bluemarlin Created the Designs for the Colgate Toothpaste Packs
Influencer Snack Bar Campaigns
Nature Valley Launches a Social-Oriented Digital Marketing Campaign
Revamped Private Label Ranges
The Target up&up Collection Has Been Expanded and Updated
Quirky Plant-Based Food Ads
Gosh! Food's Falafel Advertisement is Surprising
Co-Branded Footwear Designs
Vans Skateboarding Collaborates with Skate Brand Hockey
Nostalgic Lip Balm Collections
Camp Burt Introduces its '84 Summer Merch Collection
Stigma-Breaking Motherhood Billboards
Molly Baz and Bobbie Send a Message of Empowerment
Expansive Spicy Snack Rebrands
The Flamin' Hot Brand Branches Off to Perform Standalone
Savory Bear-Shaped Potato Snacks
Pom-Bear Snacks Introduced New Flavors and Branding
Wasteful Fashion Campaigns
Vestiaire Collective Reminded People to Shop Mindfully on Black Friday
Themed Heart-Shaped Chips
Japanese Snack Brand Calbee Unviels its Valentine's Day Chips
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Viral No-Hole Bagel Campaigns
Philadelphia Cream Cheese Debuts the Philadelphia Bagel Wholes
Tongue-in-Cheek Bread Campaigns
The St Pierre Eat Avec Respect Campaign is Arriving for Summer
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Playful QSR Campaigns
Cossette Forms the New McDonald's Campaign to Closest Restaurant
Toy-Themed Sour Candies
Care Bears Sour Grumpy Gummy Bears Were Created with Warheads
Social Justice Desert Campaigns
Ben & Jerry's 'Make Some Motherchunkin' Change' Campaign Debuted
Global Storytelling Initatives
Vans Announces its Narrative-Centric Always Pushing Campaign
Interactive Juice Packaging
Gulf Union Foods Launched Fun Connected Packaging for its Juices
Marketing Social Advocacy Tools
Nut Tree Helps Smaller Brands Boost Their Presence
QR Code Turkey Branding
This New Butterball Branding Encourages Consumers to Engage with the Brand
Revamped Freshness Platforms
Mars Announces a New Brand Identity for Its Gums and Mints Brands
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
Alternative Butter Ads
Lurpak's Crush Expectations Redefines Plant-Based as Edgy, Not Earthy
Drone Marketing Initatives
LEGO Takes to the Sky with Drone Show and Aerial Messages
Influencer Management Tools
Ogilvy Offers a Safety and Risk Management Tool for Marketing Brands
Skateboarding-Inspired Ads
Vans Launched the ‘Always Pushing’ Ad Highlighting Skating Culture
Playful Baked Good Branding
Whaoo! Filled Crêpes Have Been Rebranded to Target Parents
Playful Language App Campaigns
Duolingo is Not Taking Any Excuses to Miss Learning Lessons
High-Quality Chocolatey Marshmallow Treats
Mallow & Marsh Products Boast a Permissible Profile
Ice Cream-Inspired Superbowl Campaigns
Häagen-Dazs Aims to Connect with Younger Consumers
Cheeky Candy Campaigns
This Kinder Bueno Campaign Targets Millennial and Gen Z Consumers
Interactive AR Galleries
Chips Ahoy's Happy By Design Campaign Spotlights Multicultural Artists
Frighteningly Festive Candy Products
These New Bazooka Candy Brands Halloween Products are Tasty
Revamped Cotton Swab Branding
Q-tips Packaging Has Been Updated for the Brand's 100th Anniversary
Expansive Rebranding Initiatives
MysteryVibe Goes Beyond Sexual Health and into New Markets
Eye-Catching Value Crisp Branding
Discos Snacks are Introducing New Branding for its PMP Products
Revamped Juice Overhauls
Ocean Spray Announces a Brand Overhaul with Modern Influences
Cosmetic Branding Design Initiatives
The AmLactin x Kerasal #UnsexyDesignChallenge is Cheeky
Tasty Nutritious Snack Campaigns
ALOHA Launches the Deliciously Satisfying Campaign
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Social Media Star Brands
Toddy Smith Introduces His GothicMochas Clothing Brand
Novelty Gelato Pops
Gelatys Serves Uniquely Shaped Gelato on a Stick
Expansive Vegan Candy Campaigns
This Swizzels Campaign Encourages Retailers to Stock Up
Comedic Groundhog Day Campaigns
Lay's Flavor for Days Campaign Taps into Groundhog Day
Rapper-Endorsed Flame Stove Campaigns
Snoop Dogg Presents Solo Stove's Blunt Marketing Campaign
Debunking AI Apps
BSBot Helps Publicis Clients Tell the Truth About AI from Fiction at Cannes
Classic Ad Campaign Revivals
Seagram's 7 Crown is Reviving Old Ads for Its New Campaign
April Fool's Lifestyle Collections
Nugget Introduced Its 'Most Trendiest - High Endiest' Line Yet
Celebratory Odd Designs
Ridiculous Design Celebrates Weird and Wonderful Ideas Within Design
Digital Community-Branded Product Lines
The Girl Math Gang Debuts New Product Offerings
Ethical GenAI Tools
Brandtech Group's Bias Breaker Produces More Diverse and Inclusive Images
Private Label Holiday Products
Sprouts Brand Holiday Items Have a Better-for-You Formula
Digital Diversified Beverage Programs
Diverse Powered Brands Provides Online Operations Solutions