Faking things can be fun, but as the news story of Marcus Schrenker and his fake death make evident, sometimes faux can really be too low. On the other hand, if you keep it light, it can be a lot of fun, or an innovative attribute to use for promotions.
Leave the heavy stuff like the Marcus Schrenker scandal to the traditional media. The cluster below highlights some of the best fake innovations, from fake sperm whale sculptures for awareness, to fake stripshows to sell real estate.
33 Things You Can Fake
32
Faking Awesome
Fake Ferraris, Children, Lovers and Guns
31
Mythvertising
Faking Chupacabra and Bigfoot for Publicity
30
Faux Rockstar
Guitar Hero 3, Rock Band 2, Rockstar Supermodels, and Badass Babies
29
Faking Naughty
5 Ads That Made You Look Twice
28
Hardcore Tattoo Removal
Go for the Burn With This (Fake) Iron-Inspired Treatment
27
Fake Aging
Vogue's 'From 10 to 60 Years' Uses Only Makeup, Lighting
26
Fake Naughty
Beate Uhse TV Ads for Parental Controls and Supervision
25
Faking Naughty II
5 More Ads That Made You Look Twice
24
Faking Proof on Flickr
The Fairy Skeleton
23
Parodies of Fake Boobs as Ads
Brava Breast Enlarger Campaign
22
Fake Vampire News
Twilight Filipino Adaptation is a Hoax
21
Faking Virginity
Artificial Hymen Makes Women Virgins Again
20
Luxury for the Homeless (UPDATE)
Faux-Cardboard or Clochard Duvet Covers
19
Tiny Putting Green Jewelry
Faux Moss Rings by ‘Adorn Jewelry'
18
Fake Editorials for Awareness
APAV Anti-Domestic Abuse Campaign
17
Fake Diamond Ring Mugs
The 2-Carat Cup
16
Fake Dead Rockstars
Faux Amy Winehouse Art Cadaver
15
Faux Strip Shows for Real Estate
Window Dancers to Sell LA Apartments
14
Fake Sperm Whales
Stranded Sculptures
13
Stains as Jewelry
Fake Ketchup Drips and Lipstick Prints by Yunju Lee
12
Faking Street Cred
Hero Tattoos
11
Faux Animal Skin Rugs
Vintage Dutch Blanket Polar Bear Carpets
10
Customized Fake Corpses
Ordering Bespoke Dead People
9
Faux Wood Sinks
Bandini's Ebano Collection
8
Fashionable Holy Books
Fake Magazine Cover for ‘Bible Illuminated'
7
Hiring Fake Crowds
Queues for Hire at McDonald's in Japan
6
Faux Skin Sinks
'Ethnic' Bath Vessels
5
Faux Blood-Splattered China
Macabre Coffee With The Antonio Murado Salome Set
4
Fossilized Fake Eyelashes
‘Relics' Amber Exhibit Predicts Future Findings
3
Fake Paper Bags
Rip-Resistant 'Papier Bags' Are Not Your Every Day Brown Bag
2
Fooling Highway Speed Cameras
Pranksters Use Fake License Plates for Revenge
1
Viral Newspapers Hoaxes
1.2 Million 'New York Times' Fakes Handed Out
Related Ideas
Playful Pet Accident Campaigns
IKEA Unveils the Don't Worry, You Can Afford It Campaign
Teddy Bear Outerwear
Build-A-Bear Cuddly Couture Shares Cozy, Warm Styles
Invisible Furniture Capsules
IKEA's Invsbål Campaign and Capsule are a Playful April Fool's Joke
Hater-Created Music Videos
Liquid Death's Greatest Hates Volume III Features Social Media Comments
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
Beer-Pouring Party Billboards
JUBEL Made a Billboard That Pours Pints Invites People in to Party
Plastic Waste Ice Creams
Eleonora Ortolani Proposes a Different Way to Recycle Plastic Waste
Cheese-Themed Luxury Spas
The Wedgewater Spa Highlights the Best Cheeses of Wisconsin
Plastic-Heavy Fashion Campaigns
Anonymous Club and PUMA Debut a New Collaboration
Deep Sea Funerals
Mondial Boasts Another Way to Scatter the Ashes of Loved Ones
Paper-Based Tray Packaging
Verday Vegan Meats are Packed in Shallow Food Trays Made for Recycling
Sea-Inspired Anti-Smartphone Cocktails
The Futago Smartphone-Fasting Sour Encourages Socialization
Flask Phone Cases
Body Vodka Created a Take-Anywhere Transparent Flask Phone Case
AI-Generated Magazine Covers
Glamour Bulgaria's August Issue Has a 100% AI-Generated Photo
Future Building Material Exhibitions
The Farrell Centre Debuts Its Inaugural Exhibition
Three-Sided Coins
Vdk Created a 3D Coin to Spark Conversations About Money, People and the Planet
Furniture Waste-Made Toys
ÉCAL Students Redefine What a Sustainable Toy Is
Eco-Friendly Beeswax Chess Sets
This FAUM Chess Set Disappears After Use Without a Trace Left
Fluidless Scent-Releasing Facemasks
Hong Kong Researchers Developed a Smart Mask Using Wax Pads
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Candid Furniture Campaigns
Life is Not an IKEA Catalog Shows a Different Side of Home Products
Futuristic 3D-Printed Decor Collections
The Sekisai 'CO-BREATHING OBJECTS' Range is Ultra-Modern
Vegan Collagen Tortilla Chips
Whale Sperm Tortillas Share the Benefits of Vegan Collagen
Fake Ketchup Campaigns
This Heinz Campaign Exposes "Ketchup Fraud"
Excuse-Providing Mock Cans
Like a Magic 8 Ball, Samuel Adams' 'I CAN't' Can is Ready to Shake
Plastic-Free Material Databases
A Plastic Planet Launches the PlasticFree Subscription Service
Provocative AR Campaigns
NotCo's 'Not So Happy Animals' Presents Food Logos in a New Light
Anti-Greenwashing Soap Ads
Navigating Eco-Consumer Irony with Better Climate Store's "Greenwash"
Eco Storytelling Workwear Campaigns
Patagonia's We Can Get There From Here Tells is Inspiring
Playable Beer Coasters
This Budweiser Campaign Uses Vinyl Coasters to Support Underground Artists
Undone Luxury Fashion
AVAVAV FW23 Ripped Clothing Right Off of the Runway
Eco-Friendly 3D-Printed Surfboards
Paradoxal Surfboards are Crafted with Algae-Based Material
Lie Detector Test Cans
Simply Spiked Lemonade™ Introduces the #KeepitRealCan Campaign
Tofu-Inspired Fragrances
Pacifica Beauty's Baked Tofu Scent Brings Awareness to Mindful Choices
Stunning Biomaterial Exhibitions
Natural Material Studio Stuns with Floor-to-ceiling Biotextiles
Waste-Reducing Produce Stickers
Grey Colombia & Makro's Stickers on Produce Suggest Recipes
Sensory Immersion Tools
Lifelines Activate the Body's Natural Stress Relivers
AI Fact Generators
Snapple is Evolving its Fun Facts with the Snapple fAIct Generator
Playful Retail Pop-Up Installations
Selfridges Unveils the Joke Shop with a Slapstick Generator
Resurrected Used Smartphones
Think Tank Team Makes Artifacts with Project Afterlife
Submarine-Inspired Watches
The Shinola Sea Creatures Skeleton Dial Features Ocean-Bound Plastic
AI-Generated Personalized Animations
The Simulation Puts Fans into an AI South Park Episode
Paper Vodka Bottles
Mother of Pearl Vodka Debuts the First Australian Vodka in a Paper Bottle
Mixed-Reality Cola Billboards
This 3D Coca-Cola Billboard Dispenses Real, Cold Drinks
Temporary Tooth Tattoos
Hismile's SmileStika Enhances Teeth with a Touch of Whimsy
All-Paper Perfume Boxes
Ffern’s Made-to-Order Fragrances are Packaged in Biodegradable Boxes
Interactive AI Sommeliers
Chronic Cellars' Mascot Answers Wine Questions in Augmented Reality
Traveling Fine Art Campaigns
EasyJet's Get Out There Features Mona Lisa, The Thinker and More
Upcycled Object Exhibitions
Nendo and Daniel Arsham Design, Break, and Create Functional Objects
Water Digital Wallet Loyalty Cards
Liquid Death Has Introduced the Liquid Death Country Club
Playful Furniture Exhibits
SFMOMA Presents Conversation Pieces: Contemporary Furniture in Dialogue
Plastic Waste Artful Installations
Studio Karyn Lim Presents So Plast!c at SaloneSatellite
TV Show-Generating AI Tools
Fable Launches a New AI Tool That Creates South Park-Style TV Shows
Perception-Challenging Art Exhibitions
Raise the Moral Studio Presents the Becoming Familiar Show
Climate Crisis Awareness Exhibitions
Kinetic Singapore Unveils the School of Tomorrow Exhibition
Raw Material Objects
Marusela Granell and Manu Bañó Experiment with Raw Materials
Sportscar-Inspired Electric Boats
Porsche and Frauscher Shipyard Join to Design the Fantom Air
Lab-Grown Reproductive Biology
A Team of Researchers Work on the Testis Organoids Project
Wool-Centric Contemporary Exhibitions
Formafantasma Debuts the Oltre Terra Exhibition in Oslo
Communication-Based Immersive Exhibitions
Intuit Mailchimp and Design Museum Present Email is Dead
Paper Mable-Made Tables
Bentley Home Creates a Table with Paper Factor and Frederico Peri
Coronation-Themed Sex Toy Campaigns
This SexToys.co.uk Campaign Cheekily Promotes Pleasure
Collectible Circular Design Exhibitions
Isola Presents Nothing Happens if Nothing Happens
AR Selfie Booths
BBC's Pop-Up Booth Lets Passersby Try on Augmented Reality Animal Masks
Immersive Holographic Zoos
Hologram Zoo Lets Visitors Interact with Animals Like Never Before
Plastic-Exploring Art Exhibitions
The Everlasting Plastics Exhibition Explores Plastic Dependency
Trans Kidney Health Ads
Africa Creative's Ad Sheds Light on Trans Community's Kidney Health Burden
Wasteful Shopping Billboards
Not On The High Street's Billboards Highlight a "Don't Gift Guide"
Water-Covered Speaker Installations
Google and Lachlan Turczan Unveil Shaped by Water in Milan
Villainous Board Game Campaigns
The Monopoly All is Fair Campaign Leans into Competition
Scam-Based Board Games
All Mod Cons by NatWest Educates Players on Dangerous Scams and Schemes
Sustainable Festival Stands
Mentos' Pure Fresh Gum Stand Will Be Repurposed Post-Use
Summer Beer Excuse Generators
Samuel Adams Launches 'I Can't' Can to Help Escape Unwanted Plans
All-Natural Color-Changing Spirts
Unicorn Distillery Makes Transformative Vodka & Tequila
3D-Printed Bioplastic Reparation Kits
Yalan Dan Creates the Furniture First Aid Kit
Upcycled Sculptural Exhibitions
Madeline Continues to Grow her EPS [Expanded Polystyrene] Series
3D-Printed Eel Alternatives
Steakholder Foods Makes Plant-Based, Competitively Priced Printed Eel
Spray Can Fragrances
Step Aboard's Chicago Perfumes Pay Homage to Works of Art
DIY Whisky Bottles
Stauning's Customizable Labels Creatively Solve Supply Chain Issues
Plant-Based Chicken Alternatives
Recreate Foods Makes Nuggets, Filets & More for Foodservice
Eco-Friendly Gin Brand Apparel
The Gray Whale Gin Sustainable Apparel Collection Raises Awareness
Music Festival Fabric Installations
Do Lab Created a Range of Fabric Mushrooms at Coachella
Vibrant Sculptural Art Shows
Misha Kahn Unveils the Staged Show in Friedman Benda Los Angeles
Experimental Biomaterial Art Exhibitions
Copenhagen Contemporary Opens the Reset Materials Show
Upcycled Plastic Construction Companies
'Kubik' Uses Plastic Waste as a Sustainable Material
Data-Driven Exercise Boards
Feier's Smart Somatosensory Slide Board Simulates Real Skiing Training
Clot-Inducing Synthetic Injectables
These Injectables Could Save Lives By Triggering Blood Clots
Unconventional Fish Alternatives
WOOP4 Makes Inventive Plant-Based Products Like Vegan Piranha
Bag-Inspired Large-Scale Installations
IKEA's Iconic FRAKTA Bag Takes the Spotlight in Chicago
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Cell-Cultured Sausage Investments
Clever Carnivore Raised $7 Million to Invest in Cultivated Pork
Real Hair-Packed Voodoo Dolls
Liquid Death now Sells the Steve-O Voodoo Dolls with Real Hair
Artificial Insemination Sexual Toys
Juliane Kühr Designs the Vruit Kit with Conception Assistance
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Human Candle Campaigns
These Human Statues of Candle Wax Bring Attention to Youth Burnout
Spooky Street Ad Experiences
These Fanta Halloween Projections Took Over a Busy Stockholm Street
Anti-Plastic Hynotherapy Sessions
Cano Hypnotherapy Encourages People to #BreakUpWithPlastic
Real Life Mermaid Spottings
Chicken of the Sea Will Give Mermaid Spotters 1 Million Dollars
Artful Climate-Themed Installations
Michael Pinsky & Studio Bark Unveil the Making a Stand Design
Mesmerizing Fluid Art Installations
Dutch Invertuals Creates the Flow Fountain Installation
Artful Garden Inflatable Spheres
Nic Brundson Designs the (This is) Air Project in Melbourne
Blue Raspberry Farms
Funkin is Inviting Berry Fans to the Funkin Fruit Farm on April Fool's Day
Work-Ditching Video Game Campaigns
Call of Duty's "Ghost Your Boss" Invites Players to Skip Work
Digital Audio-Visual Exhibitions
'Future Shock' by 180 Studios and FACT Magazine is Online
Racing-Inspired Bronze Sculptures
Paul Oz Celebrates Michael Schumacher with a New Sculpture
Medicine-Inspired Artful Shows
Beverly Fishman Presents the Something for the Pain Exhibition
AI Voice Replication Protections
'AntiFake' Uses AI to Prevent AI from Duplicating your Voice
Food Waste-Combatting Smart Stickers
Grey Colombia Unveils a Set of Progressive Produce Stickers
Futile Material Design Exhibitions
Objective Gallery Presents Please Sit for an Alternate Ending
Plant-Based Cheese Campaigns
The Daiya Fromage Forgery Campaign is Dupe Culture-Inspired
Floral Novelty-Scented Candles
WorkInProgress Creates The Low Hanging Fruit Candle
Affordable Supermarket Self-Tanners
Aldi Launches a Budget-Friendly Fake Tan Line for the Summer
Spiky Inflatable Sculptures
Steve Messam Presents His Sculptures During Clerkenwell Design Week
Theatrical Vegan Brunches
Bar Vegan's Bubbles Brunch Presents Champagne in a Photo-Worthy Way
Biomaterial Color-Changing Installations
Crafting Plastics Studio Presents the Sensibiom 2 Exhibit
Smell-Oriented Virtual Masks
The City University of Hong Kong Designs a Wearable Smelling Gadget
Branded Pregnancy Scans
Marmite is Inviting Parents to Discover the Nature of Their Unborn Child
Online Seafood Marketplaces
Sizzlefish Makes Premium Seafood Effortlessly Available to Consumers
Stress-Reducing Breathing Balls
This Ball Mimics Users' Breathing Patterns In Tangible Form
Review-Based Marketing Campaigns
These Amazon Campaigns Bring Real Reviews To Life
Cardboard Box-Transformed Furniture
Max Lamb Presents the Box Exhibition at Gallery Fumi
Striking Wearable Sculpture
Jared Zhang Launches a Wearable Sculpture in No Minimum Online Auction
Bar Cart Mascots
Tito's New Ad Series Features an Anthropomorphic Bar Cart with Mixology Skills
Artificial Meteor Shower Displays
This Project Aims to Set Off Artificial Shooting Stars
Fake Mocktail Launches
Celsius and Mamitas Collaborated on April Fool's Special This Year
Cheese-Themed Entertaining Guides
'That Cheese Plate Wants to Party' Inspires Tasty Creations
Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters
Wunderman Thompson Morocco Creates the Life-Saving Outdoors
Cultivated Caviar Pearls
CellMEAT's Cell-Based Caviar is a Sustainably, Less Fishy Alternative
Crowdsourced Fun Fact Databases
Straight Fax is an Online Space for Facts and References
Upcycled Down Furniture Series
Christoph Kurzmann Breathes New Life to Old Furniture
Customizable Certificate Makers
SmashingDocs Has a Certificate Maker to Suit Any Occassion
Zero-Proof Brunch Beverages
FAUXMOSA is a Bubbly Alcohol-Free Mimosa with Botanical Flavors
Mobile Weenie Wedding Chapels
Oscar Mayer Made a Mobile Wedding Chapel for Springtime Ceremonies
Efficient Fact Generators
Facts Generator Can Produce Interesting Facts About Any Subject
Slaugherhouse-Transformed Unique Museums
Cave Bureau Creates the Anthropocene Museum 9.0
Magical Mischief Games
Fairy Prank is a Family-Friendly Guessing Game
Rabbit-Themed Artful Installations
Olaolu Slawn Unveils a Large-Scale Installation in DSM London
Failure-Celebrating Festivals
The Faal Festival Was a One-of-a-Kind Experience
Interview Preparation Simulators
Faltah Offers Scores, Ratings, and Reviews for Candidates
Novelty Polling Websites
Funnypoll Gives Users a Quick Laugh in an Often Overwhelming Online Space