Top 30 Bizarre Innovations in 2008 H1

Innovation and ideas can derive from the most unusual places, and that’s the purpose of our love for the bizarre and the extreme.

This particular list showcases the top 30 bizarre innovations in 2008, based on our visitors. This is one of many features in our new FREE Micro Trend Reports section.

Top 30 Bizarre Innovations in 2008

1. Stupid Viral People Tricks - Dude Backflips Into Pants (VIDEO)

What is people’s fascination with watching other people do stupid things? This video shows guys trying to jump and land in their pants, specifically, they’re trying to do back flips and then land with… [More]

2. Toyota Prius Campaign - Prostitute, Lover, Killer (GALLERY)

Toyota thinks that sometimes you gotta overlook and forgive a man’s wrongdoing, as long as he is driving a Prius! The new Toyota Prius campaign uses the tagline “Well, at least he drives a Prius” with… [More]

3. Youth Shockvertising - Statutory Rape Awareness Ad

Statutory rape in Milwaukee is on the rise, so much so, that the Family Violence Partnership hired Serve, an ad agency to create this shockvertisement.

The point the advertisement is trying to get across… [More]

4. Youth Shockvertising II - CONCEPT ‘Don’t Lose Control’ Child Abuse Ad (GALLERY)

These concept ads related to child-protection are very disturbing. But so is the subject matter.

Domestic violence is a serious issue that can leave a child scarred for life. This ad campaign, with realistic… [More]

5. Controversial New YouTube Star - Who is MRirian? (VIDEO)

Her videos have combined for millions of views, so what’s the deal with MRirian? Why are so many people watching her, and why does anybody care? Is she Japanese? Her blog is in Japanese, she speaks Japanese,… [More]

6. Animal Hair Hats - Nagi Noda Creations (GALLERY)

Sometimes, something just captures, confuses and inspires you. That is exactly the effect of these quirky animal-inspired hair hats by Japanese art director Nagi Noda. They are truly out of this world.… [More]

7. Alien-Themed Architecture - Giger Bar (VIDEO)

Artist Han Rudi Giger, better known as H.R. Giger, is recognized worldwide as one of the foremost artists of Fantastic Realism as well as his famous work on the pop culture film series, Alien. Now Giger… [More]

8. Inflatable Couture- Dresses Made Entirely of Twisted Balloons (GALLERY)

These dresses, made entirely out of twisted balloons, are an absolute wonder to look at. They were crafted with the same techniques clowns use to make balloon animals, yet these pieces are a lot more elaborate.… [More]

9. Gravity Defying Houses - Daring Architecture

It’s really hard for me to believe that the second house from the top clockwise is not a Photoshop product. The house, which is located in the Ukraine, is being supported by a single cantilever. That is… [More]

10. Fake Urban Holes - HP Guerrilla Photopaper Campaign (GALLERY)

In one of the most innovative ads we’ve featured, HP organized a guerrilla marketing campaign for its photo paper.

The urban installations were created by Publicis of Malaysia and were comprised of “holes"… [More]

11. Glass Toilet Cubicles - Swiss Public Bathrooms (GALLERY)

Apparently they don’t get pee fright in Switzerland… or if they do, then this public toilet must stay really clean because most people wouldn’t actually be able to use it! It’s made one-way reflective… [More]

12. Disastrous Uber Editing - Famous Photoshop Bloopers (GALLERY)

Everybody knows that Photoshop is the miracle recipe for great looking stars. But what happens when the art director is over using the Photoshop wonders? It ruins everything! Stars get incredibly slimmer,… [More]

13. Starring in Strangers’ Photos - PhotoBombing (GALLERY)

Have you ever been surprised to see a stranger appear to pose like he’s part of your photos? It’s no accident. In fact, there’s actually a term for what he’s doing. He is PhotoBombing.

The term refers… [More]

14. Mutated Humans as Art - Lucy and Bart (GALLERY)

People, get ready for the future! Lucy and Bart is a collaboration between brilliant artists Lucy McRae and Bart Hess which they describe as an instinctual stalking of fashion, architecture, performance… [More]

15. Mile-High Eco-Tower - 500 Floor London Building (GALLERY)

Here is another plan for a super-high skyscraper, this time in Europe’s very own London.

The eco-friendly building, which will be 500 stories high, could house 100,000 non-height-fearing people as well… [More]

16. Killer Heels - Cruel Designer Shoes (GALLERY)

We’ve seen some innovative shoe designs, but these are truly wicked. Ladies, you think you have a pair of shoes that kills? Unless you’ve worn some of these, you can’t complain about having a tortured… [More]

17. 360 Degree Mirror

The 360 Degree Mirror saves you from constantly twisting your neck while you style your hair by featuring a seven panel 360 view that makes all angles visible simultaneously.

Although the product targets… [More]

18. Shockvertising - Does It Work? Jury Still Out (GALLERY)

Can displaying a shocking, disturbing image be worth it to the public good? Shockvertising is reaching new highs, or lows, depending on your opinion.

Industry experts say public-service ads are becoming… [More]

19. Brass Knuckle Cups (Part II) - Thabto MUG

Not a morning person? Would you rather avoid conversation with anyone while you try to enjoy your coffee? Well it looks like your alone time with just you and your brew is about to become a reality. Thabto’s… [More]

20. Torture Couture - John Galliano Prisoner of War Fashions? (GALLERY)

John Galliano has been known to be a bit outrageous or as some would say, edgy, but I’m not quite sure what to call his 2008 fall fashion line.

The designs looked like some type of terrorist mummy… [More]

21. Guns for Girls - Pink Remington Shotgun

A while ago I posted about Hello Kitty themed guns but it appears that reality has now overtaken art with there being a market for “cute” pink guns for girls in the US. And their popularity is increasing,… [More]

22. Redneck Mansion

Just because you’re a redneck, doesn’t have to mean you can’t live in a mansion. Just look at this nifty dwelling; it’s a pretty unique, self-made living complex. 

It’s composed of several trailers,… [More]

23. Breast Milk Soap - DIY Beauty Products

While the thought of breast milk cheese made me gag, I can handle the thought of using breast milk soap… although if faced with a choice, I’d still take my regular Dove bar.

The organic cleansing bars… [More]

24. Plastic Surgery Obsession Ads - Chevrolet Jabs (GALLERY)

Chevorlet is certainly not trying to impress or get the business of plastic surgery obsessed LA and Hollywood. “If it’s not fixed by the one who made it, it probably won’t work.” That’s the new campaign… [More]

25. 25 Innovations in Eyelashes, Eye Shadow and Eye Balls (SUPER GALLERY)

Eyes are the window to the soul, so why not class up your window with diamond-studded eye lashes, Barbie cosmetics, metallic make-up or video game style contact lenses?

If there’s one thing you’ll… [More]

26. Extreme Advertising - Coke Zero’s Tongue-Piercing in Brazil (VIDEO)

Coke Zero has launched in Brazil an extreme guerrilla marketing campaign using people’s tongues.

Several shops in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre and Salvador give free piercings with the brand… [More]

27. Bathroom Blood Dispensers - Clue Guerrilla Campaign

Picture this: you go into a public washroom at a restaurant or bar and unassumingly squeeze liquid soap onto your palm from a seemingly normal dispenser. Oh it’s red, must smell like strawberries… You… [More]

28. Nightmare-Inspired Photograpy - “After Dark, My Sweet” by Joshua Hoffine (GALLERY)

Joshua Hoffine is an artist who finds inspiration in Hollywood icons like Stanley Kubrick. He directs the stars of his photos, usually family and friends, using elaborate sets and props, make-up and lighting… [More]

29. 22 Fashionable Weapons for Women (SUPER GALLERY)

Guns, grenades and other weapons were typically designed for men, but now that women are more involved in combat, both in Hollywood and in real life, an influx of stylish weaponry has hit the market. While… [More]

30. Brazil Underwear Day - Bus Station Hosts Underwear Fashion Show & Go (VIDEO)

Agreed not a new type of event, as New York has its very own National Underwear Day dating back to 2003, but this similar event in Brazil (in its second year) is more of a fashion show, as it represents… [More]