It's a scary, unpredictable world for marketers these days and sometimes companies don't realize they've engaged in some problematic branding techniques. Other times, well, let's just say they know exactly what they're doingâ€"and it gets results.
At any rate, here are some of the most offensive, silly, awkward, and problematic branding techniques, from inappropriate dessert branding to offensive stuffed animals.
Implications - When a brand creates ultimate shock with an advertisement or product, it gains much more attention from the consumer world. When people are shocked about something they often tell others and that is how the ad or product manages to go viral. Going viral for good or bad reasons still gets the business a huge amount of attention. Like the saying goes, "any publicity is good publicity."
37 Branding Blunders
Problematic Brand Strategies, from Offensive Gum to Religious Co-Branding:
Katherinev123 — Oct 3, 2009 — Marketing
37
Offensive Magazine Features
Rolling Stone Reports Michael Jackson's Nose Missing
36
Offensive Advertising Mistakes
Mega Logo Blunders
35
Offensive Splash Pages
Hugs for Monsters Punishes IE6 Users With Scathing Anti-Welcome
34
Cheeky Packaging Designs
Brooklyn Fare's Branding Puts the Fun in Functional
33
Offensive Children's Clothes
The PeanutButter Mofo TShirt
32
Failed Sexvertising
Matthew McConaughey's Film Made $36,497, Despite Gratuitous Nudity
31
Violent & Offensive Video Games
'Rapelay' Removed From Amazon After Public Objects
30
Offensive New Yorker Covers
Obama Loves Osama
29
Innappropriate Dessert Branding
The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck Roams NYC
28
Offensive Candy
Fat Pig Chocolate
27
Offensive LEGO Figures
Shocking Toy Terrorists and Nazis
26
Guerrilla Grocery Labels
Shop Drop Montreal Rebrands the Shopping Experience
25
Abbreviated Fail Branding
Companies Named WTF, OMG & STD Could Give the Wrong Idea
24
Offensive Chewing Gum
Too Shy to Say It? Express Your Opinion With Chewing Gum
23
Mega Unbrandings
McDonald's Abstract ‘Quarter Pounder' Store
22
Accidentally Offensive Branding
Eyebrows Raise With 'Jewnail' Cosmetics' Contentious Name
21
Harrassvertising
Coke Bots Attack When You Buy Other Brands
20
Offensive Video Games
‘Fat Princess' Outrages Feminists
19
Catastrophic Candy Branding
Skittles Relaunches Website as Twitter Search, Offensive Tweets Ensue
18
Catholic Cross-Branding
Boston College Fashion at Victoria's Secret
17
Shocking Ironic Art Installations
Is Eugenio Merino's Damien Hirst Piece Offensive or Artist
16
Cross-Promotional Fails
Burger King Un-Friends Facebook Over 'Whopper Sacrifice' Snafu
15
Microsoft Branding Blunders
"I'm A PC" Ads Made on a Mac
14
Offensive Stuffed Animals
SpiderCamp
13
Stupid Names Get Attention
Catchword Branding Creates: Vudu, Promptu, BooRah, ItzBig
12
Beyond Offensive Political Wear
Supporters Hit New Lows (NSFW)
11
Offensive Viral Disruptions
Pantless Streaker Dances Across Courts at Australian Open
10
Offensive Child Toy Marketing
Strapya's Hip-Shaking Product Description Misses the Mark
9
Offensive Ringtones
'Psycho Teddy' Tune Protested by Mental Health Charity
8
Offensive Desk Toys
Terry the Swearing Turtle
7
Religious Co-Branding
Catholic Mobile Phone Carrier
6
Recession Rebranding
RecessIsOn Pursuades Us to ‘F_ck the Recession'
5
Offensive Cell Phone Ad Parodies
LOLz AT&T 'No Bars' Commercial
4
Offensive Traveling Billboards
Aborted Fetus On Moving Truck
3
Drug-Themed Eateries
'Marihuana' Restaurant in Taiwan Uses Smokin' Branding
2
Apple-izing Ordinary Objects
The Kraft iSnack 2.0 Attempts to Create Cool Through PC Lingo
1
Offensive Charity Promotions
Controversial Donation Cup Ad
Related Ideas
Candy Bar-Inspired Backpack Designs
Sprayground Collaborates with Reese's on a Decadent Backpack
Playful Pet Accident Campaigns
IKEA Unveils the Don't Worry, You Can Afford It Campaign
Sneaker-Stealing Campaigns
Rob It To Get It by Distance Challenged Customers to Outrun a Sprinter
Anti-Consumption Natural Ads
The 'Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants' Ad Aims to Reducing Consumption
Teddy Bear Outerwear
Build-A-Bear Cuddly Couture Shares Cozy, Warm Styles
Freshly Rebranded Frozen Drinks
Slurpee's Bold New Identity and Mascot Speak to Gen Z
Water-Scarce Product Concepts
The Drop Store Envisions Products from a World with Less Water
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
Ketchup Dispenser Billboards
'Smack for Heinz' Helps Fans Complete Meals with a Favorite Condiment
Beer-Pouring Party Billboards
JUBEL Made a Billboard That Pours Pints Invites People in to Party
Distorted Burger Campaigns
Burger King's A.I.LLOWEEN Features Unsettling People Eating Burgers
Soda-Branded Sweatsuit Merch Lines
poppi Launched a Stunningly Playful & Stylish Sweatsuit Line
Refreshed Colorful Candy Brands
Elmwood Reinvents the New Skittles Branding Update
Illustrative 420 Campaigns
Vizie Unveils His Latest Work for Grassroots' 420 Campaign
Modernized Coffee Product Branding
Nescafé Branding Has Been Overhauled for a Refreshed Profile
Hug-Activated Marketing Machines
UNIQLO France and The Pull Launch the Hug to Unlock Ad
Lazy Cereal Campaigns
SURREAL Cereal Cheekily Pokes Fun at New Year's Resolutions
Uplifting Energetic Soda Rebrandings
PepsiCo Unveils a New Branding Language for the Soda 7UP
Playful Modular Mops
Staff and Clorox Created a Colorful Wet Mop with Rubber Hat Topper
Playful Graphic Streetwear Collections
DIVINITIES and BoTT Return with a New Stylish Drop
Fast Food-Inspired Beachy Campaigns
Leo Burnett Italia Unveils a New Summery McDonald's Campaign
Curious Whiskey Campaigns
Four Roses' Don't Mention It Campaign Targets Younger Whiskey Drinkers
Advocate-Themed Cannabis Branding
Best Blnz's Branding is Created by Design Studio Pentagram
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Naughty Holiday Campaigns
Diesel's XXXMas is Inspired by Erotic 90s Aesthetics
Provocative AR Campaigns
NotCo's 'Not So Happy Animals' Presents Food Logos in a New Light
Gen Alpha Marketing Campaigns
Claire's is Targeting TikTok Growth for its Latest Ads Spending
Activewear-Branded Smartphones
The Conceptual Adidas FOG Phone Highlights the Three Stripes Logo
AI-Created Burger Ads
Burger King Had ChatGPT Generate a Poster to Clap Back at a Competitor
Gen Z-Targeted Fruit Snacks
Gushers and Fruit by the Foot Received Logo Refreshes
Cookie Re-Branding Makeovers
BrandMe Gives Lotus Bakeries a New Visual Branding
Canine-Friendly Branding Projects
Layer Overhauls the Branding of Canadian Dog Brand Earth Rated
Connected Gamer Campaigns
Heineken's Just Another Night Out Shatters Anti-Social Stereotypes
Suggestive Spread Campaigns
The Marmite First Timers Campaign Targets Gen Z
Mental Health-Protective Films
Dove's Cost of Beauty: A Dove Film Protects Teen's Mental Health
Luxury-Inspired Chocolate Campaigns
The Toblerone 'Never Square' Campaign Takes a Cheeky Approach
Playful Retail Pop-Up Installations
Selfridges Unveils the Joke Shop with a Slapstick Generator
Sporty Visual Fashion Campaigns
PUMA and NOAH Join Forces on a New Sporty Campaign Series
Lollipop-Inspired Toothpastes
The Chupa Chups x Hismile Flavors Sweeten Daily Oral Care Rituals
Sculptural Shoe Activations
Briony Douglas Created a Striking Sculpture Exhibit for Browns Shoes
Humorous Collab Fashion Campaigns
Barbour and Maison Kitsuné Launches a New Campaign
Confident Smile Campaigns
Aquafresh's New Oral Health Campaign Boosts Children’s Dental Confidence
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
CPG-Inspired Ice Creams
The Ice Cream Project by Anya Hindmarch Features Flavors Like Frozen Peas
Temporary Tooth Tattoos
Hismile's SmileStika Enhances Teeth with a Touch of Whimsy
Contextual Intelligence Companies
GumGum is an AI-Powered Marketing Company with Dynamic Placement
Cartoon Underdog Soda Campaigns
Tractor Beverage Company Launches a Moving New Campaign
AI-Powered QSR Campaigns
allplants Leverages AI To Transforms Fast-Food Ads
Creative-Focused Sportswear Campaigns
adidas Celebrates Creativity with Ama Qamata and Dee Koala
Smile-Reflecting Toothpaste Campaigns
Colgate & Oglivy Create the #FreeYourSmile campaign
Pastel-Hued Energy Drink Packaging
The Rockstar Energy Rebranding Has Enhanced Graphics and More
Confetti-Filled Snacking Commercials
Frito-Lay Launches the Taste of Super Bowl Campaign
Scannable Snack Charity Campaigns
This Pringles Movember Campaign Updates the Brand's Mascot
70s-Style Cat Snack Ads
Temptations' Creamy Purrrr-ée Treats Star in a Nostalgic Holiday Ad
Honest Oral Care Initiatives
Colgate Totally Honest Challenges People to Come Clean
Reinvigorated Cognac Campaigns
Larsen Cognac Challenges Traditional Images & Outdated Views
Anthropomorphized Bath Products
Uoga Uoga Kids' Packaging Can Be Customized with Stickers
Sweat Mark T-Shirts
This Summer Clothing Range Has Printed Designs That Resemble Sweat
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Brand-Led Global Studies
The LEGO Group Conducted a Study That May Inform Market Decisions
Rebranded Spicy Chip Brands
Frito-Lay Announced it is Reviving Flamin' Hot as its Own Brand
Cheeky Holiday Collections
Fruit of the Loom Introduces the Conversation Stoppers Collection
Adorable Holiday Campaigns
Burberry's Holiday Campaign Spotlights Dogs and Ducklings
Cringe-Worthy Photo Campaigns
Sour Patch Kids is Challenging Fans to Choose "Cringe or Candy"
Humorous Natural Deodorant Campaigns
The Every Man Jack 'Still Smell Good' Campaign is Catchy
Syringe-Based Billboards
Dove's Injectable Billboard Addresses Toxic Beauty Standards
Rebranded Offbeat Sodas
Dr Pepper's New Cans and New Campaign Embrace Weirdness
Gen X Candy Campaigns
Klondike's Bar-cade Campaign Engages Gen X Consumers
Festive Savory Snack Ads
Frito Lay Canada is Encouraging Canadians to Leave Out Chips for Santa
QSR Burger Chain Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Unveils the Whopper Island Rebranding
Trans Kidney Health Ads
Africa Creative's Ad Sheds Light on Trans Community's Kidney Health Burden
Gummy Candy-Inspired Footwear Series
Vans Brings a Playful Element with the Haribo Collection
Fan-Made Merch Stores
The Wonder Shop Shares a Mix of Creator-Made Goods and Recipes
Festively Branded Sweater Collections
Unilever and notjust Collaborated on Christmas Jumpers
Athlete-Founded Nostalgic Bubblegum
Bubblegum Kids Was Founded NHL Player Zach Hyman & His Brother
AI-Powered Gelato Packaging
Sweet Cheeks Partners with Bravo to Debut Gelatos with AI Packaging
Wasteful Shopping Billboards
Not On The High Street's Billboards Highlight a "Don't Gift Guide"
Next-Gen Contraception Campaigns
Julie Challenges Contraceptive Use Stigma
Dramatized Caramel Candy Ads
Reese's Big Game Ad Shows Exaggerated, Relatable Reactions to Change
Ketchup Obsession Campaigns
'It Has to Be Heinz' Spotlights Fans' Intense Love of Heinz Products
Tongue-In-Cheek Soda Campaigns
Pepsi Jokes at Coca-Cola in It's Tastes Better Campaign
Biodegradable Bubblegum Packages
Milliways Launches a New Biodegradable and Recyclable Box Design
Branded Holiday Candy Collections
The Frankford Candy Holiday Collection is Packed with Options
Candid Celebration Campaigns
Edible's "There's an edible for That" Celebrates Even Awkward Moments
Purpose-Driven Popcorn Snacks
Gourmet Popcorn is on a Mission to Create Jobs
Minimal Affordable Sub-Labels
Target Presents its Own No-Frills Brand with Minimal Design
Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads
The Coca-Cola Family is Spotlighted in this Unique Ad
Nutrition-Focused Protein Product Branding
The New Pure Protein Branding is Bold and Eye-Catching
Cookie-Twisting Commercials
The OREO Super Bowl 2024 Spot Revisits Pivotal Moments in History
Street Art-Style Gummy Packaging
These Jolly Rancher Gummies Packs Were Created with Local Artists
Interactive Toothpaste Packaging
Bluemarlin Created the Designs for the Colgate Toothpaste Packs
Influencer Snack Bar Campaigns
Nature Valley Launches a Social-Oriented Digital Marketing Campaign
Revamped Private Label Ranges
The Target up&up Collection Has Been Expanded and Updated
Co-Branded Footwear Designs
Vans Skateboarding Collaborates with Skate Brand Hockey
Summertime Americana Chip Branding
The Pringles Fourth of July Branding is Patriotic
Expansive Spicy Snack Rebrands
The Flamin' Hot Brand Branches Off to Perform Standalone
Playful Baked Good Branding
Whaoo! Filled Crêpes Have Been Rebranded to Target Parents
Wasteful Fashion Campaigns
Vestiaire Collective Reminded People to Shop Mindfully on Black Friday
Over-the-Top Easter Desserts
Serendipity3 & PEEPS Teamed Up to Create an Easter Beverage
Community-Supporting Business Models
Ben & Jerry's' 'Linked Prosperity' Model Drives Positivity
Themed Heart-Shaped Chips
Japanese Snack Brand Calbee Unviels its Valentine's Day Chips
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Viral No-Hole Bagel Campaigns
Philadelphia Cream Cheese Debuts the Philadelphia Bagel Wholes
Revamped Cotton Swab Branding
Q-tips Packaging Has Been Updated for the Brand's 100th Anniversary
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Irreverent Ethical Soap Campaigns
Pure Rush Soap's New Ad is a Fresh Take on Sustainable Branding
Humorous Slogan Graphic T-Shirts
Navinder Nangla Joins Converse on the City Tees Initative
Autocorrect Sexual Health Campaigns
MRM NY Creates a New Playful Ad Campaign for Durex
Empowering Period Campaigns
Natracare Launched the Project #Bekind Campaign in May
Cheeky Series Star Campaigns
MTN DEW Debuts a New Superbowl Ad with Aubrey Plaza
Revamped Freshness Platforms
Mars Announces a New Brand Identity for Its Gums and Mints Brands
Community-Driven Clothing Companies
'Bombas' Makes a Donation for Each Item Purchased
Hilarious Fandom Cheese Campaigns
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Launches First-Ever Paid Ad Campaign
No-Nonsense Cereal Campaigns
'Shreddie for Anything' Challenges Complicated Morning Routines
Solution-First Beauty Brands
Skincare-Beauty Brand Good Weird Launches its First Collection
Food Waste-Combatting Smart Stickers
Grey Colombia Unveils a Set of Progressive Produce Stickers
Confectionary Graffiti Murals
The Jolly Rancher Gummies with Vibrant Street Art Designs Debuted
Next-Gen Cannabis Gummies
The Bettering Company Fixes Problems People Associate with Edibles
Playful Language App Campaigns
Duolingo is Not Taking Any Excuses to Miss Learning Lessons
High-Quality Chocolatey Marshmallow Treats
Mallow & Marsh Products Boast a Permissible Profile
Endangered Ice Cream Trucks
Climate Basecamp's Save the Flavors Brings Awareness to Climate Change
Interactive AR Galleries
Chips Ahoy's Happy By Design Campaign Spotlights Multicultural Artists
Branded Pregnancy Scans
Marmite is Inviting Parents to Discover the Nature of Their Unborn Child
Revamped Juice Overhauls
Ocean Spray Announces a Brand Overhaul with Modern Influences
Creature-Themed Graphic T-Shirts
Mr Jones Watches Debuts its First Line of Unisex T-Shirts
Review-Based Marketing Campaigns
These Amazon Campaigns Bring Real Reviews To Life
Plant-Based QSR Campaigns
Burger King's Confusing Times Campaign is Made with DAVID Madrid
Cow-Themed QSR Campaigns
Chick-fil-A Debuts a New Virtual Game and Merchandise Collection
Social Media Star Brands
Toddy Smith Introduces His GothicMochas Clothing Brand
Novelty Gelato Pops
Gelatys Serves Uniquely Shaped Gelato on a Stick
Hand Sanitizing Stadium Campaigns
Shimmy Launched an OOH Campaign at Gillette Stadium
Expansive Vegan Candy Campaigns
This Swizzels Campaign Encourages Retailers to Stock Up
Happiness-Prioritizing QSR Campaigns
Dave & Buster's Launches the 'Adult Unlearn' Summer Campaign
Millennial-Targeted Gummy Candies
Rotten Gummy Worms are Inspired by 90s Gross-Out Culture
Comforting Oat Bar Ads
Humanaut Launches a Campaign for Bobo's, Highlighting Home-Baked Taste
Celebratory Odd Designs
Ridiculous Design Celebrates Weird and Wonderful Ideas Within Design
Private Label Holiday Products
Sprouts Brand Holiday Items Have a Better-for-You Formula
Non-Lethal Pest Solutions
Jeffs' Brands Debuts a Pest-Repellent Product Line Under its Fort Brand
April Fool's Lifestyle Collections
Nugget Introduced Its 'Most Trendiest - High Endiest' Line Yet
Phishing Website Detectors
Akamai Unveils a Tool for Detecting Fradulent Brand Impersonations