# Surreal Question Mark Ads The National Geographic United Arab Emirates Campaign is Fantastical By Meghan Young | Published 2014-03-19 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/national-geographic-united-arab-emirates References: [adeevee](http://www.adeevee.com/2014/03/national-geographic-history-world-wildlife-print/) & [partnershipme](http://www.partnershipme.com/) The [National Geographic United Arab Emirates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/national-geographic-for-west-elm-kids-collection) ad campaign hones in on one of the biggest draws this international publication has: curiosity. It is geared towards readers who have an insatiable desire to know things about the world they live in, things that can't readily be gathered from larger tombs or more superficial literature. Conceived and executed by The Classic Partnership Advertising, an ad agency based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the National Geographic United Arab Emirates ad campaign takes on a [surreal image](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-art-of-travel) of a gigantic question mark made up of historical and wildlife references. Art directed by Amr Otefy with creative direction by Satyen Adhikari, the fantastical imagery really captures the essence of the intelligent and eye-opening magazine. Who wouldn't be intrigued by such jaw-dropping scenes? ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.4/10 - Popularity: 40% | Activity: 84% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Print](https://www.trendhunter.com/print) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Curiosity-driven Marketing:** Businesses can tap into consumers' insatiable desire to know more about the world around them by creating campaigns that evoke curiosity and promote learning. - **Surreal Advertising Imagery:** Using fantastical and eye-catching visuals in advertising campaigns can capture consumers' attention and evoke intrigue, leading to increased brand awareness and engagement. - **Interactive Brand Messaging:** Incorporating interactive elements such as question marks and puzzles into advertising can create a more engaging brand experience for consumers, enhancing brand recall and loyalty. ### Who This Affects Most - **Advertising and Marketing:** The advertising industry can embrace curiosity-driven marketing and surreal imagery to create compelling campaigns that resonate with consumers. - **Publishing and Media:** Publishers and media companies can leverage curiosity as a selling point to attract readers who value learning and exploring new knowledge. - **Creative Services:** Creative agencies can explore the use of interactive brand messaging techniques to differentiate their clients' advertising campaigns and offer a more immersive brand experience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Playful Billboard Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dreamies-treats.md) - [Adventurous Tourism Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/saudi-tourism.md) - [History-Centric Advertisements](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/royal-ontario-museum.md) - [Deserted Island Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/silk-spice1.md) - [Celebratory 3D Illusion Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/adidas-dubai.md) - [Review-Based Marketing Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amazon-campaign.md) - [Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/road-and-beyond.md) - [World-Class Billboard Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/corona-sun-activated-billboard.md) - [Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/out-of-home-campaign.md)