Providing consumers an experience as opposed to just a product is a standout theme when examining the top billboards trends in 2013. This year, we witnessed a variety of billboards that were interactive and required an audience to be complete. From live-knitting shoe ads billboards to ones that could only be accessed through the reflection of a puddle, large ads this year took on entirely new and exciting properties.
Another characteristic of the top billboards trends in 2013 is deception. Many artists, designers and marketers created ads that required a second -- or even third -- look to get the full message. Many billboards offered different views depending from which direction they were observed.
For a more detailed analysis and more examples on the ways billboards and large ads have become more interactive, check out Trend Hunter's Billboards Trend Report.
Top 100 Billboards Trends in 2013
69
Realistic Beachwear Advertisements
Jennie Runk for H&M Puts an Average Size Girl in the Spotlight
68
Functional Outdoor Billboards
The IBM Smart Ideas for Smarter Cities Campaign Leads by Example
67
Fashion Food Trucks
Henry Holland Transformed an Ice Cream Van to a Pop-Up Store
66
Furry Face-Palming PSAs
Animals Feel the Anguish of Destruction in this Wildlife Campaign
65
Strategically Simple Billboards
The ‘Love Designs’ Ads Grab More Attention with Minima
64
Multi-Message Bench Marketing
This Homeless Shelter Advertising Campaign Has Multiple Functions
63
Masterfully Remixed Movie Posters
Neil Kellerhouse Reinterprets Famous Film Promotional Material
62
Dark Gentlemen's Club Campaigns
The Dior Homme 'The Players' Fall/Winter 2013 Campaign is Suave
61
Smiling Soda Cans
The Coke 'Happy Can' Smiles at You When Opened
60
Songstress Collection Campaigns
Rihanna for River Island Autumn/Winter 2013 Ads Are Street-Chic
59
Intimately Educational Adverts
Science World Tempts the Public with a Racy New Campaign
58
Hand-Drawn Resumes
Creative Resumes are Key to Landing Internships
57
Soccer Star Loungewear Lookbooks
The David Beckham H&M Bodywear Fall/Winter 2013 Line is Sporty
56
Airplane Interactive Billboards
The British Airways #Lookup Campaign Inspires Travel Dreamers
55
Humorously Repeated Ads
McDonald's Sweden Has Funny Ads Specifically Made for Seniors
54
Inhabitable Large-Scale Advertisements
The Billboard House Lodges the Artist Creating the Mural
53
Potable Water Billboard Generators
The UTEC Billboard Campaign Produces Drinkable Water for Locals
52
Bedazzled Billboard Advertising
The Sparklemasters Sequinned Billboards Grab Attention
51
Imposing Billboard Photos
These Natan Dvir Photographs Capture the Impact of Advertising in NYC
50
Blank Billboard Photography
Kaitlin Rebesco's Work Alters Society's Perception Towards Advertising
49
Self-Conscious Billboard Ads
The Dove 'Girl Outdoor' Ad Has a Girl Hiding Using the Ad Itself
48
Weed-Eradicating Billboards
This Clever Billboard Ad for Kiwicare Slowly Kills the Weeds Around It
47
Chic Test Shot Advertisements
The Lanvin Homme Fall 2013 Campaign is Decidedly Underwhelming
46
Artistic Eco-Awareness Campaigns
The Recycle Everything Campaign Effectively Supports Recycling
45
Memorable Remark Movie Posters
Pulp Fiction Posters by Pierre-Alain Dubois Highlight Famous Lines
44
Personified Beverage Branding
The Vitamin Water SHINEBRIGHT Campaign Encourages Individuality
43
Homocidal Gingerbread Ads
The Fangoria Fanzine Kill Off Innocent Gingerbread Men
42
Board Game-Inspired Signage
Dave Delisle's Real Estate Sign is Monopoly Infused
41
Hatefully Patriotic Ads
These Witty Romanian Tourism Ads Take Multiple Shots at Britain
40
Punk Couture Campaigns
The Versace Fall/Winter 2013 Ads Are Edgy, Provocative and Modern
39
Witty Billboard Graffiti
Street Artist OX's Art is a Print and Digital Media Intervention
38
Childcare Charity Campaigns
These Ads Show the Hopes and Dreams of Abandoned Children
37
Hyper-Branded Books
The Famous Ludovic Houplain Film ‘Logorama’ Finally Becomes a Book
36
Minimalist Bug Billboards
Hilary Barnes Creates Insect Conservation Campaigns For 'Buglife'
35
Cleverly Inverted Urban Ads
This Street Ad by Mikkel Moller Targets its Market Via Reflection
34
Superstar Syndrome Campaigns
The Dyslexia Association of Malaysa Uses Idols to Empower Children
33
Web-Browser Billboards
New Zealand Company Metservice Created this Clever Billboard Advertisement
32
Artery-Flowing Soda Ads
The Pepsi Veins Campaign Utilizes More Subliminal Marketing Tactics
31
Internet Connection Film Campaigns
CJ Entertainment’s Wi-Fi Ad Draws Attention Back to the P
30
Billboard Cityscape Captures
Natan Dvir Compares Realities in His New York City Street Photography
29
Diorama-Sized Fashion Ads
The Kenzo x Toilet Paper Autumn/Winter 2013 Campaign is Childlike Fun
28
Inappropriate Dating Service Billboards
Cougar Life Has a Controversial Ad on Sunset Blvd. in L.A.
27
Witty Higher Education Advertisements
The University of San Francisco Marketing is Down to Earth
26
Ex-Governor Exploiting Billboards
Ashley Madison Calls Out Mark Sanford With Its Latest Ads
25
Holographic Shoe Advertisements
Nike Executes Street Ads That Showcase Footwear Using 3D Displays
24
Respirating Lung Billboards
The 'Cotton Lungs' Campaign Demonstrates the Effects of Pollution
23
Embroidered Food Menus (UPDATE)
Designers Maricor/Maricar Weaves Food and Advertising Together
22
Touchable Turntable Posters
The Urbanears Scratch Poster Turns People Into Interactive DJs
21
Moon-Integrating Billboards
The 'Luna Corona' Billboard is Designed to Align with the Moon
20
Cloaked Hearing Test Campaigns
This Fake Eye Exam is Actually a Hearing Test in Disguise
19
Sense-Simulating Advertising
This Ctaste Dark Dining Promotion Poster is Cleverly All-Black
18
Bug-Trapping Billboards
The Ad Agency Publicis Milan Has Turned a Billboard into a Bug Trap
17
Repurposed Eco Billboards (UPDATE)
A Clever Burt's Bees Billboard Finds New Life as a Rain Catcher
16
Classroom-Inspired Food Ads
McDonald’s Goes Back to the Basics with Chalkboard Menus
15
Legendary Sea Monster Billboards
The Kraken Black Spiced Rum References The Popular Legend
14
Explosive Paper Headpieces
BANGERS by StudioSpass Features Models Wearing TNT-Packed Paper Masks
13
Face-Jumbling Gum Ads
These Posters for Wrigley's 5 Gum Represent Extreme Sensory Experiences
12
Home-Building Billboards
The HomePro Cause Marketing Campaigns Provide Shelter for the Poor
11
Interactive Piglet Play Posters
The World's First Really Live Feed Teaches Compassionate Farming
10
Moving Mural Promotions
Graffiti GIF from INSA Announces Dwyane Wade's Shoe Line
9
Bubbly Underwater Event Campaigns
These Creative Event Posters Portray a Sense of Depth
8
Interactive Billboard Spoofs
The Domino's Pizza 'Lookdown' Billboard Spoofs British Airways
7
Artistically Repurposed Ad Spaces
Art Everywhere is an Undertaking to Showcase National Art
6
Bug-Blasting Billboards
Orphea4D's Billboard Trap Demonstrates its Effectivity Against Insects
5
Social Media-Sourced Billboards
The Scribe Billboard Features Artwork Based on People’s Tweets
4
Celebrity Unemployment Ads
Justin Bieber is the New Face of the Employment Policies Institute
3
Yoga Master Web Hiring
The Lululemon CEO Campaign Goes Global via the Net
2
Puddle-Reflected Billboards
The CPH Skatepark Outdoor Ad Points Out the Wet Conditions
1
Insect-Killing Footwear Murals
The 'Doom Wall of Shoes' Harnesses the Power of Thousands of Shoes
Related Ideas
Graffiti-Inspired Branding Campaigns
Mosaic North America Partners with Buffalo Bills
Anti-AI Beer Billboards
Heineken's Latest Ads Poke Fun at AI Friendship Devices
Dating Profile Billboards
Simply Spiked BOLD Moves Tackles Dating App Fatigue
Series-Inspired Newspaper Pop-Ups
Peacock Featured a Custom Newsstand for ‘The Paper’
Art-Display Smart TVs
Amazon Turns Televisions into Gallery-Style Digital Canvases
Scent Spritz Billboards
goodwipes' Scentsational Summer Billboard Releases Scent Every 30 Seconds
High-Profile Live Performance Marketing
Rokid Delighted Folks with a High-Profile Marketing Event
Shoppable TV Ads
Samsung and Amazon Enable Remote-Based Shopping Directly on TV
Curated Store Concepts
A New Target Soho Store Opens in New York with Design-First Looks
Digital Art Displays
The Layer Canvas Transforms How Digital Art is Shown at Home
Live-Printed Billboards
HP Showed Off the Power of Its Smart Tank Printers One A4 Sheet at a Time
Next-Gen Jelly Bean Campaigns
Jelly Belly Bean Appétit Entices a New Generation of Fans
Fashion-Inspired Food Marketing
Magnum Blends Beauty, Music and Luxury Culture into Its Brand
Modern Backlit Signages
Toronto Sign Media Elevates Brand Visibility with Custom Illuminated Signs
Wishlist-Spotlighting Billboards
Sephora Canada Features Customer Wishlists on Holiday Billboards
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
Haute Auto Pattern Campaigns
The Audi Car Couture Ad Turns Car Parts into Dressmaking Layouts
Night QSR Campaigns
The Mcdonald’s Night Posters Turn Post-Party Cravings into Glowing Urban Art
Fandom Culture Retail Experiences
EB Games x Vibrant Marketing Launch an 'EB Trends' Store Concept
Urban Landscape-Inspired Campaigns
The Casablanca Fall 2025 Advertising Campaign is Interesting
In-Store Audience Analytics Platforms
Walmart Connect Mexico Deploys Advertima For Real-Time Store
Retail Advertising Campaigns
IKEA Hides Price Tags to Highlight Material Quality in a New Campaign
Immersive Video Shopping Experiences
ASOS Live Blends Creator-Led Content with Real-Time Shopping
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Foggy Self-Care Billboards
eos' Windows of Self-Care Let Passersby Interact with Unique Personas
Pet-Finding Billboards
Hrvatski Telekom Created Scented Billboards That Attract Lost Dogs
Gen-Z-Targeted Language Platform Campaigns
Duolingo Introduces its Character-Driven 'Duolingo Ads'
Data-Driven Digital Experiences
Samsung Unveiled a Color-Changing Installation in London
Luxury Festive Campaigns
Bloomingdale’s Unveils Its 2025 Holiday Campaign
Bee Habitat Billboards
Disney x National Geographic Bee Billboards Double as Shelters
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Experiential Brand Stores
New Era Creates Interactive Retail Space With Custom Cap Design
Ultra-Heavy Billboard Activations
GymNation Boasts the World's Heaviest Billboard, Located in UAE
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Playable Brand Universes
adidas and Brawl Stars Connect Gaming, Apparel and Live Fan Experiences
Human-Centric Bank Branding Campaigns
TD Bank Group Launches the More Human Platform
Music Scene-Informed Luxury Campaigns
Burberry Taps Twiggy for Spring 2026 Advertising Campaign
Curated Newspaper Storefronts
Shreeji Unveiled 'The Village News' as an Offline Summer Ritual
Conversational Search Ad Features
Google Unveiled AI Max for Search Campaigns
Iconic High Fashion Campaigns
Veronica Beard's Fall 2025 Fashion Campaign is Tilted Iconic
Venice-Bound High-Fashion Campaigns
Bottega Veneta Boasts Its Pre-Fall 2026 Ad Campaign
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Small Beer Billboards
Modelo Chose a Large-Scale Ad to Highlight Compact Modelito Bottles
Comprehensive Fast Food Reports
Yum! Brands, Inc. Explores Food Trends Influencing the Industry
Gamified Sports Rewards
Mountain Dew Links MLB Home Runs to Real-Time Free Drink Rewards
Personalized AI Billboards
Mercado Libre's Custom Billboards Analyze Their Surroundings and Adapt
Musician-Led Beverage Campaigns
poppi Tapped Charli xcx and Rachel Sennott for the Super Bowl
Pick-Your-Own Bouquet Billboards
5,000 Tesco Mother’s Day Tulips Formed an Interactive Display
Content-Driven Flagship Retail
GARAGE Builds an Immersive Flagship in New York's Flatiron District
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Interactive Garment Billboards
The Sweaty Betty All Good in the Hood Campaign is in London
Conversation Insight Analytics
Messages Wrapped Turns Texts to Shareable Year-In-Review Summaries
Sofa-Centered Marketing Activations
This Sofa Club Activation Encouraged Consumers to Take a Seat
Outdoor Beer Advertising Campaigns
Busch Wraps Hay Bales to Promote Its Busch Farmer's Pack
Closed-Loop Retail Media Networks
Sam’s Club connects ads directly to measurable sales outcomes
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
New Year-Focused Car Campaigns
Kia Boasts the Redesigned 2027 Telluride SUV in a Festive Campaign
Feedless Social Platforms
Bond Eliminates Feeds to Focus on Real-Life Experiences
Pop-Up Reality TV Bars
Samsung Electronics' Verkligheten is a Destination for Reality TV Fans
Dynamic Art Displays
Mirage Transforms Personal Photos Into AI-Generated Artistic Scenes
Mobile Retail Experiences
Duluth Trading Brings Apparel Shopping to Events with a Mobile Showroom
Inaugural Vodka Billboard Campaigns
ALB Vodka Introduces Its First Billboard in New York City
Behavior-Based Smart Homes
Google Home automations adapt to routines, moods, and behaviors
AI Marketing Features
Adweek Introduced Its Agentic AI Insights With ADWEEK Possible House Chat
Photocopied Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's Office Delivery Ads Scanned Popular Menu Items
Bubble Wrap Billboards
Tombola's Interactive Billboards Engage Passersby with a Sensory Activity
Sports Lifestyle Retail
Nordstrom Blends World Cup Fashion with Immersive Pop-Ups
Interactive Embrace Billboards
giffgaff's Huggable Poster Conveys the Feeling of Being Valued
Athletic Event-Timed Tech Campaigns
TCL Ran a Comprehensive Ad Campaign During the Olympics
Mobile Brand Experiences
M&M's Brings an Interactive Caravan to the Tour De France
Collective Viewing-Celebrating Ads
Hisense Debuts 'Innovating a Brighter Life' for FIFA 2026
Streaming Moments Surge
Spotify’s Wrapped 2025 Engages Users with Personalized Year-in-Review
Reimagined Creative Campaigns
Marc Jacobs Dropped its '26 Summer Campaign and New Visual Identity
Youth-Led Holiday Campaigns
Where are You Going? Showcases a Global Portrait of Young Creators
Customized Restaurant Campaign Platforms
OpenTable Has Launched OpenTable Media
Body Typography Campaigns
Holland & Barrett Back Your Body Uses Anatomy to Form Letter Shapes
AI-Personalized Streaming Ads
Amazon Customized Prime Video Ads Using Shopping Behavior Data
Personalized Telehealth Service Platforms
Enhanced Reports Success of the Inaugural Enhanced Games
Sports Advertising Moments
Genius Sports Found Emotional Sports Moments Can Double Ad Recall
Branded App Takeovers
TikTok Introduces Logo Takeover Ads That Dominate the App’s Opening Screen
Post-Game Breakfast Campaigns
McDonald's Flipped Its Ads Sideways for Super Bowl Recovery
Fandom Retail Experiences
TOUS les JOURS Transforms Bakery Cafés into BTS Fan Destinations
AI-Driven Demand Gen Platforms
Google Has Unveiled Demand Gen That Absorbs Display Ads
Immersive Music Festival Stores
BELLA+CANVAS Debuted Museum of Merchandise at Coachella
AI-Powered Ad Platforms
FOX AdStudio Uses AI to Unify Audience Data and Campaign Performance
AI Ad Creative Platforms
Bestever Turns Advertising Data Into High-Performing Marketing Creatives
Destination-Branded Transportation
Themed Taxis Promote Scottish Travel During Major Soccer Events
Contextual Map Advertising Features
Apple Introduced Ads In Maps Through Apple Business
Glitching Movie-Inspired Banking Billboards
This BMO Billboard Brings a Film Detail to Life
Community-Centered Rooftop Events
Heineken's Rooftop Revival Turned Building Tops into Social Hubs
Gamified Discount Events
Build-A-Bear Uses Mystery Offers to Drive Engagement
Social Engagement Platforms
Sociable AI Predicts Viral Posts And Generates Brand Aligned Comments
Interactive Live Shows
Cirque du Soleil's Interactive Experience Offers Multi-Device Exploration
Participatory Brand Platforms
Crown Royal Builds a Community-Driven Cultural Platform
Massive Public Video Ads
SelectBlinds Spotlights Its Room Darkening Collection in Times Square
Shopping-Friendly Ad Formats
Equativ Shoppable Ads Allow Consumers to Seamlessly Make Purchases
Clinical Retail Media
PatientPoint Bridges Healthcare and Commerce
Girded Billboard Posters
Irn-Bru And Lucky Generals Introduced Girders Posters
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Predictive Mobile Advertising Features
T-Mobile Advertising Solutions Unveiled Contextual AI Ads
Ad-Friendly Vertical Video Feeds
Instacart Debuts the Immersive Feed Feature on Its Platform
City-Focused Influencer Platforms
Storytime Launches Storytime Marketplace in Cities
Social-to-Outdoor Campaigns
Tribesigns Extends TikTok's Super Wish Campaign to Times Square
Interactive Travel Publications
Destination Niagara Combines Storytelling with Trip Planning
Agentic Marketing Platforms
Microsoft and Publicis Build AI-Driven Marketing Ecosystems
Physical-World Data Marketing
WPP Uses Google Earth AI to Predict Real-World Consumer Behavior
Global Messaging Platforms
Borderless Lets Users Send and Read Messages Across the World
AI Beauty Marketing Platforms
Coty Uses Pencil to Scale AI-Generated Campaigns
Interactive Streaming Ads
Spotify Turns Listening into Engagement with Carousel Ads
Question-Driven Brand Revisions
NPR Turns its Logo Into Question Words
Omnichannel Retail Media Networks
Target's Roundel Expands Advertising Across Streaming and Stores
Real-Time Social Chats
Threads introduces live group chats around major cultural events
In-Store Retail Media Networks
Raley's Expands Shopper Advertising Through Grocery TV
Experiential Trade Shows
Wines Experience Reinvents Industry Networking in London
Ad Creation Platforms
Magritte Helps Marketers Discover, Design, and Launch Ads Quickly
AI-Powered Native Video Ads
TripleLift Powers GUESS FRAGRANCES Big Game Campaign
Marketing Jargon Games
Marketing Bingo Turns Buzzwords Into A Fun Client Meeting Game
Performance-Based Creator Platforms
Picsart Earn Program Pays Creators Based on Engagement
Local Restaurant Activations
Pepsi Hosts Community Events to Drive Restaurant Discovery
In-Store Ad Networks
ISM Powers Programmatic Advertising Across Retail Locations
Automated Design Creation
CreateMyBanner Uses AI to Generate Custom Social Media Banners
Neighborhood Storytelling Campaigns
Vitaminwater Expands Neighborhue with Community Mural Stories
Nostalgic Boy Band Commercials
T-Mobile Tapped Backstreet Boys for the Super Bowl This Year
Modular Drive-Thru Displays
Creative Realities Debuts Flexible Digital Drive-Thru Platform
Data-Led Brand Creation
AS Watson Builds Brands Using Shopper Insights and Loyalty Data
Creative Analytics Platforms
Superads Delivers AI Ad Insights Across Major Social Media Channels
Entertainment-Driven Direct Mail
Valpak and Hallmark Turn Mailers into Movie Experiences
Creative Home Campaigns
IKEA U.S. Launches its 'Dream the Possibilities' Platform
Interactive Traveler-Focused Campaigns
Tessan Will Spotlight the 100 Travelers Campaign
Self-Serve TV Advertising
Walmart Acquires Vibe.co to Simplify Connected TV Campaigns
Community Fashion Events
Free People Hosts a Charitable Summer Gathering with Film and Activities
Marketplace Showrooms
StockX Combines Shopping, Seller Services and Community Events in New York
UK-Expanded Furnishing Campaigns
Blum UK Unveils the 'More Than A Drawer' Campaign
Global Creative Billboard Competition
Gymnation Launches ‘Your Ad. Our Billboard’ Competition
Media Intelligence Tools
Media Watcher Tracks Global News And Social Buzz In Real Time
Crowd Analytics Beacons
EB Systems Deploys Crowd-Tracking Beacons at FIFA Venues
Retail Conversation Marketing Campaigns
Tesco Launches 'Need Anything From Tesco' Platform
Immersive Festival Art
Absolut and Yinka Ilori Create an Interactive Experience at Tomorrowland
AI Banner Design Platforms
CreateMyBanner Helps Users Design Social Media Graphics With AI
Multi-Level Cancer Awareness Ads
The United Breast Cancer Foundation is at Times Square