Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 479,996 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,291 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 104,272 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,291 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 104,272 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,233 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 479,996 cutting edge ideas.

Mystified Marketing

Unsuspecting ads utilize elements of surprise to evoke instant responses

Implications - While straightforward ad techniques offer consumers a more clearcut message and takeaway, sticking to simple distinctions often leaves viewers feeling mentally unchallenged. Unsuspecting campaigns that keep consumers guessing and analyzing what the ad is about offers a more thought-provoking approach, combining elements of shock with the need for more intellectually engaging marketing methods.
Trend Themes
1. Surprising Ads - Utilize elements of surprise to evoke instant responses, which challenges mental realizations of commercial messages.
2. Interactive Marketing - Offers innovative approaches to conventional messaging by involving users and facilitating user experience.
3. Humorous Campaigns - Unexpected techniques, followed by unveiling of truth, can make a momentary promotion go viral and result in brand loyalty.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - Consumers are interested in unusual eating and feeding experiences, which can inspire product development and originality.
2. Automotive and Transportation - Bold marketing exploits for high-tech features can lead to viral and buzzworthy campaigns through consumer curiosity and interest.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Utilizing a creative and unconventional approach to advertising can establish brand recognition through 'outside-the-box' strategies.
3.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
10 Featured, 86 Examples:
286,646 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Jul 13 — Jul 15
Trending:
Mild
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

Unsuspecting Product Ads
Unsuspecting Product Ads
LG Electronics is Using a Unique Magazine Ad for its OLED TV Debut
LG is using a unique magazine ad to publicize its 4mm-thin OLED TV, and engaging unsuspecting readers into further investigation. On the spine of the Nordic electronics magazine, LG placed its... MORE
play_circle_filledSpeaking Window Campaigns
Speaking Window Campaigns
The 'Talking Window' Privately Advertises to Unsuspecting Travellers
Conducting sound through glass, ad agency BBDO came up with a way to discretely advertise to train passengers with their Talking Window. Since tired train passengers regularly rest their heads on... MORE
Mysterious Wine Giveaways
Mysterious Wine Giveaways
Twitter's Secret Somm CA Anonymously Gifts Wine to Diners
Those dining out in Northern California will want to stay on the lookout for Secret Somm CA, or @SecretSommCA as she’s better known. This anonymous wine aficionado has been gifting bottles of... MORE
play_circle_filledInteractive Drinking Ads
Interactive Drinking Ads
With a Smartphone and Shazam, People Can "Drink" These Coca-Cola Ads
As part of its mission to create joyful moments, Coca-Cola ads commonly employ technology to surprise and delight consumers. This is definitely apparent in the brand’s newest ‘Drinkable... MORE
play_circle_filledEdible Purse Commercials
Edible Purse Commercials
The ICC 'Model Eats Designer Bag' Commercial is Hilarious
The International Culinary School marketing commercial ‘Model Eats Designer Bag on NYC Subway’ brilliantly sparked viral fandom. The ‘Model Eats Designer Bag’ commercial features an actress/... MORE
play_circle_filledFloating Beverage Stunts
Floating Beverage Stunts
Tim Horton's Drink Marketing Promotes a Higher Level of Deliciousness
In order to announce the new Creamy Chocolate Chill as the must-try summer drink from Tim Hortons, the coffee chain set up a dramatic drink marketing stunt to show exactly what they mean by the... MORE
Automotive Emoji Messages
Automotive Emoji Messages
Chevrolet Teases the Cruze with a Cryptic All-Emoji Release
Sometimes, an emoji message just says it best. Now that emojis are being called the most fast-spreading universal language, it’s no surprise that Chevrolet is tapping into one of the most... MORE
play_circle_filledShoulder-Poking Car Ads
Shoulder-Poking Car Ads
This Campaign Cleverly Promotes the New Volkswagen Side Assist
The Volkswagen ‘Side Assist’ is a new feature “that will help drivers see the usual blind spot that drivers have.” The improvement is a wider mirror that will help make “shoulder checks”... MORE
play_circle_filledSubtitle-Switching Campaigns
Subtitle-Switching Campaigns
The 'Barely Legal Media Space' Ads Tricked Piraters with Fake Text
In order to promote the Británico English Institute, ad agency Young & Rubicam created the ‘Barely Legal Media Space’ campaign. The agency created ridiculously fake subtitle files... MORE
play_circle_filledTaste-Duping Hummus Campaigns
Taste-Duping Hummus Campaigns
‘The Hummus Stunt’ Tricked Restaurant Patrons with Packa
Aiming to change the Israeli perception of packaged hummus, Saatchi & Saatchi developed a campaign called ‘The Hummus Stunt’ where prepackaged hummus was served in a restaurant. Letting... MORE

Related Examples

play_circle_filledSpecial Olympic Anthems
Special Olympic Anthems
Coca-Cola Created a Special Olympics Anthem Called 'Reach Up'
Emoji Passcodes
Emoji Passcodes
Intelligent Environments Develops an Alternative to Four Digit Bank Pins
Chic Soda Packaging
Chic Soda Packaging
These Elegant Labels are a Collaboration of Coca-Cola & Trussardi
Plant-Based Soda Bottles
Plant-Based Soda Bottles
Coca-Cola's PlantBottle is Made from Sugar Cane Rather Than Petroleum
Morbid Logo Mockups
Morbid Logo Mockups
Bored Panda Helps Protest Labor Abuses in Qatar via World Cup Sponsors
Bitter Brand Illustrations
Bitter Brand Illustrations
Sadvertising Explores What Brands Would be Like if Sad
play_circle_filledSensory Soda Videos
Sensory Soda Videos
Coca-Cola Celebrates Its Fizzy Sound With a Cinematic Tribute
Exotic Fruit Sweeteners
Exotic Fruit Sweeteners
MonkSweet Blends Natural Stevia with Monk Fruit for Better Flavor
play_circle_filledEmoji Branding
Emoji Branding
Laura McQuarrie Counts Down Her Favorite Examples of Emoticon Ad Campaigns
Victimized Emoji Initiatives
Victimized Emoji Initiatives
The Abused Emojis Empower Children to Speak Up
Emoji Bobblehead Stunts
Emoji Bobblehead Stunts
This TalkTalk Mobile Marketing Campaign Promotes a Test on Emoji IQ
Animal-Saving Emojis
Animal-Saving Emojis
WWF's Twitter Campaign to Save Endangered Animals Begins with a Retweet
Pizza Emoji Deliveries
Pizza Emoji Deliveries
Domino's is Allowing Customers to Order Pizza Using a Beloved Emoticon
Footwear Emoji Apps
Footwear Emoji Apps
The Foot Locker App Lets You Add 'Shoemojis' to Your Text Messages
Organic Fast Food Teas
Organic Fast Food Teas
The Wendy's and Honest Tea Partnership is the Chain's First Organic Item
Middle Finger Emojis
Middle Finger Emojis
Microsoft's Window 10 is the First to Offer the Expletive Hand Gesture
Fast Food Emoji Ads
Fast Food Emoji Ads
These McDonald's Billboards Are Marked with Emoticon Imagery
Chocolate Donut Collaborations
Chocolate Donut Collaborations
The Tim Hortons Nutella Series is a Limited-Time Only Offer
Soda Fountain Billboards
Soda Fountain Billboards
Coca-Cola's Drinkable Billboard Satisfies Thirsty Basketball Fans
Experiential Gift Services
Experiential Gift Services
Tinggly Lets Your Recipient Choose the Gift They Want to Get
play_circle_filledTissue Gifting Experiments
Tissue Gifting Experiments
This Marketing Experiment from Kleenex Challenges People to Share
Customizable Gifting Apps
Customizable Gifting Apps
Amazon Surprise! Allows You to Attach Gift Cards to eCards
play_circle_filledBlack Coffee Buses
Black Coffee Buses
This Coffee Marketing Stunt Surprises Canadians with a Dark Bus Ride
Young Designer-Supporting Creatives
Young Designer-Supporting Creatives
Incipit Lab Helps Fresh Blood Produce Their First Objects
play_circle_filledGift-Sharing Stunts
Gift-Sharing Stunts
JCPenney's 'The Gift of Giving' Helps Shoppers Gift Other Consumers
Cozy Holiday Trucks
Cozy Holiday Trucks
A Sweater-Clad Truck Promotes Tim Hortons' Holiday Cups
Heartwarming Social Campaigns
Heartwarming Social Campaigns
Tim Hortons' Warm Wishes Campaign Encourages Paying It Forward
Effortless Gifting Apps
Effortless Gifting Apps
Giftagram is a Gift App That Makes It Easy to Send Presents
Beer-Gifting Apps
Beer-Gifting Apps
Budweiser's Buds for Buds App Lets You Send Out a Beer for Friends
play_circle_filledGifting Takeout Boxes
Gifting Takeout Boxes
Ping Pong Turned Its Take Out Food Box into a Present-Sharing Systems
play_circle_filledRetro Cafe Makeovers
Retro Cafe Makeovers
This Tim Hortons Cafe Immerses Itself in Its 1964 Roots
play_circle_filledPitch Black Cafes
Pitch Black Cafes
Tim Hortons' Dark Roast is Promoted in a Cafe That's All Black Inside & Out
Peppery Bacon Donuts
Peppery Bacon Donuts
Tim Hortons is Introducing a New Savory Black Pepper Bacon Donut
Hi-Tech Coffee Chains
Hi-Tech Coffee Chains
A Concept Tim Hortons Store Proposes a Hi-Tech New Design and Coffee Beer
Convenient Coffee Payment Apps
Convenient Coffee Payment Apps
Tim Hortons' Timmy Me App Now Lets You Pay with Your Smartphone
Artillery Style Beer Displays
Artillery Style Beer Displays
This Guinness Beer Tank Brings Out the Big Guns
play_circle_filledEnchanting Eco Lighting Ads
Enchanting Eco Lighting Ads
IKEA Promotes the Natural Beauty of Energy Efficient LED Lightbulbs
play_circle_filledLightweight Vacuum Curling Ads
Lightweight Vacuum Curling Ads
This Dyson Ad Replaces the Typical Broom with Curling Vacuums
play_circle_filledSocial Media-Blocking Ads
Social Media-Blocking Ads
This Coca-Cola Ad Uses Dog Cones to Get People Away from Their Phone
Jolting Mechanical Bull Ads
Jolting Mechanical Bull Ads
Berocca Livens Up Workplace Stress by Tweeting on a Mechanical Bull
Minimalist Denim Fashion Ads
Minimalist Denim Fashion Ads
The Gina Tricot Spring 2014 Campaign Stars Magdalena Frackowiak
Album-Promoting Personal Ads
Album-Promoting Personal Ads
Chromeo’s Craigslist Missed Connections Reaches Out to Fans
Sweettooth Nacho Dips
Sweettooth Nacho Dips
The 7-Layer Dessert Dip Transforms the Superbowl Food Staple
Asian Dessert Burgers
Asian Dessert Burgers
The Lotteria Chocolate Chicken Burger is the Ideal Valentine's Day Meal
Fun Fashion-Inspired Edibles
Fun Fashion-Inspired Edibles
Corey Moranis Creates Deliciously Edible Fashion Art
Adorable Woodchuck Recipes
Adorable Woodchuck Recipes
The Groundhog Hot Dogs by Sandra Denneler are Repeatedly Welcomed
play_circle_filledHeart-Filled Confections
Heart-Filled Confections
Baking Blog Bird on a Cake is Behind This Valentine’s Day Recipe
Perfectly Palatable Plates
Perfectly Palatable Plates
The Sweeeeet Tableware Set is Made From Traditional Korean Dessert
Dessert-Producing 3D Printers
Dessert-Producing 3D Printers
The ChefJet 3D Printer Was Displayed at 2014 CES
Posh Pastry Frangrances
Posh Pastry Frangrances
La Tentation de Nina is a Cross Between Desinger and Dessert
Literal Literary Life Campaigns
Literal Literary Life Campaigns
Penguin Audiobooks Ads Make Everyday Activities More Adventurous
Nameless Juice Campaigns
Nameless Juice Campaigns
The Undescribeable Lemonade is Made with all Natural Ingredients
Retro Cityscape Campaigns
Retro Cityscape Campaigns
Daisy Lowe Stars in these Sophisticated Lancaster Fall 2013 Ads
Curated Cuisine Campaigns
Curated Cuisine Campaigns
These International Food Photography Festival Ads Celebrate Art
Restored Clothing Campaigns
Restored Clothing Campaigns
These Eau Ecarlate Renovator Ads Adopt a Comic Strip Approach
Social Media Criticizing Campaigns
Social Media Criticizing Campaigns
These Crisis Photos Features the Effects of Social Media
Interrupted Camera Campaigns
Interrupted Camera Campaigns
These Canon EOS Phone Call Ads will Jump Out at You
Tweeting Pigeon Campaigns
Tweeting Pigeon Campaigns
The 'Tweet Beyond Borders' Stunt Uses Pigeons to Send Tweets
Sweet-Encrypted Message Campaigns
Sweet-Encrypted Message Campaigns
The 'Jigglevision' Campaign Lets You Reveal Secrets with JELL-O
Superstar Syndrome Campaigns
Superstar Syndrome Campaigns
The Dyslexia Association of Malaysa Uses Idols to Empower Children
Internet Disinfecting Campaigns
Internet Disinfecting Campaigns
A Campaign for 'Cif' Cleaning Products Aims to Clean Up the Web
Airhead Lip-Locking Ads
Airhead Lip-Locking Ads
The 'Kiss' Ads Have Gum Bubbles Transforming into Lovers
play_circle_filledKiss-Currency Coffee Campaigns
Kiss-Currency Coffee Campaigns
The Metro St. James Cafe Lets Customers Use Kisses as Payment
Wringed-Animal Campaigns
Wringed-Animal Campaigns
A Disturbing Sea Shepherd Campaign as Ocean Creatures Being Twisted
play_circle_filledHands-Free Burger Campaigns
Hands-Free Burger Campaigns
The 'Hands Free Whopper' Lets You Multitask While Eating a Burger
play_circle_filledSocial-Powered Vending Machines
Social-Powered Vending Machines
The Pepsi 'Like Machine' Dispenses Sodas for Likes
Bug-Like Car Sculptures
Bug-Like Car Sculptures
Ichwan Noor's 'Beetle Sphere' Looks like the Bumblebee Transformer
Profanity-Reversing Campaigns
Profanity-Reversing Campaigns
The JELL-O 'Fun My Life' Campaign Turns Negativity Around
play_circle_filledStop-Start Sensory Apps
Stop-Start Sensory Apps
The Volkswagen Stop-Start App Pauses YouTube Videos According to Movement
play_circle_filledLuscious Helmet Hair Campaigns
Luscious Helmet Hair Campaigns
The 'Brave Peruke' Campaign Adorns Helmets with Luscious Locks
play_circle_filledMarriage-Testing Beer Campaigns
Marriage-Testing Beer Campaigns
Heineken’s ‘The Negotation’ Pits Couples Against
IQ-Screening Campaigns
IQ-Screening Campaigns
A QR Code Test by Agency YehoshuaTBWA Screens for Smart Students
play_circle_filledUndead Street Stunt Films
Undead Street Stunt Films
Zombie Parkour is an Action-Packed and Gruesome Free Running Video
play_circle_filledJoke Jogging Publicity Stunts
Joke Jogging Publicity Stunts
Fevicol’s Simple Marketing Campaign Stages Runners Stuck in Pl
play_circle_filledAggressive Hot Hatch Redesigns
Aggressive Hot Hatch Redesigns
The Volkswagen Design Vision GTI Boasts 500 Horsepower
Seven Figure Commemorative Cars
Seven Figure Commemorative Cars
The Volkswagen Scirocco Million is a German and Chinese Exclusive
play_circle_filledSelf-Promoting Diva Stunts
Self-Promoting Diva Stunts
Shameless Maya Celebrates One Year of Unabashedeness by Shaving Head
Angled Auto Ads
Angled Auto Ads
The Volkswagen Side Assist Ad Campaign Makes a Serious Point
Guerilla Stunt Webinars
Guerilla Stunt Webinars
Dove Hosted a Q&A Webinar to Take the Audience Behind the Scenes
Smartphone-Connected Convertibles
Smartphone-Connected Convertibles
The Volkswagen iBeetle is the First Apple-approved Automobile
Speedy Hybrid Crossover Concepts
Speedy Hybrid Crossover Concepts
The Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe Boasts a 415 Horsepower V6
Floating Briefs Publicity Stunts
Floating Briefs Publicity Stunts
Paddy Power Uses a Giant Underwear Blimp Ad to Promote its Brand
play_circle_filledInteractive Autoshow Events
Interactive Autoshow Events
Jaime Neely Explores the Volkswagen Cross Coupe
Circular Aerodynamic Vehicles
Circular Aerodynamic Vehicles
The Volkswagen XL1 is the World's Most Aerodynamic Car
Social Media Coffee Gifts
Social Media Coffee Gifts
The Starbucks Card eGift Program is for Any Occasion
Luxury Birthday Gifts
Luxury Birthday Gifts
David Beckham Buys Chateau Posh