We’ve covered a number of race-related issues at Trend Hunter. We’ve tried to remain as neutral as possible and let the issues tell the story; in that vein, these innovations are universal in that they are all controversial.
From racist photoshopping for album covers to cultural stereotype parodies like ‘Stuff White People Like,’ race continues to be a hot topic of discussion.
Implications - Despite the number of race-related trends, many of them are either controversial or humorous -- depending on the person. With that being said, it is clear that the idea of a "post-racial" society is one to be challenged. All in all, this trend reflects that many people continue to have strong reactions to micro-trends like racist photoshopping and online cultural stereotypes.
25 Controversial Looks at Race
From Racist Editorials to Stereotypical Ads, is Racism Still Alive?:
Marissa Brassfield — May 24, 2009 — Pop Culture

19
Racist McDonalds Ad?
Look Closer : Individuals

18
Racist Photoshopping
L'Oreal Denies Whitening Beyonce

17
Controversial ‘Hot' Lists
Maxim ‘World's 100 Most Beautiful Women' a
16
Racist Comic Books
Memin Pinguin
15
Is Disney Racist?
4 Intolerant Characters (Super Video Gallery)
14
Political Sock Monkeys (UPDATE)
TheSockObama Discontinued, Racist
13
Racist Editorials
Vogue Italia Stereotypes a Black Woman as a Maid
12
Racist Commercials
Barack Obama is a Monkey in Japanese Ad
11
Racist Obama Magazine Covers
Vanity Fair Parodies New Yorker
10
Promotions with Cultural Stereotypes
'Lonely Fortune Writer' Ad Singles Asian-Americans Out
9
Racist Cartoons
NY Post Obama ‘Chimp Attack' Crosses The Line
8
Deliberate Ad Discrimination?
Milk Commercial Adds to Many Misinterpreted Ads
7
Anti-Discriminatory Fashion
Style-Islam
6
Racist Car Commercials
Nissan Upsets Saudis
5
Blog Book Deals
Stuff White People Like
4
Desperate Housewives Controversy
Filipinos Protest Racist Comments
3
Fashion Against Racism, Social Inequality
One 4 All
2
Cultural Stereotype Parodies
'White People Problems' by the Selwyn Brothers & Atom.com
1
Racist Political Pins
Republican Pin Crosses The Line
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Creative Ad Responses
Kiehl’s Response to Censorship Embraces Bold Creativity
Reinterpreted Disco Era Fashion
Rastah's Volume 13: Studio 54 Collection is Stunning and Chic
Celebrity-Fronted High-Fashion Campaigns
Versace's 2024 Icons Campaign Embodies the Brand's Ethos
Anti-Consumption Natural Ads
The 'Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants' Ad Aims to Reducing Consumption
Beautiful Automotive Design Books
Auto Photo Manual drives the car design coffee table book trend
Positive Social Media Campaigns
The New Tumblr Campaign Champions Community Over Controversy
AI-Lead Car Ads
Ford Launched an AI Campaign Dubbed 'Be Surreal, Be Ford'
Car Culture-Inspired Fashion Capsules
The Forever 21 x Ford Line Emphasizes American Heritage
Authenticity-Centric Beauty Series
Sephora Adds to Its 'We Belong to Something Beautiful' Campaign
Truth-Forward Beauty Campaigns
The Ordinary X Uncommon Unveil the Beauty Industry’s Biggest Myths
Humorous Menswear Ads
Men’s Wearhouse Goes Full Funny with its 'Love the Way You Look' Campaign
Creative Online Social Networks
BuzzFeed Introduces the New BF Island Social Network
Hug-Inspired Olympics Campaigns
Coca-Cola's Summer Olympics Campaign was Inspired by True Events
Documentary-Style Hair Campaigns
Cécred’s 'A Deeper Understanding of Hair' Shows Power and Purpose
Athlete-Backed Shoe Campaigns
Nike Released Awaken Your Madness with International Soccer Players
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
Non-AI Beauty Campaigns
The Code by Dove Fights Beauty Standards Manufactured by AI
Brand Heritage-Appreciation Campaigns
Timberlands Racy 'ICONIC' Campaign Honours Its Legacy
Age-Appropriate Skincare Campaigns
Dove's #TheFaceof10 Addresses Unsafe Gen Alpha Skincare
Culture-Defining BIPOC Apparel
The 'Modern Dandy Collection' by AC Miller is a Walmart Exclusive
Substance Use Narrative Shifts
The Missing Issue Offers a New Perspective on Celebrity Struggles
Self-Love-Inspired Fashion Collections
Rastah Introduces the Chic and Eye-Catching VOLUME 11 Line
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
Artfully Designed Soccer Shirts
OOF x UMBRO Partner for Limited-Edition Shirts
Car design luxury books
Aston Martin and McLaren use Benedict Redgrove to showcase designs
Iconic Model Campaigns
Cara Delevingne Announced as L'Oréal Paris Global Ambassador
Global Handbag Campaigns
Coach's New 'Unlock Your Courage' Campaign Promotes Personal Expression
Sensitivity Marketing Campaigns
Cetaphil Teams Up with Lil Wayne for Super Bowl Spot
Offbeat Fashion Campaigns
ASOS 'Inspired By' Delivers Non-Traditional Inspiration to Style-Seekers
AI-Assisted Business Ads
Google Workspace's 50 States, 50 Stories Shares Small Businesses Using AI
Graphic Collaborative Streetwear
Born x Raised Joins Online Ceramics on the Born Online Capsule
Young Travellers-Targeting Campaigns
Progressive Insurance Has Introduced a New Campaign
Beauty Innovation Contests
Estée Lauder Launches The Catalysts Program
Activism-Promoting Sweatshirt Collabs
Tinder, Willy Chavarria and the HRC Release a Sweatshirt
Age-Celebrating Beauty Campaigns
Estée Lauder Canada Debuts the #BecauseOfMyAge Campaign
Gen Z-Focused Personal Care
Kiehl's New 'Pubic Service Announcement' Campaign Taps Ilana Glazer
Art-Promoting Campaigns
Beige Billboards Spark a Bold Call to Save Charlotte’s Art Scene
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
Skin-Caring Cosmetics
Versed Makeup Introduces Color Cosmetics That are Beneficial for Skin
Social Media App Campaigns
Snapchat Promotes Creators in a Bold Campaign Amid TikTok Uncertainty
House Party-Themed Campaigns
Hiders Keepers Shows Stella Artois’ Clever Take on Party Etiquette
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
All-Asian Beauty Campaigns
Maybelline Face the Difference Features 40 Asian Pacific Trailblazers
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Cultural Power Assessment Tools
M+C Saatchi Group's Cultural Power Index Uses AI for Brand Growth
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Hispanic Hair Care Campaigns
Acast and Henkel Fostered Positive Conversations in a New Campaign
Expressive Haircare Campaigns
Dark & Lovely's Play in Color Celebrates Black Beauty & Creativity
Satirical Skincare Campaigns
Sephora Launches 'Skin Obsessed' Campaign with Taika Waititi
Inclusive Hair-Styling Campaigns
Dove's #MyHairAMiModo Campaign Supports Cultural Latina Hair
Thematic Postal Stamp Collections
The U.S. Postal Service Debuts Stamp Releases for 2025
Effortless Skincare Campaigns
Garnier's De-Glaze My Makeup with Me Pokes Fun at Beauty Fads
Bold Eyewear Collection Campaigns
Vogue Eyewear Unveils Its 'No Rules Club' SS25 Campaign
Generation-Blending Skateboarding Campaigns
Vans' Always Out There Campaigns Nods to Y2K Styles
Spoof Cosmetics Campaigns
Milani's America’s Next Top Primer Revisits 2000 Reality TV
Statement-Making Oatmeal Outfits
Quaker Oats Debuted a Porridge Dress at London Fashion Week
Provocative Guerrilla Campaigns
Jewelry Brand MWCurated Uses Fake Infidelity Flyers for Marketing
Inclusive Makeup Brand Campaigns
LIVE TINTED Launches the 'It Feels Good to Be Seen'
Edgy Cruelty-Free Cosmetics
Barry M Beauty's Rebrand Embraces Its Rebellious Roots
Stain Removal Tooth Polishes
The Closeup White Now Range Was Co-Created with Gen Z Consumers
Emotive Smartphone Camera Covers
Yifan Hu Designs the Emoji-Inspired Smartphone Accessories
Sports-Fan-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Debuts its ‘eyes. lips. face. fandom.' Campaign
Banshee-Inspired Fashion Collections
McQueen’s Spring 2025 Ad Campaign Embraces Irish Folklore
Racism-Reflecting Art Installations
Yinka Ilori Designs the Reflection in Numbers Pavilion
Multipurpose Beauty Booster Campaigns
The Many-Trick Pony Features a Horse Voiced by Rebecca Black
Viral Criminal Merchandise
'I Can Fix Him' T-Shirt Design Goes Viral on Social Media
Color Infusion Paint Campaigns
vitaminwater's Paint Your Rent Brightens Lives & Living Spaces
Empowering Fashion Campaigns
Coach's Spring 2025 Campaign Celebrates Personal Time Management
Kindness-Promoting Beverage Campaigns
Culture Pop Soda Partners with Point Guard Derrick White
Diversity-Focused AI Image Generators
Create Labs Ventures x TONL Enable Authentic Representation
Authentic Skincare Campaigns
We are Social France Spotlights Avène’s New Anti-Blemish Cream
Expansive Cultural Heritage Initiatives
Ne'Ma's 'Valuing Our Roots' Initiative is Mindful
Textured Hair Advertising Campaigns
From One Queen to Another is Mielle's First Ever Campaign
Inclusive Eye-Makeup Collections
Live Tinted Debuts its Ophthalmologist-Tested 'Legacy Collection'
Inspiring Food Color Reports
Oterra Color Trends 2025 Put Four Trends in the Spotlight
Satirical Political Campaigns
The Thoughts & Prayers Toilet Paper Campaign Calls Out Inaction
Empowering Female Athlete Campaigns
Dove and Sports Illustrated Partnered to Celebrate Athletes
Inclusive Retailer-Backed Films
The Sephora Beauty & Belonging Film Prioritizes Diversity
GenAI Makeup Marketing
MAC Cosmetics is Tapping into the Power of Adobe Firefly Services
Body-Positive Brand Campaigns
Dove's Super Bowl Ad Challenges Toxic Body Talk in Sports
Social Media Fridge-Decorating Trends
Lynzi Judish Released Several Viral 'Fridgescaping' Videos
Education-Supporting Beauty Brands
Sally Beauty Debuts Its Annual Rooted in Success Initiative
Confident Fashion Rebranding Campaigns
Boohoo Launches the People Will Talk... Campaign
Racism-Combatting Handbag Designs
Grey Brazil Has Designed the Anti-Racist Handbag
Sneaker-Inspired Art Exhibitions
Roberto Lugo's 'Drip' Explores the Impact of the AF1 on Culture
Ageism-Targeting Language Campaigns
Modern Age Has Launched the Aging Index
High-Concept Brand Campaigns
The ‘Legitimate You’ Campaign Proves Every Brand Can Look Pro
Mental Health-Supporting Campaigns
'The Last Photo' is a Suicide Prevention Initiative
Women-Themed Fashion Campaigns
Donna Karan New York Launches the Reflections on Women Campaign
Visual Content Generators
Pictuote Instantly Creates Shareable Quote Images With AI Assistance
Social-First Car Campaigns
Škoda's Reddit Car Share Amplified the Voices of Passionate Fans
Pregnancy-Safe Beauty Campaigns
Well People Spotlighted Clean Products for Mother's Day & Beyond
Anti-AI-Generate Dating Profiles
Bumble Introduces New Tool to Report AI-Generated Profiles
Real-Time Trending Spot Features
Roadtrippers Introduces the Trending Spots Feature to Its App
Viral Face Generators
CrazyFace Generates Fun, Viral YouTube Faces from a User's Photos
Reimagined Story-Driven Campaigns
Visa Presented its 'Typewriter' Campaign at the 2025 Oscars
Inclusive Beauty Brands Initiatives
Annabelle Cosmetics Debuts 'Pride and Beauty for Everyone'
Social Video Beauty Brands
Time Inc. Unveils 'The Pretty' Social Video-Based Beauty Brand
Inclusive Language Resources
IKEA Poland Launches the #ZmienimyNarracje Campaign
Beauty Corporate Diversity Ads
E.l.f. Beauty's So Many Dicks Ad Urges for More Corporate Diversity
Instant Photo Roast Generators
Zinger Turns Your Photos into Funny Roasts for Online Sharing
Pet-Equality Campaigns
Pet Ownership Rights Take Center Stage in Innovative Campaign
Realistic Image Generators
RealPhotoAI Generates Realistic Photos with AI Using Your Photos
Nostalgic Art-Inspired Postal Stamps
The New USPS Stamps Celebrate Art and Pop Culture
All-Inclusive Pop Culture Trips
Klook Debuts a Campaign to Highlight ANZ's Top Asian Culture Fans
Private Social Photo Apps
The 'Retro' App Focuses on Mindful Sharing with Select Others
Fan-Fueled Skincare Campaigns
'Peculiar Behavior' Shows the Wild Passion of the e.l.f. Community
Global Storytelling Initatives
Vans Announces its Narrative-Centric Always Pushing Campaign
Celebrative BIPOC Campaigns
Toyota Launches its 'You Can't Stop My Drive' Campaign
Influencer-Starring Car Commercials
Toyota's New Short Film Seeks to Resonate with Gen Z Customers
Diversity-Promoting Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics Releases a Thought-Provoking Message
Social Media-Inspired Merch Ranges
The X Merch Collection Includes Two Styles
Celebratory Photo Collections
Sonic Editions Honors Black Icons with an Exclusive Photo Collection
Life-Saving Nail Stickers
Melanoma UK’s Beauty Spotters Campaign Boosts Acral Melanoma Awareness
Stigma-Addressing Diabetes Shorts
Abbott Has Released a New Short Film — Above the Bias
Skateboarding-Inspired Ads
Vans Launched the ‘Always Pushing’ Ad Highlighting Skating Culture
Aesthetic Stock Platforms
Dupe Photos Offers Social Media-Style Imagery for Modern Brands
Social-First Snack Comedies
Pretzelized's Hybrid Snacks and Comedic Series Sparks Fun Debates
Stylized Portrait Generators
Face to All Can Create Oil Paintings and Whimsical Cartoons
Gen Z Whitepapers
Wondershare Filmora Has Published Its First Whitepaper Titled 'Gen Z in Action'
Vibrant Runner-Targeted Commercials
PUMA Southeast Asia Debuts a Community-Based Video Campaign
Redirected Movement Campaigns
Asics' 15MinuteWeightLoss Challenges Rapid Weight Loss Content
Genderless Court-Ready Apparel
Humanrace and evian Create a New, Genderless Athletic Collaboration
Diverse Empowerment Newsletters
The Beautiful Societies Delivers Uplifting, Informative Content
Ad Inspiration Archives
Nobody Reads Ads Showcases Print and Outdoor Ads With Notable Success
Inclusion-Focused Design Partnerships
Barbie's New Initative Spotlights Black Designers for BHM
Satirical Feminist-Forward Ads
A Spotlight on Underpaid Women Shakes Up Belgium’s Employee Day
Personalized AI Stickers
This Site Turns Text and Face Photos Into Custom Stickers
India-Based Hair Campaigns
Streax Unveils a Shine Revolution TV Campaign Starring Malaika Arora
Social Sticker Features
Instagram Unveils the New Sticker Features for Stories and Other Content
Unconventional Foodie Magazines
Food& Magazine Explores the Weird and Wonderful World of Food
Ethical Tech Programs
The Institute for Diversity Certification Launches a Pioneering Program
Celebratory Odd Designs
Ridiculous Design Celebrates Weird and Wonderful Ideas Within Design
Inclusivity-Centric Back-To-School Campaigns
Sistema Launched a Back-To-School Survey
Love-Centric Public Service Announcements
Ad Council & R/GA Debut the Love Has No Labels Campaign
Ethical GenAI Tools
Brandtech Group's Bias Breaker Produces More Diverse and Inclusive Images
Censorship-Combatting Social Media Campaigns
Operation Retweet Uses AI-Generated Avatars
Educational Linguistic Newsletters
The 'Why Is That Called That' Newsletter Delves into Language
TV-Specific Pop Informants
COVER Emerges as the Essential App for TV Show Aficionados