A good design is the best way to grab someone's attention. Whether you're doing it to sell something, in a competition, or just creating art there's no doubt that originality works! Sadly, most places don't have that unique flair that we all wish for, which makes the places that do all the more special. Don't believe us? Then you should scroll down and see for yourself the many incredible (and sometimes hilarious) designs that manage to stand out and grab your attention.
1. Cleverly Highlighting Mathematician Creola Katherine Johnson
Creola Katherine Johnson was a remarkable American mathematician responsible for orbital mechanics calculations, which resulted in Apollo 11's return to earth on July 21, 1969. She passed away on February 24, 2020.
This brilliant design pays tribute to the math genius. We recommend you watch the 2016 movie Hidden Figures which is based on her work.
2. A Powerful Anti-Rape Campaign
If anyone tells you that designs can't spread awareness then show them this photo. Apparently, the image starts out stuck together which you have to pull apart to reveal the full picture with the words, "If you have to use force then it's not consent."
This is one of the most powerful and thought-provoking designs ever. And it is true no matter if the victim is a woman or a man.
3. Let's Hope This Couch Doesn't Give You A Paper Cut
This bench design in the library of Alexandria is pretty cool, but there can be a slight doubt in the mind of anyone who tries to sit on it. There's the suspicion of getting a paper cut which can be really painful.
We wonder if anyone sitting on that bench got distracted by it and put down their own book to see what it said.
4. Protecting Us From Politicians
This condom ad may offend some people, but let's just take a look at the fun side. After all, 2020 has already been a crappy year and things like these can cheer up some people.
This artist clearly feels that our leaders are more the problem than the solution and his idea would be to put them inside condoms to protect us from them. Agree with it or not, the pictures are pretty funny.
5. Each Photo Uses Only The Number Of Pixels That Equals The Population Of Each Endangered Species
The campaign called WWF Japan – Population by Pixel, which was created by the agency Hakuhodo C&D / Tokyo. The work focuses on making photos of the endangered species population using pixels.
Nami Hoshino, Yoshiyuki Mikami, and designer Kazuhiro Mochizuki were the brains behind this creatively depressing campaign. We can only hope that all humans start working together to save animals on a planet that belongs to all living creatures and not just humans.
6. No More Lost Glasses
Are you one of those people who wear glasses or contact lenses? If yes, then you know very well how frustrating it is to wake up in the morning only to find that you don't remember where you put your glasses. Well, you won't have to worry if you have such huge glasses.
This person designed "Safety Glasses" for his wife's optometry office which almost makes it impossible for us to appreciate its outstanding quality fully. By the way, the design is excellent for protecting against Covid-19.
7. The City of Toronto Got No Chill
Although Toronto is a chill city, they have no time to be nice to people who just leave their trash wherever. So, they decided to come up with straightforward ads against littering and we absolutely loved it.
Given how nice Canadians are, these ads may even offend some people. However, it won't matter because these ads will only offend those who litter. These ads should be posted everywhere in the world. Totally ingenious!
8. No More Bunk Bed Problems
Not only do these bunk beds offer a unique design, but the way they're facing away from each other also helps give the occupants a little bit of privacy.
If you have a bunk bed problem or even a privacy issue, this is an awesome idea. It is perfect for siblings and college dorm mates as well.
9. Billboard Ads That We Love and Want
Whoever thought of this ad was clearly inspired by watching Don Draper in Mad Men. Not only does it effectively spread the message but it's so eye-catching and direct while being so simple.
Given that many parts of the world face an energy crisis, this minimalist billboard ad is smart. It is quite a good message and one that could benefit the environment and your personal finances as well.
10. An Ad That Puts A Smile on Your Face
This ad deserves an award for the most creative ad ever. We absolutely loved it because of the way they have emphasized the point that they REALLY need a proper graphic designer.
Now we hope they do find the right graphic designer. This ad shows that creativity is way better than spending a lot of money on flashy ads.
11. Just Hang In There
If you ever felt there were not enough hooks and shelves in your room, this might be a perfect solution to your problem. It is beautiful and functional.
You can try DIYing it as well but this looks a bit complicated. If you do decide to give this a shot at home then please send us photos - if it's any good then we might include you in our next article!
12. The Human Threat
Movies show that sharks are extremely hostile towards humans. But in reality, it us that is hunting them.
This ad design highlights the real threat to the world: humans. We kill 11,400 sharks per hour and yet we consider sharks to be the monsters. Nothing is safe from us. Shark culling needs to stop!
13. Do You See 2 Birds In This Ad?
If you ever want to take inspiration on how to use limited space, this one should be your go-to design.
The graphic designer behind this beautiful yet simple design is a genius. We think the graphic designer probably beams with pride whenever they see the sign they made.
14. Raising Awareness Of Homelessness
These posters are thought-provoking and depressing in the sense that it reminds us to be considerate towards our fellow citizens. They are indeed a real eye-opener for everyone.
It's a good reminder to both be thankful for what we have, and to treat everyone with compassion, no matter who they may be.
15. Elevator Buttons That You Push With Your Feet
In a time when everyone is trying to maintain social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic, this is something that should be everywhere.
It ensures people don't have to touch the buttons with their hands. Given how the virus is spreading, this is one smart idea that should be implemented all over the world as soon as possible.
16. No Need to Imagine Anymore
This is a smart way to show what ancient ruins looked like so you don't have to imagine it.
We always wondered how they knew what it looked like before it crumbled away.
17. Coins In Mexico Incorporate Aspects Of The Aztec Calendar
It seems like if you put all the Mexican coins together then they turn into the Aztec calendar.
Although you can't stack them up, it is cool that someone realized that every coin has a part of the calendar included in its design.
18. Raising Plastic Awareness
This National Geographic cover highlights the issue of plastic dumping into the ocean that is carried out on a massive level.
From inconsiderate people to big corporations, we all take part in it in one way or another. It needs to stop if we want to save our planet Earth.
19. Words Of Truth Are Stronger Than Guns
Let's just leave politics aside and appreciate this anti-gun pro-adoption poster design that brilliantly conveys the message.
Some would say that their dogs might turn on them for one piece of chicken, but the truth is that people need to start considering this great offer. If you don't believe us then watch videos on YouTube on how so many brave dogs protected their owners.
20. Different Colored Shopping Baskets For Different Purposes
This is an idea that should be everywhere. The store gives you the option to shop alone or with assistance.
People like to browse and some stores have assistants who follow you around, which can be really irritating. In fact, many customers feel so uncomfortable that they leave the store when that happens. By the way, you can see this a lot in Japan (another reason to love that country).
21. Got To "Hand" It To Them For Their Creativity
This is Vietnam’s Daring Golden Bridge that takes a “Hands-On” Approach to Tourism.
It is around a 150-meter course lined with flowers. We would love to see how this masterpiece was made.
22. Do You See The Envelope On The Floor?
The floor tiles at the US Postal Museum shows their thoroughness. It is quite cute and impressive, right?
It is such a lovely detail! At first glance, it's just a stone floor but if you look closely then you see it.
23. The Decline And Fall of the Roman Empire
The spines of these history books perfectly illustrate what happened to the Roman Empire. This six-volume work was originally published in 1776 by the English historian Edward Gibbon.
So Gibbon would approve the covers of his books. It seems like these books could easily excite any history teacher out there.
24. A Campaign That's On Point
This "Seatbelts Save Lives" campaign is genius and very on point. Please, wear your seatbelt because your life is precious.
So always buckle up even if it seems a bit uncool. After all, what's the point of being cool if you're not alive anymore? People may say "yeah he/she was cool" and then they'll forget you.
25. Measuring Cups And Visual Aids For Fractions
These are measuring cups designed to represent fractions for intuitive use visually.
So yeah, no more searching for the number on your measuring cup. These could also help visually impaired people to figure out what's what easily.
26. A Smart Star Wars Reference
This Volkswagen ad deserves all the applause and respect in the world. All you have to do is search for your feelings.
It is sad they don't make it anymore. By the way, Volkswagen's last Beetle was produced on July 10, 2019.
27. Summing up 2020
We feel that these Time magazine covers may offend Trump's followers because of his drowning depiction.
We have a question to ask: Is this Trump being depicted as a global warming denier, or that he's been out of his intellectual depth, or that he's oblivious to the world around him?
28. A Studio That Never Misses a Beat
So Studio Ghibli designed this DVD case in a way that it looks like the characters are checking their reflection in the water.
Fans of anime can agree with us on the fact that Studio Ghibli never fails to impress.
29. You Are What You Eat
This Surfrider Foundation sushi ad is so powerful and spot on. Stop using plastic or be ready to consume plastic. And we all know that plastic may cause cancer in people.
The ad makes us sad and angry at the same time. One can only hope we start to be more careful about what we throw in the ocean.
30. Does It Mean The Russians Won The Space Race?
This is a space exploration monument in Moscow. This awesome monument is actually 100m tall.
Now it is up to you to believe who won the space race. And is it just us or the bottom of the architecture looks pretty confusing.
31. This Eraser Turns Into Mount Fuji
Who said adults can't buy things that are supposed to be marketed to children? Take an example of this eraser that turns into a tiny Mount Fuji after some time of use.
Only Japan can come up with such cute packaging. Now we want to see more Japanese stationery.
32. Must Be From New Zealand
This bird table looks quite charming, right? It looks like a Kiwi, so we're pretty sure it must be from New Zealand.
By the way, if you haven't been to New Zealand, just go there to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and fun-loving people.
33. Hilarious Durex Ad
Although this Durex ad is meant to be for everyone, we really feel it needs to be plastered all around high schools! Kids don't think about that enough.
An unpopular opinion: Always wear a condom over your head during math exams to ensure a perfect score.
34. One Giant Leap
This campaign ad in Hong Kong is so powerful. It is a great way of expressing a message that is so overlooked by able-bodied people.
If you ask a disabled person, they will tell you how difficult it is for them to do things that able-bodied people can easily perform. Unfortunately, disabled people are not a priority in most budgets of many countries.
35. A Heart-wrenching Ad
This is a powerful Alzheimer awareness ad that so flawlessly depicts the condition of people who have Alzheimer's.
If your family isn't personally affected by it it's likely that someone you know is close to somebody with Alzheimer's. So, we hope this ad raises more awareness.
36. Please End Now
Have you ever seen the logo of a year give you the middle finger? Well, 2020 has been so bad that we're not even surprised by anything anymore.
As we know how 2020 has been so far, this logo makes a lot of sense. Given how easily it can be transformed into the logo of 2021, we strongly hope it never happens.
37. When You Want To Target Two Sets of Customers
This Japanese restaurant logo is simultaneously a band holding chopsticks and a Japanese crane. What did you see first?
It seems like the restaurant wanted to have human customers as well as crane customers. This is a really cool logo design.
38. Super Daring Hat Company
This company that sells hats came up with a super daring ad and we got to give it to them because they played with fire and somehow got out of it with no burns.
So, they did the math before giving it a green signal. By the way, who also immediately thought of Charlie Chaplin when they saw this hat?
39. Not Quite An "I Love You" Card
Say goodbye to telling others that you love their dogs. It's time to hear it from others, got it? Dogs are like furry antidepressants.
You would ignore lots of people out there if not for their dogs. In a nutshell, dogs are a thousand times better than humans. So, be a doggo parent.
40. Packaging You Can Adore For Hours
Here is a milk box design that will make you purchase four boxes instead of one, but no one will complain.
Child: Mum, can I have a Kitty? Please???? Mum: *comes home with this milk*.
41. Now Please Don't Start Hoarding Toilet Paper Again
We all know how people rushed to buy toilet paper during the pandemic and it was so bad that you could hardly find toilet paper anywhere. Even studies have shown that people who felt more threatened by the pandemic are way more likely to stockpile toilet paper (even though it won't save lives).
Given that this toilet paper holder is so cute, we fear people might start hoarding toilet paper again.
42. For Vincent Van 'Goggles'
Most of us know about the famous paintings of Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, right? Well, this eyewear company came up with a smart ad that we really loved.
Even Van Gogh might have loved it. Imagine if Van Gogh had worn these. Some might say it would've made him really handsome.
43. Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid!
If you ever wanted to see one of the most badass team logos, then here you have it. The Iceland sports team logo depicts the four mythological protectors of the country.
Iceland is protected by four great guardians, the Landvættir: The Eagle (Gammur) in the north, the Giant (Bergrisi) in the south, the Bull (Griðungur) in the west, and the Dragon (Dreki) in the east.
44. Finally, Someone Got It Right
Hey, we love TV posters but we think that most of them don't fully justify when it comes to posters.
But this one is simply amazing. It looks like the skull of a man and some people may find it scary. Brilliant work!
45. A Delicious Ice Cream with a Disastrous Truth
Ben & Jerry's call for participation in the youth climate change march is brilliant. Whoever made that ice cream originally had some dedication.
Hopefully, we can 'lick' this problem away and be more responsible.
46. You Learn New Things Everyday
This a frosted mirror display for a Squeegee at IKEA. And yeah, we read the word Squeegee for the first time as well.
And are you also compelled to finish cleaning this window? One thing we know for sure is that IKEA needs to do this more often.
47. Using A 70's Arcade Game to Send A Message
This anti-smoking poster is using an arcade game called 'Breakout' in which they're using a cigarette as the paddle on which the ball bounces from bottom to top and back again while destroying the bricks (in this instance, lungs).
So when did you quit playing the game (in other words, smoking)? If not then please stop playing this game now.
48. Minimalism Is The True King
Well, is there anything we can't love about Canada? It seems like this country is always doing nice things just to make others feel jealous.
This is, without a doubt, a great idea. It makes the product cheaper as packaging only goes in the trash anyway.
49. For When You Have To Shop Real Fast
This is a simple and smart ad. And hey, did you know that the founders of Adidas and Puma were brothers?
Well, Adolf Dassler founded Adidas and his brother, Rudolf Dassler, founded a competitor brand Puma a year later. It was all because of a family quarrel that we have two big brands today.
50. Shame It's Plastic
This Swiss bottled water looks so cool, but it is a real shame that it's made of plastic. By putting a mountain on it just increases the amount of plastic needed to make it.
We believe that using plastic is bad, but the worse thing is how people throw it away.