45 Innovative & Smart Ads With Astounding Art Direction

Ads can be pretty dull. You see the same thing over and over again. But sometimes, you see an ad that is so creative and well-done that you can’t help but take notice. You may not realize it, but notable works of art surround you. Not the kind that hangs in museums or is sold for millions of dollars, but the kind used to sell products. Some of the best and most creative ads around feature incredible art direction.

These 45 ads are a great example of fantastic art direction and creativity. From clever puns to gorgeous illustrations, these ads will make you stop and take a look. Who knows, you might even get some marketing inspiration from them.

1. Copenhagen Zoo: Snake Bus

Image: Bates Y&R, Copenhagen, Denmark

2. SANCCOB: Illusion

Image: Bittersuite, South Africa

3. FedEx: China-Australia

Image: DDB Brazil

4. Mercedes Benz: Christmas Tree

Image: FCB Warsaw, Poland

5. The Times of India: The Identity of Young Chennai

Image: JWT, Chennai, India

6. Band-Aid: Hulk

Image: JWT, Dubai, UAE

7. ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation: Bike

Image: BBDO Bangkok, Thailand

8. Finishizer: Fail Hitler

Image: Ogilvy & Mather, Warsaw, Poland

9. Zoo Safari: Lion

Image: DDB Brazil

10. French Ministry of Health: Childhood Obesity

Image: Art & Copy: David Lesage

11. Maxam Toothpaste: Roman Civilization

Image: JWT Shanghai

12. The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation: Deathbed

Agency: CHI&Partners, London, UK

13. Hut Weber: Hitler vs. Chaplin

Image: Serviceplan Hamburg/Munchen, Germany

14. Dills Digestive Mints: Jet Salmon

Image: Mortiebrigade, Belgium

15. FedEx: ‘Always First’ Truck

Image: Miami Ad School, Hamburg, Germany

16. Penguin Audiobooks: William Shakespeare

Image: McCann Worldgroup, Mumbai, India

17. MTV Networks: Black Ribbon Michael Jackson

Image: BBDO Dusseldorf, Germany

18. Keloptic: Impressionism

Image: Y&R, Paris, France

19. Guinness: Phones Down

Image: Paul Ellis/Getty

20. Plant for the Planet: Factory

Image: Leagas Delaney, Hamburg, Germany

21. Career Junction: Grocery list

Image: TBWA/RAAD Middle East, Dubai, UAE

22. Principe Ketchup: Hot Dog

Image: Unknown

23. Zwilling J.A. Henckels Knives

Image: Herezie, Paris

24. McDonald’s Breakfast: Cactus

Image: DDB Tribal, Vienna, Austria

25. McDonald’s: Wi-Fries

Image: DDB, Sydney, Australia

26. Bench Fix Hairstyling Products: Gecko

Image: TBWA/Santiago Mangada Puno, Makati City, Philippines

27. Heinz Hot Ketchup

Image: Jekyl n’ Hyde, Brussels, Belgium

28. National Geographic: 3D Crocodile Escalator

Image: Unknown

29. Ecovia: Stop the Violence, Don’t drink and drive

Image: Terremoto Propaganda, Curitiba, Brazil

30. UNEP: Skyline

Image: Vinay Saya, Siddharth Basavaraj

31. Jeep: Elephant

Image: Leo Burnett, France

32. Nivea Men: Worry lines, Kids

Image: Jung von Matt/Alster, Hamburg, Germany

33. Unicef: Water Bomb

Image: Serviceplan Hamburg, Germany

34. John Lewis: Home

Image: Adam&Eve DDB, UK

35. Bango Sweet Soy Sauce: Mutton

Image: LOWIE Indonesia, Jakarta

36. Australian Post: Hug

Image: M&C Saatchi, Melbourne

37. Crossword Bookstores: Lips

Image: Ogilvy & Mather, Mumbai

38. Schusev State Museum Of Architecture: Saint Basil’s Cathedral

Image: Saatchi & Saatchi Russia

39. Jeep: Husky Camel (Two Worlds)

Image: BBDO Proximity, Malaysia

40. Master Card Canada: Women’s Golf Classic

Image: MacLAren McCann, Canada

41. Ipanema Gisele Bundchen G2B Sandals: Splash

Image: W/Brasil, Brazil

42. Philips Led Torch: Forest

Image: Ogilvy & Mather, Gurgaon, India

43. Garage Fitness Club: Cobra

Image: McCann Erickson, Tel Aviv, Israel

44. Kapiti: Designer Ice Cream

Image: Colenso BBDO, Auckland, New Zealand

45. Zoo Bratislava: Lion

Image: JANDL Bratislava, Slovakia

It’s been a pleasure showcasing some brilliant and creative ads with fantastic art direction. As you can see, some truly unique and innovative ads are out there. It’s always interesting to look at the different ways companies try to grab our attention, and it can be even more fascinating to explore the art direction behind these advertisements.

So, which one was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!