Charles Dickens wrote that some people are so refined that they must have their criminal characters delivered to them, "like their meat, in delicate disguise." Maybe the disguise is part of the attraction in a work of fiction. It certainly seems to be one in life.
From the art of trompe-l’oeil to stealthy military mimicry, humans take great pleasure in making things look like what they’re not. The rest of us take pleasure in solving the puzzle by trying to determine what the disguises are masking.
Below are some examples of camouflage discovered by Trend Hunter. Some are easy to interpret. Others take a little more effort.
25 Camouflaged Creations
Unusual Products and People That Are Intentionally Not What They Seem:
Katie Cordrey — Mar 29, 2009 — Eco
25
Body Paint Illusions
Emma-Jane Cammack Camouflage Art
24
Camouflage Body Painting
Body Art as a Disguise
23
Camouflaged Creatures
Amazing Animal Mimicry
22
Urban Camouflage
DIY Costume Making Projects Help You Blend In With the City
21
Trompe-L'oeil Chimney Stacks
Striking Beauty in the Paris Suburbs
20
Hidden Ad Images
WWF Blends Human Faces into Environment
19
Camouflage Canvases
Painting Models Invisible
18
Models Disguised as Trees
‘The Night Shift' in Vogue
17
Camouflaged Public Art
Los Angeles' Disguised Utility Boxes
16
Meat Camouflages
The Magic Salad Plate
15
Subliminal Food Packaging
Smiling Faces Hidden in Broccoli Florets
14
Old Walkman As iPod Camouflage
Hidepod?
13
Leaf-Shaped Lights
‘Sinthesya' Solar Lamp Mimics Photosynthesis
12
Fauxhenge Memorials
Manmade Monuments Mimic the Iconic Ancient World Marvel
11
Biomimicry PSAs
Thai Safe Sex Ad Uses Spiders, Snakes
10
Kitty Litter Camouflage
Cat Silhouette Cutout Allows Access to Litter Box in Cupboards
9
Ocean Power Via Biomimicry
BioPower Systems' Tidal Electricity Generation Apes Nature
8
Invisibility Paint
AR 1 Camouflages Radar
7
Biomimicry to Solve Problems
AskNature.Org
6
Flower Camouflage
Grass Vases
5
Camouflaged Folding Chairs
Biombo Combination Furniture
4
Mutated Military Baubles
Futuristic and Camouflaged Tree Decorations
3
Fake Rock Speakers
Klipsch AWR-650-SM
2
Camouflaged Ad Campaigns
GotVMail and Gary Busey on Business
1
Puzzling Public Buildings
The Crossword Mural is Solved with Clues Hidden in the City
Related Ideas
Biomimicmarketing in Shockvertisement
French AIDS Campaign
Commercial Body Painting
John Vargas' Work
Body Paint Sportswear
Emma-Jane Cammack's Art of Sport
77 Freaky Robots
Hershey's Cocaine Packaging
Ice Breakers Pacs
23 Creatively Hidden and Surprising Ads
Body Painting Evolved
Emma Hack, The Ultimate Body Artist
Body Paint Illusions
Emma-Jane Cammack Camouflage Art
Paintings With Hidden Images
Superimposed Surrealism by Octavio Ocampo
40 Animalistic Ads
15 Body Paint Innovations
From Models Wearing Nothing to Social Activism
Body Paint Ads
Bit Copa Beer
Youth as Wild Animals
Wrangler "We Are Animals" Ads
49 Nature-Inspired Innovations
Candy & Ice Cream Undies
Victoria's Secret Sweet Packaging
Pushing Gross Packaging
New Images on U.K. Cigarette Packs
91 Treenovations
From Arboreal Body Paint to Caterpillar Leaf Notes
Invisible Outfits II
Desiree Palmen's Camouflage Art
Arboreal Body Paint
Models Disguised as Trees
28 Innovative Urban Art Activities in 2008
3D Murals 2
Fine Art Graffitti (UPDATE)
Aids Awareness Everywhere
Love Life, Stop Aids Campaign
Hidden Kitty Toilet
Plant in Clay Pot Really A Litter Box
Water Spill Camouflage Fashion
Agua vaª T-Shirt
Top 10 Novel Ideas + Invisible Floating Bookshelf
Human Camouflage as Art
Worth1000 Showcases People Blending with Environment
5D Galaxy Ceilings
StarMurals Have Actual Shooting Stars
Pet-Friendly Architecture
The Plus-Nyan Cat House
Ingenious Flat Pack Furniture
Small Space Living Made Eco-Easy
Models Posing as Animals
‘Into the Wild' with Chuando & Frey
Integrated Feline Furniture
The Wall-Mounted Cat Path
Invisible Outfits
Dutch Artist Combines Art & Fashion
Mega Wind Turbines
World's Largest Windmills to be Made in the USA
Deceptive Architecture
3D Murals
18 Oddball Ornaments for Tricked-Out Trees
Green Abu Dhabi Development
Resembles Stonehenge
36 Smart Solutions For Small Space Living
36 Cool Camouflages
From Fake Skin to Secret Wall Tattoos
Time Lapse Body Painting
Artist Paints Himself In Protest Against Diesel
Firefighting Robots
OLE Insect Firefighter
Wall-Mounted Pet Beds
‘Curve' Shelf Lets Cats Sleep in Midair
Corrugated Cat Habitats
Caboodle Eco-Friendly Cardboard Feline Furniture
Luxury Shopper Ornaments
Mouth-Blown Christmas Decorations
Automated Cat Poo Cleaner
Litter Robot
Camouflage Canvases
Painting Models Invisible
Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine
Green Power is Blowin' in the Wind
Mosquito Curtains
Removable Screens For Your Porch
Invisible Tank
The Ultimate Weapon
Hipster Cycling Fashion
Pedaling Into The Urban Future In Eco Style
Urban Farming Movements
Exposing the Chicken Underground
Models as Museum Masterpieces
Halston Skips Runway at New York Fashion Week S/S 2009
Furniture For Small Space Living
The Pivot Table
14 Crazy Innovations for Cats
Water-Collecting Wind Turbines
Stylish "Eol'eau" Stores Green Energy and Rain
Urban Bathing
Public Places to Take a Dip with Friends
Biomimicry PSAs
Thai Safe Sex Ad Uses Spiders, Snakes
Hypnotic Mosaic Murals
Adam Face by Lewis Lavoie
Litter Boxes for Dogs
Nowhere Butt Here
Street Art Spray Can Invasions
Subversive Urban Art by DFace
Giant Pictures as Awe-Inspiring Murals
Surface View Funks up Your Wall
Camouflaged Speakers
SteroStone Fountain Speaker
Animal-Inspired Tree Decorations
Intricate Glass and Swarovski Ornaments
Urban Comic Promos
'Watchmen' Publicity in Full Force Around the World
Futuristic Energy Plants
Green Power Generators
Festive Sushi Ornaments
Fishy Baubles For Your Christmas Tree
Green 'Lungs' for Urban Areas
Kjellgren Kaminsky's Eco-Friendly 'Vision for Heden' in Gothenburg,
Beautiful Eco-Branding
Lexus ‘Solar Trees' Campaign Proves Green Design is As Impressi
Recreating The Past
7 Modern Day Stonehenge Replicas
Urban Furniture
Domestic Designs For the Streets by SpY
Fake Products Advertising Real Stuff
Eau de Polygamie and HBO Big Love
Fake Taunting
Milorad Cavic Loses it, Michael Phelps Taunts (HILARIOUS)
Will Ferrell's Viral Campaigns
Semi-Pro Fake Ads & "Let's Get Sweaty" Cards
Reflective Public Art
Crystal City Mind
Fake Ads For Batman Movies
Harvey Dent for Dark Knight
Nature-Inspired Playground Equipment
The Leaf Swing
Badass Ornaments
Christmas Tree Balls With Attitude
Cat Patios
Window-Mounted Feline Luxury Deck
Hidden Images in Maps
Animals On The Underground
Problem-Solving Plants
The Sega Toys Healing Leaf
Wind-Powered Countries
Spain Sets World Record for Green Power Generation
Renewable Ocean Energy
San Francisco Submits Permit to Implement Offshore Wave Power Project
Quirky Public Art
Posters of Copenhagen Park Personalities
Fake Websites 2
Canadian Competition Bureau Mocks Up Anatomy of an Online Health Scam
Frisbee-Inspired Eco Housing
SeaO2 Stonehenge Community
Forgotten Technology
Mystery of Stonehenge Solved?
Storage Furniture for Small Spaces
Storable Table Features Integrated Shelves
Leafy Salad Servers
The Salad Plant
Innovation From Nature
Biomimicry: The Course