"What I really see is fear": Is billboard advertising getting desperate?

Example of 'more' marketing trend in billboard ads
(Image credit: Jack Wimmer)

Marketing is a difficult art form to master. How do you boost your brand and sell without sounding too desperate? Well, by the looks of the latest advertising trend, the answer is to push for 'more'. Whether it's good old-fashioned hyperbole or sheer desperation, one thing's for certain, the word "more" is taking over the copywriting world for better or for worse.

The best examples of billboard advertising are simple, considered and clever, so this consumerist-pushing marketing trend feels a little brash, to say the least. Whether it's a new bold way to advertise or a disturbing reflection of our society, this sudden spike in 'more' marketing is certainly a jarring reflection of current design trends. 

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Natalie Fear
Staff Writer

Natalie is Creative Bloq's staff writer. With an eye for trending topics and a passion for internet culture, she brings you the latest in art and design news. A recent English Literature graduate, Natalie enjoys covering the lighter side of the news and brings a fresh and fun take to her articles. Outside of work (if she’s not glued to her phone), she loves all things music and enjoys singing sweet folky tunes.

Read more
Astronaut bursting from 3D billboard
Billboard advertising: 47 traffic-stopping examples
Title image
Print and broadcast have died. What's a creative to do?
Kellogg's ad
Brilliant or baffling? Designers are torn over the new Kellogg's billboards
Cannonball!, book made by Taxi Studio, spread showing an elephant
Why Taxi Studio decided to create unforgettable
logo for Jolene, Hornsey Road in a hand-drawn style
Has maximalism finally had its moment? How 'understated' may be 2025's buzzword
Absolut vodka
40 of the best print ads of all time
Latest in Advertising
Netflix is a Joke campaign
Graphic design gets a sense of humour in new Netflix campaign
Screenshot of a girl playing guitar from a Samsung advert
Obviously, Samsung's mocking Apple's controversial iPad Pro ad
A Corona beer billboard advert showing an optical illusion in which the sunset looks like a beer bottle
Corona beer turns stock photos into clever optical illusion ads
Swehl x Molly Baz banned billboard ad
“Insane but not surprising”: banned breastfeeding billboard sparks heated debate
Bumble ad
Bumble admits it "made a mistake" with controversial billboard ads
Apple ads
The sentimental reason it's always 9:41 in Apple ads
Latest in News
Dove ad
Dove's new campaign wants to break you out of the selfie cycle
Crayola crayons eight colours
Crayola's nostalgic limited edition packs bring back 'lost' colours retired since 1990 – plus a Million Crayon Giveaway
Jaguar Type 00 in French ultramarine at Paris Fashion Week
The Jaguar rebrand has finally won me over after the Type 00 stole the show at Paris Fashion Week
A close up photo of the new ASUS ProArt 8K monitor.
ASUS just revealed the first-ever 8K Mini LED monitor (but I think you should buy this 4K one instead)
Sonic Adventure Redux
I'm not saying this Sonic Adventure Unreal Engine 5 remake is the best thing I've ever seen, but I'm not not saying it either
Screenshot from InZOI video game
Nvidia's AI characters are about to transform how we see video games