Going above and beyond the average type of imagery and brand logo is often a creative advertising strategy, and these surreal marketing techniques are illustrating how utilizing imaginative and dream-like qualities often serves to make a bold visual impression.
While certain retailers choose to market their products through simply showcasing the design and function, others are looking at strategies outside-the-box, creating ads that are complex, irrational and utterly mind-blowing. The use of surreal imagery in campaigns serves to promote more than just a simple product or service, but rather it showcases an overall story and theme that viewers can easily remember.
From inverted landscape auto ads to colossal cereal campaigns, these surreal marketing techniques are providing a unique form of advertising, one that allows viewers to experience a whimsical and imaginative concept.
32 Surreal Marketing Techniques
From Surreal Fashion Art Campaigns to Paradise Deodorant Ads:
Tana Makmanee — Jun 27, 2013 — Marketing

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Surreal Ad Photography
'Pickpockets' by Romain Laurent

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Surreal Submerged Fashion Ads
The Wonderland Couture by Feline Blush Campaign is Magical
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Human Shearing Ads
The Uniform Jeans Verano Esquilate Campaign Sheds Fur for Summer
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Gagafied Car Editorials
The 'Another Day, Another Adventure' for Mini Cooper Editorial is Dynamic
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Surreal Snake Neck Campaigns
Amuse Fashion Socks Ads Invite the Creative Wearing of Wool
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Gravity-Defying Ads
‘This is a Crazy World' Turns Reality Upside-Down
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Surreal Digital Ads
These Amazing Taylor James Creations Redefine Amazing Marketing
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Surreal Saturated Fashion Stories
The Roberto Cavalli 'Psychotic Love' Photoshoot is Cinematic
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Surrealist Activewear Campaigns
These RIG Utility Clothing Advertisements are Fantastical
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Imaginative Child Curiousity Ads
Matteo Pozzi Answers Children's Questions Via Wonderful Artwork
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Surreal Skydiving Commercials
'Experience Human Flight' is a Stunning View of an Extreme Activity
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Surrealist Ads
Dali & Magritte Inspired VW Polo BlueMotion Campaign
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Surreal Cultural Campaigns
David Lachapelle's Special T Ads Enter Three Magical Worlds
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Surreal Coffee Ads
Folgers Clears Up Complicated Mornings
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Inverted Landscape Auto Ads
The Mercedes-Benz Airmatic Campaign Drives on Air
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Surreal Fashion Art Campaigns
Ignasi Monreal Graphic Illustration for Joyce S/S 2013 is Stunning
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Surreal Liquid Flavor Ads
The Exito Agua Campaign Promotes Seven Layer Protective Bottles
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Surreal Investment Ads
AE Investimentos Print Campaign Uses Dali Creations
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Epic Sports Ads
The Eurosport TV Commercials Will Get Your Heart Racing and Your Palms Sweaty
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Monumental Alcohol Ads
The Absolut Vodka Campaign is Impressively Celebratory
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Surreal Sweetheart Ads
The Sonimagfoto & Multimedia Photolovers Campaign is Bizarrely Amorous
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Sleekly Surreal Vidvertising
This Celsius X VI II Commercial Leaves One Wanting More
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Whimsical Childlike Lookbooks
The Lesia Paramonova 2013-14 Collection is Inspired by Uniforms
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Exotic Terrain Campaigns
The Land Rover 'Go Beyond' Ads Travel to Remote Landscapes
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Paradise Deodorant Ads
Become One of the Freshest Places on Earth with the Old Spice Campaign
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Floating Ornament Fashion Ads
The Dior for Printemps Holiday 2012 Campaign is Festively Surreal
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Footstep-Following GPS Ads
The Samsung Galaxy Campaign Shows Its "Just like You've Been There"
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Surreal Technicolour Ads
Dreamscape in Target's Colour Campaign is Bright and Beautiful
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Flowing Chocolate Ads
Cadbury Flake 'Unfold' is a Beautiful Peaceful Commercial
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Colossal Cereal Campaigns
The Honey Shreddies Ads Advertise Sweet Taste
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Mining Artifact Ads
The Scania Campaign Advocates Updated Machinery for the Industry
Related Ideas
AI-Generated Sports Campaigns
Paris Saint-Germain Launched a Fully AI-Generated Campaign
Playful Billboard Campaigns
Dreamies Treats Unveil a Show-Stopping 3D Billboard Campaign
AI-Created Luggage Campaigns
LANCEL's New Voyage Ai Campaign Launched on June 7th
Creative Ad Responses
Kiehl’s Response to Censorship Embraces Bold Creativity
AI-Generated Ketchup Ads
Heinz Designed an Advertisement Using the Slogan 'It has to be Heinz'
Aggressive Athlete Ads
Nike Launches the Winning Isn’t for Everyone Campaign
Customizable Latex Apparel
Sloganlatex Revolutionizes Latex Fashion with New Offerings
Sound-Focused Ice Cream Ads
Magnum Ice Cream Ads Bring the Ultimate Sensory Experience to Life
Ethereal Self-Care Collections
The Dream Collection by Rituals Targets Gen Z
Flower-Centric Events
Macy’s Flower Show Celebrates 50 Years with a Surrealist Garden
AI-Lead Car Ads
Ford Launched an AI Campaign Dubbed 'Be Surreal, Be Ford'
Halloween-Inspired Pretzel Campaigns
Snyder’s of Hanover Debuts the 'Pretzelface' Campaign
Unconventional Holiday Campaigns
Chloe Surreal X Sundae School's Holiday Campaign Challenges Norms
Nostalgic Kitchen Campaigns
Frigidaire is Running the Cheeky 'Daire to Expect More' Campaign
Generative AI Candy Campaigns
The Starburst 'Different Every Time' Campaign is Interactive
Truth-Forward Beauty Campaigns
The Ordinary X Uncommon Unveil the Beauty Industry’s Biggest Myths
GenAI Flip Phone Campaigns
Motorola's Styled with Moto Features AI-Generated Virtual Models
Humorous Menswear Ads
Men’s Wearhouse Goes Full Funny with its 'Love the Way You Look' Campaign
Sniffable Deodorant Billboards
Sure's Out-of-Home Campaigns Invites Passersby to Take a Whiff
Parisian Airport Pop-Ups
Moët Hennessy's Paris Concept Event Featured Travel Exclusives
Groundbreaking AR Posters
Wall's Out-of-Home Ads Make AR Experiences Unmissable with WinDOOH Tech
Emotional Poeticized Motorsport Campaigns
Honda Debuts the 'Unstoppable Dreams' Campaign
Immersive Festival Haircare Activations
Method Returns to Coachella with 'Dream in the Desert'
AI-Powered Advertiser Campaigns
Instacart Utilizes its Automation Tools for Universal Campaigns
Athlete-Backed Shoe Campaigns
Nike Released Awaken Your Madness with International Soccer Players
Humorous Automotive Campaigns
Hyundai’s 'Where Have You Been?' Ad Merges Nostalgia and Branding
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
AI-Driven Product Photoshoots
Unilever Shared Its Use of AI and Digital Twins at NVIDIA GTC 2025
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Imaginative Luxury Perfume Campaigns
The Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid Eau De Parfum is Ethereal
Logo-Centric Soccer Campaigns
Apple Introduces the MLS Seasons Pass Campaign Visuals
Fashion Brand Christmas Ads
Chanel's 'Winter Tale' is a Magical Holiday Ad from the Luxury Icon
Airline Highlight Advertisements
Spirit Airlines 'More Fly' Campaign is A Fresh Take on Travel
Exaggerated Holiday Displays
Nordstrom NYC's 'Wonder All the Way' Campaign is Larger-Than-Life
Surrealist Phone Cases
The Salvador Dalí x CASETiFY Collab Elevates Everyday Accessories into Art
Individuality-Focused Brand Campaigns
Adidas Originals' New Campaign Champions Timeless Classics
Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards
Gymshark Unveils the Shoplift Campaign Ahead of Sale
Illuminated Drone Shows
Ralph Lauren Commemorates its ‘Very Ralph’ Documentary in Shanghai
Unusual Fast Food Ads
KFC’s ‘Believe’ Campaign Ad Pushes Chicken Obsession to New Heights
QSR Menu Billboard Campaigns
Burger King Shows Real Burger Sizes with Real Size Campaigns
Charming Christmas Advertisements
Sainsbury’s Christmas Ad 2024 Evokes Childhood Nostalgia
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Collossal Crocodile Campaigns
The Lacoste 'Play Big' Campaign Features Artists and Athletes
Iconic Character-Inspired Campaigns
Etsy's Christmas Ad Celebrates Personalized Gifting
Movement-Inspired Fashion Campaigns
The Bottega Veneta's Going Places Features Going Places
Multichannel Retail Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' 'Happy Lolidays' Campaign is Engaging
Cinematic Video Game Spots
Droga5’s ‘Wake Up’ Campaign for Xbox Shows an Escape from the Everyday
Retail Overconsumption Campaigns
Coachtopia's 'The Wasted Parts' Explores Overconsumption Culture
Sensitivity Marketing Campaigns
Cetaphil Teams Up with Lil Wayne for Super Bowl Spot
Unretouched Photography Books
Dove Reimagine Beauty Celebrates Authentic Representation
Nature-Reconnecting Outdoor Campaigns
Mammut Encouraged People to Reconnect with Nature
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
Designer Camera Printer Concepts
The Conceptual Polaroid Trance Camera is Ultra-Modern
Humorous Mens Fragrance Campaigns
A New Axe Campaign Takes Sweetness to Absurd New Heights
Eerie Film-Based Deodorant Campaigns
Secret Deodorant Debuts a Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Commercial
Neuroscientific Bodycare Campaigns
Native's Scent Alchemy Campaign Shares the Science of Scent
Festive Advent Campaigns
Cadbury's 24 Out-of-Home Ads Represent the Countdown to Christmas
Therapeutic Nature-Inspired Campaigns
Craghoppers Introduces Its Autumn/winter 2024 Campaign
Creative Auto Campaigns
The Electric Capri Campaign Revives a Legend with Modern Flair
Parody Soda Ads
Zevia’s Playful Holiday Ad 'Break from Artificial' Takes a Stand for Realness
Sensory Cat Food Campaigns
WHISKAS' Purradise Imagines Worlds to Satisfy Every Type of Cat
Mystery-Style Holiday Ads
Waitrose Adds Mystery to the Festive Season with ‘Sweet Suspicion’ Ad
Adventurous Roadtrip Retail Campaigns
The Pilot Flying J 'See You Out Here' Campaign is Relatable
Drug-Themed April Fool's Gags
Innocean Berlin's Glory Over Pain Corporation Campaign is Satirical
Innovative Outdoor Advertising Campaigns
Unilever's Dirt is Good Turns Billboards into Playgrounds
Graffiti-Painted Beer Packaging
1664 x André Saraiva Debut a New Vibrant Collaboration
Neighborhood-Inspired Campaigns
Kotn's F/W 2024 Collection is Released with a Witty Short-Film
Pollution-Removing Murals
This Campaign Sucks by Dentsu Brings Awareness to London's Air Quality
Surrealist-Inspired Tea Pots
Nik Bentel Stuns Consumers with the Tea for Two Collection
Functional Household Product Concepts
Dami Seo Designs the Soom Concept for Household Items
Provocative Guerrilla Campaigns
Jewelry Brand MWCurated Uses Fake Infidelity Flyers for Marketing
QSR Summer Pop-Ups
McDonald's Mexico Launched a Summer-Themed Activation in Mexico
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Vacation-Inspired Clothing Lines
Saint Holiday Emphasizes Sustainability & Ethical Manufacturing
Swedish Streetwear Campaigns
Axel Arigato Launches its Festive 2024 Campaign
Mindful-Shopping Campaigns
The Ordinary’s 'Slovember' Campaign Promotes Intentional Shopping
Luxury AR Packaging Solutions
Mytheresa Released App-Controlled Innovative Product Packagings
Banshee-Inspired Fashion Collections
McQueen’s Spring 2025 Ad Campaign Embraces Irish Folklore
Immersive Virtual Pop-Ups
Benefit Launches Virtual 'Benemart' Concept for Holiday Shopping
Graphic Fashion Animation Campaigns
Louis Vuitton Remasters Takashi Murakami's Superflat Animation
Whimsical Garden Product Campaigns
Where the Good Things Gro Brings the Enchanted Garden to Life
Surrealist Pink Pop-Ups
Hourglass Cosmetics is Hosting the Unreal Pop-Up Shop in NYC
AI Fashion Photography
Adstronaut AI Creates Stunning eCommerce Images for Fashion Brands
Exquisite High Jewelry Campaigns
Boucheron's New Campaign Film Was Directed by Claire Choisne
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
Cheerful Healthy Snack Campaigns
Garden Veggie Snacks' YUMbelievably Delicious is Innovative
Whimsical Candle Christmas Campaigns
The Yankee Candle 'Make it More Magical' Campaign is Festive
Culturally Inspired Fragrances
This New Superdry Fragrance Comes in Two Expressions
Quirky Plant-Based Food Ads
Gosh! Food's Falafel Advertisement is Surprising
Documentary-Style Hotel Campaigns
W Hotels' 'Hotel Tales' is a Captivating New Campaign
High-Concept Brand Campaigns
The ‘Legitimate You’ Campaign Proves Every Brand Can Look Pro
Specialty Cheese Campaigns
Alouette Unveiled its Creative 'Flavor That Sings' Campaign
All-Dark Marketing Campaigns
IKEA Introduces its Darkest Campaign Yet with Try Oslo's Help
Augmented Reality Wine Bottles
DeBortoli's AR Sinister Wine Enhances the Consumer Experience
Chicken-Centered Campaigns
KFC Released a Campaign Called 'Believe in Chicken'
Human Connection-Centric Campaigns
Etsy's New Ad Campaign Wants to Keep Commerce Human
Surreal Artist-Inspired Tech Accessories
CASETiFY Presents a New Salvador Dalí Collection
Sensory Explorative Art Exhibitions
Chromasonic Presents the Making Sense of Color Exhibition
Visually Appealing Food Campaigns
Celestial Seasonings Launches the Taste Our World Campaign
Cinematic Travel Campaigns
Marriott Bonvoy Debuts the 'You are the Greatest Souvenir' Campaign
Reimagined Classic Beer Campaigns
Guinness Gives 'A Lovely Day' a Modern Artistic Refresh
Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns
Michelin Launches the On the Road and Beyond! Campaign
Fashion-Inspired Sleep Aid Campaigns
Unisom is Partnering with Fashion Designer Christian Siriano
Adventurous Tourism Campaigns
Saudi Tourism Debuts its 'This Land is Calling' Campaign
Imaginative Shopping Platforms
Walmart Realm Shares Influencer-Curated Shopping Environments
Excellence-Focused Bourbon Campaigns
Maker’s Mark Launches the Perfectly Unreasonable Campaign
Exploratory Art Exhibits
The Saga of the Department Stores Exhibit Explores Shopping’s Evolution
Immersive Store Screens
Hays Travel Introduces Immersive Technology to Transform Holiday Planning
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
Poeticized Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Club 21 Debuts its Cinematic 'Salute The Detail' Campaign
Comprehensive Apparel Brand Campaigns
Apparel Group Launches Its Expansive 'Summer-Time' Campaign
No-Nonsense Grooming Campaigns
The Rock Face Makes Scents Campaign Pokes Fun at Marketing Cliches
Reinterpreted Retro Denim Spots
Beyoncé Stars in Chapter Three of Levi’s 'REIMAGINE Campaign'
Scannable Skincare Murals
The Ordinary's Interactive Augmented Reality Mural Promotes Bodycare
Travel Lifestyle Brand Ads
Away’s 'Travel Changed Me' Film Captures the Power of Exploration
Playful QSR Campaigns
Cossette Forms the New McDonald's Campaign to Closest Restaurant
Hard-To-Read Health Campaigns
A Specsavers Campaign Encourages Movie-Goers to Check their Sight
Innovative Digital Signage
Creative Realities Enhances Fan Engagement & Outcomes with New Signage
Advanced Printing Techniques
BrandMyDispo Has Introduced Printing Techniques for Custom Mylar Bags
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
Redefining Hotel Brand Visions
Marina Bay Sands Unveiled its 'Above Beyond' Campaign
Drone Marketing Initatives
LEGO Takes to the Sky with Drone Show and Aerial Messages
Dynamic Auto Marketing Campaigns
Hyundai Promotes Its Electrical Vehicle Line-up
Skateboarding-Inspired Ads
Vans Launched the ‘Always Pushing’ Ad Highlighting Skating Culture
Emotionally Engaging Holiday Advertisements
Teleflora Captured Attention with The Power Of Wishes
Disruptive Hairstyling Campaigns
Bed Head's The Lab of Life Breaks the Fourth Wall
Reinventive Denim Campaigns
Chapter Two of the REIMAGINE Campaign Honors Levi's Denim Heritage
AI-Driven Visual Creation
EverArt Enables AI-Based Custom Visual Creation for Your Brand
Urban-Inspired Bag Campaigns
côte&ciel's Latest Editorial Campaign is Dubbed Rhythms of Transit
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Advertising Demand-Side Platforms
Yahoo Launched Yahoo Creative to Help Advertisers
Ad Inspiration Archives
Nobody Reads Ads Showcases Print and Outdoor Ads With Notable Success
Comedic Groundhog Day Campaigns
Lay's Flavor for Days Campaign Taps into Groundhog Day
Boundless Art Exhibitions
The Frameless Experience Showcases Iconic Art Beyond Reality
Reflection-Encouraging Edible Oil Campaigns
Simply Fresh Marks the New Year with a New Campaign
Imaginative Children's Holiday Campaigns
Aretto and Hamleys Partner on an Engaging Campaign