25 Awesome McDonald's Ads - From Billboards to TV Spots (SUPER GALLERY)

Innovation and creativity are not words I usually associate with McDonald’s and its unhealthy food and ‘super size me’ attitude. However, over the past few months of my time as a Trend Hunter, I have come across numerous witty and creative ad campaigns for the yellow arches restaurant chain.

From puzzle posters and outdoor billboards made of lettuce, to ad shells that could only be read at night. McDonald’s marketing team must be commended for an excellent job at promoting their brand.

Enjoy five clusters of 25 McDonald’s campaigns & advertising trends below.

Creative Outdoor Campaigns

Puzzle Billboards - McDonald’s Sort Your Head Out Campaign (GALLERY)

McDonald’s has been on a roll with some very creative campaigns recently. The latest is an outdoor billboard that invites you to “sort your head out” with their 1 Euro large coffee. The billboard is… [More]

Billboards Made of Lettuce - McDonald’s Growing Fresh Salads Ad (VIDEO)

This unique growing outdoor billboard by Leo Burnett, which promotes McDonald’s health-conscious menu items, just won a Gold at New York Festivals’ Innovative Advertising Awards. The garden billboard… [More]

Sheltervertising - McDonald’s Creative Outdoor Billboards

This is a great demonstration of how a good creative direction can utilize the advertising medium and transform a simple ad into something much more interesting. This new 2008 outdoor ad from DDB Denmark… [More]

Ads That Can Only Be Read At Night - McDonald’s Creative Night Adshell

As part of their campaign to announce that McDonald’s restaurants are now open all night, DDB Sydney designed a creative outdoors ad that could only be read at ni… [More]

Print Ads

Wind-Up Promotional Toys - McDonald’s Cranks it Up for Coffee (GALLERY)

Be warned Starbucks, McDonald’s is making a very strong push to promote its coffee. Following the unusual Sort Your Head outdoors campaign, Alma DDB has created a fun print ad campaign promoting McDonald’s… [More]

2 Creative McDonald’s Ads - WiFi + 24/7 Drive Thru

McDonald’s marketing team has been releasing very creative ads lately. I particularly like the minmalist and subtle aspects of their new ads. Take the 24/7 Drive Thru ad created by DDB Auckland ad agency,… [More]

Racist McDonalds Ad? - Look Closer : Individuals (GALLERY)

At first glance, this new McDonalnds Swedish ad looks very offensive and racist. It says in bold typical McD yellow font “We don’t hire Turks, Greeks, Poles, Indians, Ethiopians, Vietnamese, Chinese or… [More]

White Space in Ads - McDonalds Draws a Blank

Every designer knows that a good use of white space can be very effective. Keeping a certain proportion of an advertisement without clutter is vital, but just how much is the right amount? McDonalds… [More]

Video Commercials

McDonalds India Uses Baby Ronald - Scaring Customers Away? (VIDEO)

I have an extreme phobia of clowns, so this McDonald’s India ad seriously has me rattled. I’m not sure what the point is, but it was featured on Advertising Age, and I can’t get the image out of my head.… [More]

German McDonald’s Viral - Move Your Lederhos’n

If you’ve ever seen a better German viral than this one for McDonald’s then please, send it to us at Trend Hunter! The Huettengaudi is absolutely hilarious. The viral ad, which runs under the tagline… [More]

Overly Stimulating Ads - Swedish McDonalds Coffee Ads (VIDEO)

Featuring cheesy family shots and corny music just won’t make the cut for Swedish McDonald’s commercials. In a way, it only makes sense to develop something as outrageous as this. Since McDonalds has… [More]

Anti-McDonald’s

PETA Strike Against McDonalds - Shocking Nursery Rhyme (GALLERY)

Animal rights foundation, PETA, has launched another campaign against a fast food company, this time in protest of McDonald’s. The ads play up the fast food chain’s unethical treatment of animals, complete… [More]

Environmental Campaign Crashes McDonalds Site

McDonald’s restaurants in Japan were offering Big Macs for half off their normal price if people demonstrated a commitment to preventing climate change. To “demonstrate” this commitment, people were asked… [More]

Operation Hamburger Helper (RANDOM) - Eight Cows Escape at McDonalds (VIDEO)

As the driver was pulling into a McDonald’s in West Haven, UT, eight of his 800-lb. passengers escaped on hoofs out of the parking lot and into the street. Hot to trot, it took over two hours for officials… [More]

Prince Charles Wants To Ban The Big Mac

Prince Charles, known to be an advocate of healthy living and public health awareness, spoke out against McDonald’s fast food suggesting that a ban was key to ensuring the long-term health of the nation. [More]

Create Your Own McDonald’s Sign - Protest Become Viral

Create your own McDonald’s sign at Ronald McHummer.  The site is actually a protest site disgruntled at the fact that McDonald’s has distributed toy Hummers in 42 million happy meals.  The site has become… [More]

Random Advertising

Mcdonalds Ad Contest on YouTube - Are Consumer Generated Ads Boring Yet? (VIDEO)

Maybe anyone can be an amateur admaker these days.  Dozens of companies are getting in on the action.  Is this getting boring yet?  Or is consumer directed advertising the way of the future? Either way,… [More]

McDonalds Uses Subliminal Advertising (or do they?) (VIDEO)

Subliminal advertising has been the butt of jokes since the days when people claimed cigarette ads were edited into films. You know it’s a passe idea when Sprite launches a tragic “Sublymonal” ad campaign… [More]

McDonalds by Mobile - Japan’s RFID Contactless Coupon Program (GALLERY)

McDonald’s Japan has started an innovative new Contactless Coupon loyalty and payment program that has been under development for nearly a year. The program started with 175 stores and will expand gradually… [More]

I’m Lovin’ It, and I Want the World to Know

“Yoo-hoo! I can make you famous!” McDonald’s has found a new way to get its customers involved in the ubiquitous “I’m Lovin’ It” marketing campaign. The world’s largest fast food company announced an… [More]

Advertising on Report Cards - McDonald’s Offers Happy Meals for Good Grades (GALLERY)

More advertising in schools, or less? All over the U.S., administrators are having to answer this question. “Earlier this month, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood demanded that McDonald’s… [More]

McDonalds Launching World Cup Burger

McDonalds is to launch a special World Cup burger that is said to be bigger than their Big Mac. Now get this the burger is supposed to be 40% larger than the Big Mac. The calories associated with this… [More]

Freeconomics & Food - McDonalds Gives Out Free McSkillet Burritos (VIDEO)

As Wired magazine pointed out in their most recent “Free Issue,” freeconomics and supplying the world with free products and services is the way of the future. McDonald’s has reaffirmed that gratis is… [More]

McDonalds Makeover - Hip Store, Sleek Uniforms

McDonalds UK revamped their interiors and got new designer chairs and muted colours, but then they didn’t stop at that and decided the staff needed a makeover too. McDonalds has replaced the brightly coloured… [More]

McDiplomas - McDonalds Vocational Diploma

McDonalds, FlyBe & Network Rail are three UK companies whose training courses have been given accreditation for the UK’s government new vocational diploma. The press in the UK have gone crazy over this… [More]