A while ago, I asked my network which campaigns pop in their head when they hear someone mention diverse or inclusive communication and marketing. It’s what lead to this great list of good practices and inclusive inspiration.

But let’s start with disclaimers first:

Disclaimer 1: This selection is simply assembled by bringing together the campaigns that were recommended by my network. It’s not a list of “the best diversity campaigns ever”, because there are lots of great examples out there. This list is showing you a couple of them.
Disclaimer 2: The brands mentioned below are not necessarily the perfect role models when it comes to diversity and inclusion over all. The list is about highlighting one campaign or message in particular.

All right, now feel free to get inspired, browse the list and if you think of other examples too, let me know!

1. Rapha. Women’s 100.
The Rapha Women’s 100 challenges riders around the world to share the road and ride 100 kilometres together on the same day. I’m not a big cycling fan, but their diverse video might have just turned me into one. Happy to introduce the Invisible Peloton.

2. Dreamland. Pak je dromen uit (in English: Unwrap your dreams).
“What you feel is never wrong.” The video starts with this first sentence and it matches perfectly with its message. Dreamland is showing us it’s more than okay to play with the toys we want, even if society is telling us we shouldn’t.

3. Adidas. Modest wear.
I’m a big fan of modest sportswear and I was happy to see someone tag the Adidas Modest Wear page that I hadn’t discovered before. Besides that this is obviously very considerate towards women who choose to dress and work out modestly, the fact that they used a Black model for this page is also a sign of an inclusive mindset. When someone needs to create an image of the modern modest woman, it’s usually an Arab light-skinned that is portrayed. This image (taken from the website of Adidas) is part of the true diversity within the modest community.

4. Starbucks. Every name’s a story.
The only thing I ever wondered when in Starbucks, was if they would ever spell my name right. But I never thought of the people who could choose their name, any name they want, and hear it out loud. The great insights behind this message and the fact that it’s matched with a unique characteristic of the brand, makes it one impressive campaign.

5. Rihanna. Fenty Beauty
If you only know Rihanna from her music, it’s definitely time to catch up. Ever since this trailblazer launched Fenty Beauty, she changed the entire industry. She created an inclusive makeup brand for every tan, with all colors and shades represented (see image from Fenty below for a sneak peek). But more importantly, by creating her own inclusive brand and being incredibly successful while doing it, she made every other beauty company conscious of the importance of diversity and inclusion.

6. The National Lottery. This Girl Can.
This is what women everywhere look like. We come in all body types, colors, ages, and may or may not love all kinds of different sports. I love advertising that carries a message of female empowerment, but when it’s actually diverse, that’s when it can really have an impact on all women.

7. Douwe Egberts. Something to share.
Have you ever Googled the word “relationship”? Chances are all your first results will be a picture of man and a woman. Google doesn’t really care too much about our super diverse reality. Douwe Egberts does though.

8. Royal Football Association. The World at our Feet.
Women playing football, it’s still something we don’t see enough. The Royal Football Association made a commitment towards more diversity and more women on the field. Also important to add: they are putting their money where their mouth is.

9. Chouna Lomponda. Success DiverStory.
Chouna Lomponda was tired of the endless, negative narrative concerning colored people who live in Brussels. So she decided to create and share some success stories of her own. By sharing 18 inspiring stories of colored people, her campaign was a positive message and a ray of hope for many who only read or see the negativity.

10. Nike. The Nike Pro Hijab.
I know I’ve committed the ultimate sin by mentioning Nike and Adidas in the same article, but there’s no competition in inclusion, only inspiration to be provided. The launch of the Nike Pro Hijab was a big move for Nike and one that was celebrated by Muslim women everywhere.

11. Dove. #ShowUs.
This campaign from Dove showing different types of women might seem like something you’ve seen before. But what I particularly liked about the campaign that was shared here, is the fact that these women got to define their own search descriptions and tags for the images. This way, they could define themselves and how they want to be seen.

Thanks again to everyone for sharing their diverse examples. Are you thinking of another campaign or image as well? Feel free to comment!