Duolingo’s green owl has already made appearances in New York’s streets with playful OOH stunts.
Duolingo’s First Steps in OOH
Duolingo has proven its creativity with disruptive outdoor activations in New York. From the “Quitter’s Day” stunt in Union Square, to its wild posting campaigns plastered across the city, and even a Netflix Squid Game collab that teased learning Korean, the owl has popped up in memorable ways. But these efforts have been short bursts of buzz rather than a sustained OOH strategy.
Why New York Still Has Untapped Potential
New York is one of the biggest OOH markets in the world. Times Square’s giant digital billboards, subway ads that reach millions daily, and murals in SoHo or Brooklyn could take Duolingo from occasional stunt player to permanent cultural fixture. Unlike brands like Costco that avoid ads altogether, Duolingo is already testing the waters — it just hasn’t gone all in.
Subway Humor on a Larger Scale
The NYC subway is a perfect stage for Duolingo’s witty brand voice. Imagine full-train takeovers with cheeky lines like “Your commute is long. Learn French.” or “No Wi-Fi? No excuse.” Similar to how Spotify owned subway humor, Duolingo could expand from posters to immersive, system-wide campaigns.
Times Square Digital Domination
Duolingo has flirted with wild postings and small-scale billboards — but a Times Square digital takeover would cement its status as a cultural icon. Animated owls, countdowns to streak milestones, and interactive screens could mirror the viral energy that made the app famous online.
