If you live in Delhi, you already know how much of the city is built on big, bold visuals. Drive along the Ring Road or take a metro ride near Rajiv Chowk, and the skyline is dotted with hoardings of every shape and size. Some are forgettable, some make you smile, and once in a while, one will stick in your mind long after you’ve passed it.
That “stickiness” is what separates good advertising from great advertising. And when it comes to hoardings, the world has seen some extraordinary examples—campaigns that weren’t just ads but experiences. Delhi, with its endless energy and competitive business scene, could borrow a few lessons from these global ideas.
Coca-Cola’s Drinkable Billboard
Atlanta once saw a billboard you could actually drink from. Coca-Cola set up a massive structure with pipes carrying real Coke, letting people pour themselves a glass straight from the hoarding. It was part ad, part stunt, and part public spectacle.
It worked because it wasn’t just a message—it was a memory. People didn’t walk past it; they interacted with it.
Now picture this in Delhi. Summer, 45 degrees, Connaught Place jam-packed. What if a juice or soda brand set up something similar? Even if it’s just chilled water or mist sprays for passersby, it would make headlines instantly. That’s outdoor advertising done right—something useful, something unforgettable.
Nike’s Giant Air Max Shoe in London
Nike once mounted a huge 3D version of its Air Max shoe on a hoarding in London. It wasn’t just big—it looked ready to leap onto the street. People stopped, clicked photos, and shared it everywhere.
The lesson is simple: sometimes size and boldness matter.
Delhi has plenty of iconic spots that could benefit from such installations. Imagine CyberHub with a towering 3D sneaker or a giant coffee cup on a South Extension billboard. In a city where people are constantly snapping pictures, anything oversized and playful has the potential to go viral.
McDonald’s Sundial Billboard
McDonald’s put up a clever one in Chicago: a sundial billboard. As the sun moved across the sky, its shadow highlighted different items from the McDonald’s menu—coffee in the morning, burgers at noon, sundaes in the afternoon.
What made it brilliant wasn’t just the design, but the timing. It matched how people live their day.
Delhi could do wonders with this kind of approach. Think of a chai brand highlighting morning tea during office rush hours and iced tea during the afternoon lull. Same hoarding, different mood—keeping it fresh and relevant without extra clutter.
Guinness Weather-Sensitive Ads
Guinness went a step further in London with a billboard that changed with the weather. On cloudy days, the pint of beer looked stormy and dark. On sunny days, it looked golden and light.
The charm was that it responded to real life. People felt like the ad was “in on the moment.”
Now, Delhi’s weather is dramatic—burning summers, foggy winters, sudden showers. Imagine a skincare hoarding that changes from sunscreen advice to moisturizer tips depending on the season. It’s a simple idea, but it makes the ad feel alive.
BMW vs Audi – The Billboard Battle
Perhaps the most entertaining example came from California. Audi put up a hoarding with a cheeky line: “Your move, BMW.” Not to be outdone, BMW installed a bigger billboard nearby with a car image and the caption “Checkmate.”
People loved it. It became a public rivalry, a game of one-upmanship that everyone wanted to watch.
Delhi is a city that thrives on competition—brands here are always trying to outdo one another. Imagine Zomato and Swiggy staging a friendly hoarding duel in Connaught Place, or two telecom giants going head-to-head with witty one-liners on the Gurgaon Expressway. It would have people talking for weeks.
KitKat’s “Bench Billboard”
In Amsterdam, KitKat created a billboard that doubled as a bench, with the famous tagline: “Have a break, have a KitKat.” It wasn’t flashy or digital. It was just… smart.
Sometimes simplicity works best.
In Delhi, where people are constantly waiting—outside metro stations, bus stops, or markets—functional hoardings could strike gold. A shaded bench, a charging station, or even a rain shelter that carries a brand’s message would not only advertise but also serve. And when something helps you out, you remember it.
Why These Ideas Matter for Delhi
So, what do these global hoardings teach us? That creativity isn’t about pouring money into brighter lights or bigger fonts. It’s about surprising people. It’s about connecting in ways they don’t expect.
Delhi is one of the most crowded advertising markets in India. Hoardings are everywhere, and that makes it harder to stand out. A clever sundial, a playful rivalry, or even a shaded bench can do far more for a brand than yet another oversized logo.
And let’s face it: Delhiites are sharp. They’ve seen enough ads to know when something is lazy. But give them something clever—something that makes them laugh, think, or even sit down—and you’ll win their attention.
Final Thoughts
The world’s most creative hoardings prove one simple point: outdoor advertising works best when it feels less like an ad and more like an experience.
Delhi doesn’t need more hoardings that scream at drivers. It needs hoardings that surprise, engage, and maybe even serve the people who see them every day. From 3D installations to witty brand battles, from functional benches to weather-sensitive designs—the opportunities are endless.
The next time you pass a hoarding in Delhi and forget it in two seconds, ask yourself: what would have made you remember it? The answer is usually creativity. And that’s exactly what will set the future of Delhi’s advertising apart.
