In a marketing world where innovation is key, “Fake Out of Home” (FOOH) campaigns are emerging as a fascinating trend. Combining illusion, surprise and interaction, these campaigns are revolutionizing the traditional approach to out-of-home advertising. These are advertising initiatives based on special effects and computer-generated images, which use public space to create a unique and memorable advertising experience. Unlike traditional billboards or posters, FOOHs rely on surprise and illusion to capture the public’s attention and get noticed.
At the heart of FOOH campaigns lies the creative use of illusion.
Indeed, Jacquemus created a buzz with its iconic Bambino bags rolling in front of the Opéra Garnier in Paris. The campaign, produced entirely in 3D, attracted a large number of Internet users, who shared the results on social networks. It’s not the only time the brand has shown originality: to mark the start of 2024, Jacquemus has published a video of a chalet covered in snow by a brand bag. Just the thing to remind consumers that a new year rhymes with creativity!
In the age of social media, viral potential is a major asset.
Other brands have used public transport to carry out a FOOH campaign, such as Subway, which transformed a Parisian bus into a sandwich, to promote their new extra “cheesy” range. An original way to promote your product! Italian clothing brand Benetton was equally creative, re-purposing a branded bus with a number of poodles, similar to those featured in the advertising campaign, climbing out of it. The video generated a lot of positive feedback on the brand’s networks.
For brands, FOOH is not just a way of standing out from the crowd, it can also be a way of gaining a certain economic advantage. An activation of this scale would be complex and very costly to implement, whereas this way the brand generates significant engagement for a smaller sum.
The question of ethics also arises. As the line between reality and fiction is very fine, it’s essential that the brand mentions that these are computer-generated images to remain transparent with its consumer. What’s more, in a world where trends change rapidly, especially with the influence of social media, a FOOH campaign can quickly become obsolete or lose its initial appeal.
FOOH campaigns represent an exciting turning point in outdoor advertising.
By breaking convention and embracing innovation, they offer a new way for brands to connect with their audiences in a memorable and engaging way. As the world of marketing continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this trend develops and influences other forms of advertising.
