The Year in Creativity: 20 Trends That Drove Some of 2016's Best Marketing

The year's best recurring themes, from live ads to clever packaging

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We've chosen the 10 best ads of 2016, led by Droga5's brilliant spot for Under Armour with Michael Phelps. Now, let's look at some of the major creative trends of 2016—the themes, concepts and strategies that invigorated marketers and led to some of the year's most interesting work.

Below are the trends, in no particular order:

 

Fine Art

Advertising might not be art, but it embraced art like never before in 2016. Some of the most intriguing creative advertising of the year referenced, incorporated and in some cases promoted fine art.

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