Outdoor or ‘Out of Home’ advertising: winners unveiled in the OMA Creative Awards

There is a deepening confidence in the creative potential of Out of Home (OOH) advertising. This year’s winners show how powerful the medium can be in amplifying big ideas and clever creative. The standard continues to rise, and today’s results highlight just how far the sector is pushing the boundaries

A campaign that turned a Sydney roadside billboard into the ultimate product demonstration has been crowned the Grand Prix winner at the 2025 OMA Creative Awards, announced at a celebratory industry lunch at the Centennial Homestead in Moore Park. 

Selleys ‘If You Can Take It, It’s Yours’ developed by Howatson+Company was praised by judges for its execution of an Out of Home (OOH) idea that was both fun and interactive. The win will see the lead creative team head to the 2026 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in June.

Winning: very clever …

To prove the strength of Liquid Nails, the product was used to glue a kayak, arcade machine, cricket bat, toolbox and even a 2.8metre marlin to a roadside billboard. Then came the challenge: If you can take it, it’s yours. Pedestrians, tradies, influencers, and even Australia’s secondstrongest man all had a go. None succeeded. Every attempt became social content, generating 47 million views and driving lifts in sales and brand awareness. 

Charles Parry-Okeden, OMA Independent Chair, praised the campaign for using the unique characteristics of out of home to deliver a simple, yet clever idea.

“The Selleys campaign was a masterclass in product demonstration, public engagement, and the unique power of out of home. Congratulations to the winning team,” he said.

VML Australia also emerged as one of the day’s standout performers, with its campaign The Hidden Eye Test for 1001 Optometry securing wins in three categories – Best Classic Campaign, Best Innovation or Sustainability Campaign, and Best Small Format Campaign. 

Winner

The campaign employed the power of optical illusion, fine-tuned with AI and optometrists to create avibrant campaign that turned classic transit posters into interactive diagnosis tools.

Now in their second year, the OMA Creative Awards celebrate the most innovative and impactful OOH advertising across Australia. A panel of senior creatives, marketers and industry leaders selected the winning campaigns from an impressive field of entries across six categories. 

Elizabeth McIntyre, CEO of the OMA, said this year’s winners reflect the industry’s appetite for boldness and experimentation.

“What we’re seeing from the industry is a deepening confidence in the creative potential of Out of Home. This year’s winners show how powerful the medium can be in amplifying big ideas and clever creative. The standard continues to rise, and today’s results highlight just how far the sector is pushing the boundaries.

“On behalf of everyone at the OMA we extend our congratulations to all the finalists, especially our Grand Prix winners from Howatson+Company.”

Grand Prix event: Elizabeth McIntyre from OMA, Daniel Smith, Ernie Ciaschetti and Chris Howatson from Howatson+Company, Charles Parry-Okeden from OMA.
Image: Good Thanks Media.

WINNERS: 2025 OMA Creative Awards 

Grand Prix Winner

Campaign: If You Can Take It, It’s Yours

Advertiser: Selleys

Creative: Howatson+Company

Best Classic Campaign

Best Digital or Programmatic Campaign

Campaign: The Hidden Eye Test

Advertiser: 1001 Optometry

Creative: VML Australia

Campaign: The Ashes ‘Unmissable First Ball’

Advertiser: Cricket Australia

Creative: Special

Best Small Format Campaign

Best Multi-Format Campaign

Campaign: The Hidden Eye Test

Advertiser: 1001 Optometry

Creative: VML Australia

Campaign: Just Enough Bank

Advertiser: Bankwest

Creative: Bear Meets Eagle On Fire

Best Special Build Campaign

Best Innovation or Sustainability Campaign

Campaign: If You Can Take It, It’s Yours

Advertiser: Selleys 

Creative: Howatson+Company

Campaign: The Hidden Eye Test

Advertiser: 1001 Optometry

Creative: VML Australia

The power of outdoor advertising …