Campaigns That Celebrate Her: The Best Women’s Day Creative Ads
International Women’s Day holds a special place among big occasions because, unlike commercialized holidays, it encourages social change rather than sales. At the same time, almost any brand can improve its visibility and strengthen their audience’s emotional engagement by addressing IWD.
To inspire your holiday communication, we have created a list of the most prominent Women’s Day creative ads that empower, challenge stereotypes, and promote inclusivity. Discover how brands mark IWD and adopt winning ideas from their campaigns. Find ready-to-integrate thematic visuals for captivating holiday designs, whether a creative Women’s Day poster or a catchy social media post!
International Women’s Day marketing meaning
International Women’s Day offers brands a great chance to not only raise awareness and advocate for gender equality, but also build a stronger connection with their female audience. Why is this so crucial? The fact is that women influence 85% of purchases (according to US statistics). Campaigns highlighting the interests and needs of women can significantly improve their loyalty and build brand trust.
In other words, International Women’s Day ads aren’t an opportunity to increase sales, but a chance to establish yourself as a conscious and caring brand, which can certainly enhance your image and credibility. Other advantages provided by purposeful communication:
- Meaningful connections. Modern customers are more aware than ever. They want to be involved in something meaningful. You can give them just that with an IWD campaign addressing crucial gender equality issues.
- Brand differentiation. As IWD requires a careful balance between holiday and purpose-driven marketing, many businesses choose not to take risks. However, this is your opportunity to stand out. The main thing is to find exciting Women’s Day campaign ideas.
- Better audience reach. This point goes hand in hand with the previous one. Dedicated IWD communication can draw new audiences to your brand that share values of honoring and empowering women.
- Emotional storytelling. Women’s Day creative ads are the perfect means to share emotional stories that touch and inspire. Showcase the challenges and stereotypes women still face, as well as win stories about overcoming barriers.
- Viral potential. IWD campaigns often attract extensive coverage and generate active discussions, making them potentially viral on social media. Rely on user-generated content to make your holiday communications even more compelling and shareable.
The main ingredient of Women’s Day ads should be authenticity. Consumers instantly detect performative marketing when brands pretend to be conscious and ethical for business benefits. Go beyond symbolic gestures—align your communication with your company’s culture and values to make it sincere and trustworthy. Find brilliant International Women’s Day campaign ideas next.
Top International Women’s Day creative ads that drive thought and inspiration
#1. Bertha Benz: The Journey That Changed Everything — Mercedes
This powerful video is an excellent example of storytelling. The picture is so high in quality, and the plot is so well thought out that you feel like you’re watching a Hollywood movie. The film reveals the story of the world’s first long-distance car drive from Mannheim to Pforzheim, Germany, made by a woman in 1888.
The lead character is Bertha Benz, Karl Benz’s wife and business partner, who played an essential role in founding Mercedes-Benz. She understood the potential of her husband’s invention and was committed to proving it worked at a time when people were skeptical of this new technology. This campaign shows how Berta’s confidence and perseverance overcame prejudice and became a source of inspiration for others. The empowering slogan states that she believed in more than a car—she believed in herself.
If you want to create an engaging video campaign for International Women’s Day, there’s no need to spend your budget and time on filming, as you can find spectacular footage in our thematic collection.
#2. The Dream Gap — Barbie
Mattel, which has often been criticized for creating unrealistic beauty standards that can negatively affect self-esteem, is moving more and more toward diversity and inclusion. Part of the brand’s social commitment are campaigns to support young girls, such as The Dream Gap.
It highlights that from the age of 5, girls begin to doubt their ability to achieve what they really want. The reason—stereotypes that prevail in society and influence the development of kids and their future choices. In this touching ad, the girls ask viewers to help close the Dream Gap so that the world can become a place of unlimited possibilities for them.
Want to impress your audience with Women’s Day creative ads? Choose a trendy aesthetic that will set the mood for your holiday campaign. Try sophisticated royalcore, relaxed normcore, or any other niche style that suits your brand.
#3. Where there is a woman, there is magic — Coca-Cola
How about creative Women’s Day poster ideas? Sometimes, a single, powerful image is all you need to grab attention and convey a message effectively. A striking example of this is the holiday design by Coca-Cola. The brand relied on minimalism, and it worked perfectly. A combination of their bottle, logo, and the Venus symbol creates a simple and impressive composition, emphasized by the smart use of negative space in branded red and white colors. The design is complemented by a short yet impactful message that acknowledges the unique power of every woman to make our world a better place.
Source: Behance
If you like the idea and want to create branded holiday graphics, our free Background remover will be handy. In just a few seconds, you’ll get background-free images you can download and use in any design project.
#4. One Day We Won’t Need This Day — Nike
In its holiday campaign, Nike addresses the topic of equality. In the one-minute video, we see talented female athletes, including Serena Williams, Megan Rapinoe, and many others, as well as their moments of triumph. The narrator expresses the hope that someday we won’t need International Women’s Day because there will be no need to prove they are just as fast, strong, or skilled. This commercial is a follow-up to the Nike Dream Crazier campaign dedicated to female athletes who have broken barriers and inspired generations of athletes to chase after their dreams.
Are you looking for images of passionate and motivated females for Women’s Day ads? Discover our curated “Women in Sports” collection with photos that perfectly complement your social media post or creative campaign.
#5. Because She Watched — Netflix
We couldn’t help but include Netflix’s “Because She Watched” campaign in collaboration with the UN in our list of the best Women’s Day creative ads. This inspiring video features original shows and films from the streaming platform with powerful female characters. Lana Condor, the actress from “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” narrates the commercial to highlight how the media can empower women by fostering a sense of belonging and solidarity.
This campaign was curated by women creators who work both behind the scenes and on screen. Its main idea is that now, women can tell their own stories and not just be in supporting roles. According to the creators, “It’s about making visible the invisible, and proving that only by fully representing and including women on screen, behind-the-camera and in our narratives overall, society will truly flourish.”
To convey the principles of diversity and inclusivity, choose images of women of different nationalities, ages, and professions. Check out a collection that represents women from all over the world.
See Collection#6. Can you solve the riddle? — Mindspace
On International Women’s Day 2020, the theme of which was Each for Equal, Mindspace held a social experiment. As part of it, 22 people of different genders, ages, and nationalities were asked to solve the same riddle describing a real-life scene. Each participant offered their version, but no one was correct, even though the right answer turned out to be ridiculously simple. This eye-opening social experiment showed that most people (including women) subconsciously contribute to the spread of sexism, and cognitive biases constantly influence their decisions. Watching this video makes every viewer think about whether we are any closer to solving the problem of gender inequality in the workplace.
Spread the message of equal opportunities regardless of gender! Use images of women who fulfill their potential and succeed in various fields. Check out our “Power of Women” collection for impactful International Women’s Day ads.
#7. First of Many — Google
Google’s inspirational video honors women who have become pioneers and role models for many others. The first female pilot, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, the first female rapper, and the first woman to climb Everest are just a few examples of women who have paved the way for others and made them believe in themselves. This campaign embodies the powerful spirit of sisterhood and community, where the achievements of each individual woman become a victory for all. It’s a great showcase of how brands can embody the IWD theme in an engaging and uplifting way.
Find ready-to-use greetings and images perfect for creative Women’s Day posts and custom holiday designs in our thematic collection.
#8. Double Standards — CPB London
CBP is one of the most prominent advertising and creative agencies that has repeatedly won the title of being the best, particularly at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. Among the outstanding and thought-provoking projects of the CPB London office is their 2023 campaign, which reflects on the double standards women face daily. It refers to situations where women are judged for behavior that is absolutely acceptable and even approvable when it comes to men.
Due to the subconscious use of vocabulary that spreads gender stereotypes, a woman is labeled as hysterical, while a man who behaves the same way is considered passionate. Some other examples include assertive vs. bossy or pushy vs. ambitious. With the help of posters hung in London, CPB showed how unfair and biased attitudes towards women are. The campaign also received comprehensive coverage online, gaining 1.9 million impressions and 20 million views on news platforms.
Source: Creative Boom
#9. Dove & Drew Barrymore — #TheFaceof10
Dove, known for its iconic Real Beauty campaign aimed at breaking down unrealistic beauty standards, collaborated with the one and only Drew Barrymore. In the video, the actress reveals an alarming trend that more and more young girls are starting to use anti-aging skincare products, feeling pressure because of their appearance. According to the brand, 1 in 4 girls experience anxiety about their skin.
With this campaign, Dove aims to overcome a harmful beauty trend and protect the self-esteem of young girls, who can be very dependent on public opinion. The brand is committed to changing damaging attitudes and promoting beauty as a source of happiness, not anxiety.
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If you want to evoke sincere emotions in your Women’s Day creative ads, rely on real-life and unpolished scenes. Find such files in our “Authentic Women” collection.
#10. Be a Lady They Said — Girls. Girls. Girls
This video was not initially dedicated to International Women’s Day. Still, it is so powerful and honest about the unfairly inflated (often completely contradictory) demands that modern women face. It is based on an abridged version of the “Be a Lady They Said” text, written and published by Camille Rainville, author of the blog “Writings of a Furious Woman” in 2017. In the several-minute video, actress and activist Cynthia Nixon reads a heartfelt monologue about common stereotypes and sexist statements about women. It reflects the constant social pressure to dictate how women should look, dress, eat, or behave to fit the image of a lady. This video raised a problem that thousands experience daily, so it’s no wonder it went viral.
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To sum up
International Women’s Day creative ads have their specifics as they combine holiday and cause marketing. Although these campaigns are not designed to generate leads or increase conversion rates, they can help achieve other important goals, including expanding brand awareness, building reputation, and establishing trust with audiences. We encourage you to use this opportunity to showcase your strong commitment to women’s rights and connect with your female audience. Share empowering stories that inspire positive change as you contribute to a future of equal opportunities for all.
FAQs
What is the symbol of International Women’s Day?
One of the most popular signs of International Women’s Day is the Venus symbol, a circle with a cross at the bottom. It is interpreted as a hand mirror of the eponymous goddess of love. The holiday also has its official logo, which resembles a combination of the Venus symbol and a looped arrow in deep purple. According to the official story, the logo represents the hope and action surrounding women’s equality.
What color is associated with International Women’s Day?
Although International Women’s Day is usually associated with pink, official colors of the holiday are purple, green, and white. Purple symbolizes justice, honor, and commitment; green represents hope; and white stands for purity. These shades are not random, as they originated from the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the UK, known as the suffragette movement.
Why is International Women’s Day celebrated?
International Women’s Day is an annual holiday that honors women’s cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements. It is the main feminist holiday that raises the issue of protecting women’s rights and gender equality. Today, IWD is marked in over 80 countries and recognized as an official holiday in 27 countries worldwide.
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