by thesavageway | Mar 5, 2026 | clean graffiti
Quick Summary:
- Companies across the country are using Clean Graffiti for healthcare initiative awareness.
- Clean Graffiti offers an affordable outdoor signage option in major cities where outdoor is either expensive or are limited in advertising opportunities.
- Details about campaigns with Novant Health, Atrium Health, OrthoCarolina, MetroHealth and Cleveland, OH Hospitals, Talkspace and the National Suicide Prevention 988 Hotline
Companies across the country are using Clean Graffiti for healthcare initiative awareness. Also known as “Reverse Graffiti,” Clean Graffiti brings brand awareness to important health messages. Companies/Organizations such as Novant Health, Atrium Health, OrthoCarolina, MetroHealth and Cleveland, OH Hospitals, Talkspace and the National Suicide Prevention 988 Hotline all used Clean Graffiti as a part of their marketing mix. These companies wanted to reach their target market in a completely new way.
Clean Graffiti offers an affordable outdoor signage option in major cities where outdoor is either expensive or are limited in advertising opportunities. Clean Graffiti is the perfect addition to a traditional media buy because we are able to directly target the customer with an untapped resource – the sidewalk. And best of all, it’s just water – no paint, no chemicals, just water.
WHO USES CLEAN GRAFFITI IN HEALTHCARE:
- Community Health & Outreach
- Behavioral Health / Psychology
- Communications & Community Engagement
- Violence Prevention & Safety Initiatives
- Breast Health Centers
- Primary Care & Preventative Medicine
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Public Health Initiatives
HOW IT WORKS:
The Savage Way team makes a contrast on the sidewalk by using high pressure water on top of a stencil. We leave behind a clean message on a dirty sidewalk using just water. Seriously it’s just water – no paint, no acid, no bleach, no epoxy…. just making a contrast in dirt. Does not damage sidewalks or infrastructure and naturally fades over time
EXAMPLES OF USE:
Atrium Health: The Savage Way has collaborated with the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department, Novant Health & Atrium Health to take action towards the prevention of gun violence. Our team was excited when we were presented with the opportunity to help bring a stop to gun violence in Mecklenburg County, and instantly wanted to be a part of the activism.
Not only is our Clean Graffiti eco-friendly, but it is also eye-catching and sheds a new light on how to creatively advertise for companies, community initiative, events and much more. We located target bus stops and schools within Mecklenburg County where gun violence is an ongoing issue. Our team placed 20 spots around West Charlotte & Northwestern Charlotte neighborhoods that had high foot-traffic and bystander interaction.
Novant Health: This initiative was created as part of Novant Health’s Breast Cancer and Mammogram Awareness Marketing Campaign. We worked directly with the internal marketing team to create over 200 sidewalk messages in tandem with their external efforts. Clean Graffiti was utilized to specifically target high-foot traffic areas in multiple cities where there is a Novant Health location. We placed these sidewalk ads in the North Carolina locations of Uptown Charlotte and surrounding neighborhoods, Ballantyne, Huntersville, University, Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Thomasville, Salisbury. We also hit the Virginia locations of Manassas and Culpepper. We focused on high visibility areas like pedestrian intersections, park entrances and near walking paths to restaurants. This eco-friendly medium was a great way to build awareness for Mammograms and breast health in the targeted areas.
OrthoCarolina: Over the years we have created a variety of campaigns for OrthoCarolina, the largest private network of doctors around. From positive running messages to free workouts, OrthoCarolina has always had community top of mind. However, our personal favorite campaign was the “Watch Your Step” initiative where we placed safety messages near broken or cracked sidewalks… all powered by OrthoCarolina.
MetroHealth and Cleveland, OH Hospitals: We worked with the staff at MetroHealth & University Hospitals in Cleveland, OH to create a campaign around the “Pop It To Block It” marketing campaign. It was a brilliant way to bring community awareness to the availability of Prep pills for HIV prevention.
Talkspace: Talkspace is an online mental health platform that makes it easy to talk to connect with a licensed therapist in a convenient & secure way from the comfort of your phone – whenever, wherever. They have simplified the approach to mental health, and we are here for it.
Together, we partnered on a Clean Graffiti campaign in two major US cities, Los Angeles, CA and Austin, TX. “Healing is a journey, every step counts.” @Talkspace. This simple, direct message on the sidewalk communicates to the public that mental health should be a priority and that anything that you are doing to heal is a step in a positive direction.
National Suicide Prevention 988 Hotline: We are honored to continue work with Mecklenburg County, North Carolina on this important Clean Graffiti campaign for the 988 Hotline for Suicide Prevention & Crisis Line. What a great way to remind people throughout the city that there is hope out there.
By simply calling or texting “988,” anyone can get help with social or family situations, depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, alcohol or drug use. You can also call if you just need someone to talk to. Mecklenburg County has resources available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s free, private, one-on-one help. We were able to sprinkle these health & community messages throughout the county. It is so important that everyone knows that this resource is available regardless or your location or economic status.
We love seeing Healthcare organizations embrace alternative marketing ideas. Clean Graffiti offers an awesome way to get their very important information dispersed to the public. We look forward to many more campaigns like these.
by thesavageway | Feb 16, 2026 | clean graffiti
Patagonia, Diet Coke, The Rolling Stones, Lululemon, Talkspace, Greenpeace, PETA Use Creative Advertising
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
– Clean Graffiti offers large companies a unique approach to outdoor advertising, by using the sidewalk to target their target market.
– The Savage Way has worked with the likes of Coca-Cola, Patagonia, The Rolling Stones, Lululemon, Talkspace, Greenpeace and PETA on Clean Graffiti campaigns across the country.
– This media buy helps elevate a company’s Corporate Social Responsibility. It also shows innovation and creativity to use dirt as an asset. We are excited to continue to work with brands that understand that there are different media options out there.
Clean Graffiti has been a wonderful addition to our client’s marketing mix. There are traditional out-of-home advertising options like static billboards and posters, bus stop ads, digital billboards, transit ads, street furniture and wildpostings that work to get a message across. But occasionally a client needs a unique approach to a campaign and that is where Clean Graffiti comes into play. By utilizing the sidewalk, Clean Graffiti allows an option to target clients in a non-traditional way – right where they are walking every single day.
Over the years, we have had the pleasure of working with a variety of major companies on different Clean Graffiti campaigns across the country. Below we will go over a few of the memorable projects for the brands that we all know so well.
Diet Coke: We completed a four-city Clean Graffiti tour on behalf of Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. We were busy putting down our eco-friendly outdoor advertising medium in Baltimore, MD, Memphis, TN, Greensboro, NC and Charlotte, NC.
Patagonia: Patagonia is far beyond just an accomplished outdoor retailer. They are the kind of company that inspires us to our core. They care deeply about the environment and their impact on Mother Nature. As a certified B Corp since 2012, Patagonia cemented its commitment to environmental and socially responsible practices – and it’s found in everything they do.
In recent years, we were able to create Clean Graffiti campaigns in Charlotte, NC for the South End store ( twice), Baltimore, MD for the Fells Point store (twice), Atlanta, GA for the ATL Beltline store and Nashville, TN for the 601 Overton St location.
Lululemon: Lululemon is a global luxury apparel company that is also dedicated to supporting and manifesting lifestyles for men and women while also building a community with like minded individuals. Our partnership with Lululemon grew out of a desire for us to “pave the way” into a new year with a fresh, out of the box campaign. Enter Clean Graffiti. Lululemon wanted to reach out to the collective runners of Charlotte who run to feel grounded and leave a workout feeling inspired. Since Lululemon’s goal was to encourage runners to hit the sidewalks throughout the winter months, our partnership naturally turned to connecting the dots within the Charlotte community. We were able to link Lululemon with local run clubs and some of the awesome runners this city has to offer.
Greenpeace: Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Our Clean Graffiti initiative was one piece of the #IStand4Solar story. We were able to create a template that embodied the solar message, art and one that sparked engagement. Our interactive piece encouraged pedestrians to put their feet in the art and take a picture.
The Rolling Stones: This campaign was such a beautiful use of our eco-friendly medium. Since the Rolling Stones are so iconic and everyone associates the “mouth” with this band, the stencil could be kept clean and simple. No words, no call to action – just a teaser that also acts as brand awareness. And to utilize the sidewalks where potential concert-goers are walking everyday is the perfect new way to reach their audience.
Talkspace: Talkspace is an online mental health platform that makes it easy to talk to connect with a licensed therapist in a convenient & secure way from the comfort of your phone – whenever, wherever. They have simplified the approach to mental health, and we are here for it.
Together, we partnered on a Clean Graffiti campaign in two major US cities, Los Angeles, CA and Austin, TX. “Healing is a journey, every step counts.” @Talkspace. This simple, direct message on the sidewalk communicates to the public that mental health should be a priority and that anything that you are doing to heal is a step in a positive direction.
PETA: We did a Clean Graffiti campaign for the animal rights organization, PETA (People for the Ethical Rights of Animals), in Austin, TX surrounding the use of forced monkey labor with certain Whole Foods Thai Coconut Milk products. We placed spots around Whole Foods and their corporate headquarters in order for PETA to bring awareness to this injustice. This truly grass roots effort was a great way for this activist organization to bring awareness to an important animal cause.
In Summary
It’s amazing to witness these huge corporations embrace an alternative advertising avenue such as Clean Graffiti. Seeing Big Business use some of their marketing dollars in a green and sustainable way is something we are definitely here for!
Not only does this media buy help elevate the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility, it also shows innovation and creativity to use dirt as an asset. We are excited to continue to work with brands that understand that there are different media options out there. Our Clean Graffiti lets you directly target where your audience is walking every single day – the sidewalk. It is a subtle, unexpected message that can bring a smile to your customers face.
by thesavageway | Nov 13, 2025 | clean graffiti
Patagonia is far beyond just an accomplished outdoor retailer. They are the kind of company that inspires us to our core. They care deeply about the environment and their impact on Mother Nature. As a certified B Corp since 2012, Patagonia cemented its commitment to environmental and socially responsible practices – and its found in everything they do.
Patagonia Uses Eco-Friendly Advertising
When we got the call to create multiple Clean Graffiti campaigns for Patagonia, we were elated to extend their environmentally-friendly practices to the outdoor advertising space. Clean Graffiti is created by using dirt on a sidewalk and high pressure water. We make a contrast in the dirt and leave a “clean message on a dirty sidewalk.” There are no paint, chemicals or bleach used. It’s just cleaning. So for a company that cares so deeply about protecting the environment, Clean Graffiti is an excellent choice for an OOH option. “The environmental impact (or lack thereof) of Clean Graffiti was definitely a key factor in determining what kind of local marketing we were interested in using,” said Andrew Farison, Retail Events Marketing Specialist for Patagonia.
“Patagonia’s experience using Clean Graffiti has been fantastic, leaning into a creative and eco-friendly way to help promote store locations and drive awareness in new markets in particular has proven to be a very efficient and cost-effective local marketing strategy,” continued Farison.
In recent years, we were able to hit the markets of:
– Charlotte, NC for the South End store – twice
– Baltimore, MD for the Fells Point store – twice
– Atlanta, GA for the ATL Beltline store
– Nashville, TN for the 601 Overton St store
The spots went down in high-foot traffic areas near the stores. We tried to find the popular walking paths where there was the most accumulated dirt on the sidewalks. We love how we were able to translate the Patagonia branding into stencil format – whether it was their traditional logo or a more artistic interpretation of the brand.
Making an Impact
The spots speak for themselves! Gorgeous, eye-catching and right where potential customers are walking – the sidewalk. It’s great how just using nature can make an incredible visual impact.
We love this quote from their website, “At Patagonia, we appreciate that all life on earth is under threat of extinction. We’re using the resources we have – our business, our investments, our voice and our imaginations – to do something about it.” Now THAT is what it means to stand on business. Honored to continue working with such a forward-thinking brand / company.
by thesavageway | May 21, 2025 | clean graffiti
We are honored to continue work with Mecklenburg County, North Carolina on this important Clean Graffiti campaign for the 988 Hotline for Suicide Prevention & Crisis Line. What a great way to remind people throughout the city that there is hope out there.
By simply calling or texting “988,” anyone can get help with social or family situations, depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, alcohol or drug use. You can also call if you just need someone to talk to. Mecklenburg County has resources available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s free, private, one-on-one help.
We were able to sprinkle these health & community messages throughout the county. It is so important that everyone knows that this resource is available regardless or your location or economic status.
Clean Graffiti is an amazing advertising vehicle to spread social and community messages like this. Seeing a message on the sidewalk is unexpected and may very well be the message that someone needed! We absolutely love seeing this eco-friendly medium being used to spread positivity and hope to a vulnerable population. Community matters, especially in times of mental crisis.
988 Hotline is a free suicide & crisis lifeline available 24/7. Simply call or text to chat with someone when you are struggling. There is never any judgement, just a listening ear and a person to give your resources. Check out more information here.
As the sidewalk message in Clean Graffiti reads, “It’s NEVER too late.” Check on your people, say “I love you,” and show up for others. And utilize 988 whenever needed.
by thesavageway | Oct 14, 2024 | clean graffiti
Community health messages are such a great use of Clean Graffiti and that is exactly what Proof Alliance NC has done for over a year now. This amazing organization is using unexpected placement (aka the sidewalk) to help spread an extremely important message about not drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
More About Proof Alliance NC
Proof Alliance NC is the North Carolina arm of the national nonprofit organization, Proof Alliance. They are the national leader in promoting the benefits of alcohol-free pregnancy and supporting those impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Proof Alliance NC strives to prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies by providing training, education and resources to professionals who serve individuals of reproductive age, deliver prevention messaging and resources to individuals who can become pregnant. Their work also provides resources for professionals who provide supports to families and individuals impacted by FASD.
The Clean Graffiti Campaign
The Savage Way has had the honor of working with Proof Alliance NC on multiple Clean Graffiti campaigns across the state. We placed a message that says, “Alcohol & Pregnancy Don’t Mix. We Have The Proof,” in both big cities like Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem, to smaller towns and beach cities where outdoor advertising is typically not really an option. Our eco-friendly sidewalk messages are such a great alternative to capture the attention of people walking to a bar / restaurant, waiting at a bus stop or walking to the park.
We love when we have a chance to use our medium for public health and community messages. Too often we are bombarded by billboards, radio ads, social media ads, tv, etc. and we totally miss the message. The beauty of Clean Graffiti (aka reverse graffiti) is that the sidewalk is not a place you typically see a message. It’s created used only high pressure water so it is an eco-friendly outdoor messaging tactic. Proof Alliance has been an exceptional client when it comes to trusting the medium and the impact that it can have on a targeted audience. We look forward to a continued partnership with the Proof Alliance NC team.
by thesavageway | Aug 6, 2024 | clean graffiti
This summer, we placed a fun & interactive Clean Graffiti campaign across Charlotte, NC for Smart Start of Mecklenburg County. The intention was to create a children’s game for families to have access to at no-cost. We placed 20 pressure-washed pieces of art in 17 neighborhoods! The results have been so much fun and we love to see kids interacting with the sidewalk games.
The campaign is sprinkled throughout the city in high foot-traffic areas near parks and bus stops. Neighborhoods include Enderly Park, Wesley Heights, 1st Ward, 4th Ward, Madison Park, Dilworth, Sedgefield, Cherry, Elizabeth, Plaza Midwood, Commonwealth Park, Sheffield Park, Plaza-Shamrock, NoDa, Villa Heights, Belmont, and Double Oaks. This effort brings awareness to the amazing services that Smart Start of Mecklenburg County offers our age 0-5 preschool children. Here is a cute video posted to the @SmartStartMeck Instagram page showing the game in action.
Smart Start of Mecklenburg County has a mission to “mobilize resources, forge partnerships, and support families to improve early childhood health, education and development, and ensure children are prepared for kindergarten.” It’s an awesome organization who make it their business to help children thrive before five. They have four internal programs in addition to funding more than 20 other programs in the community that focus on early care and education, family support, health, and literacy. They will invest over $35 million in early childhood programs throughout the community this year. We love any opportunity to pour into young kids and giving them a positive, growth mindset and get them ready for school.
Clean Graffiti, aka reverse graffiti, is an eco-friendly advertising medium that utilizes the sidewalk to spread a message to the community. Whether you are a small business owner, a large corporation or community initiative, Clean Graffiti is a fantastic way to bring a talk-ability (and fun element) to your marketing / advertising message.
by thesavageway | Jun 18, 2024 | clean graffiti
Killingsworth Environmental, the pest control company, used Clean Graffiti to creatively capture the attention of pedestrians in Charlotte, NC. In two separate campaigns, we were able to get clever about pest issues in our city. With eye-catching creative and the use of vanity URLs (CLTRats.com and CLTBugs.com), Killingsworth captured the audience and quickly directed them to a website that lays out an action item.
Two Campaigns
“What’s the deal with all the rats?!” (We can’t help but hear this in the voice of Jerry Seinfeld). But seriously, Charlotte has seen an increase in the rat population. Killingsworth is working hard to fix that issue with their new eco-friendly rodent clean up system called SMART. When the client reached out, we knew that this would be such a natural fit with the Killingsworth brand.
CLTBugs.com was the second campaign and again we had an eye-catching, creative message with a short and memorable URL. The goal was to drive people to a website to sign up for pest control services. “THEY’RE HERE…” with a bunch of bugs “crawling” on the sidewalk definitely grabs a pedestrian’s attention.
Why it Works
Clean Graffiti is a great addition to an overall marketing plan. Killingsworth is an established company (founded in 1993). They have market familiarity and they advertise in other spaces. Using a guerilla marketing tactic is a fun extension of the usual advertising initiatives. With Clean Graffiti, our client can reach their audience in a totally new space, the sidewalk, and leave a lasting impression with a clever message. When you see “What’s the deal with all the rats?” it makes you pause, analyze the question and go to CLTRats.com to learn more. It’s intriguing, clever and eco-friendly to boot.
We love the originality of these stencils and really appreciate how the Killingsworth team was open to the out-of-the-box nature of our advertising medium. Honored to get this awesome message from our client:
“To speak to the effectiveness of the campaign, I happened to mention rats this Wednesday while at Rhino Market and one of the staff members stopped me to ask if I had seen the “rat problem website on the sidewalks”. We appreciate your extra effort in making this campaign a success, especially last minute. It’s made CLTRats.com one of our most popular landing pages. (It ended the year as our second most popular page behind the homepage). Most importantly, it’s helped us make Charlotte a healthier place for everyone. We continue to see results from this campaign and look forward to working together more this year.” – Tessa Shoe, Marketing Manager of Killingsworth.
To learn more about Killingsworth and their services, head to their website.
by thesavageway | Apr 24, 2024 | clean graffiti
Ever since our hometown (Charlotte, NC) got a Major League Soccer team (shout out Charlotte FC), we have all been feeling the soccer hype. So, when we got a call from a large agency that works with United Stated Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer), we knew were going for goal.
We worked with You Are Here Agency, a sponsorship and activation agency, on a Clean Graffiti campaign for the U.S. Soccer & The U.S. Women’s National Team’s “SheBelieves Cup” in Atlanta, GA. This tournament hosting international teams was a major moment for women’s soccer, and YAH Agency wanted to bring more attention to the upcoming game. That is where Clean Graffiti came in as the perfect advertising companion.
We ran a campaign throughout the city of Atlanta that helped drive traffic to the SheBelieves Cup website. The spots were placed in popular walking areas throughout busy neighborhoods. With a goal of general awareness, along with ticket sales, our eco-friendly sidewalk advertising became a great way to grab the attention of potential customers in an unexpected way.
More about SheBelieves:
“Inspired by the U.S. Women’s National Team, SheBelieves is a movement to encourage young women and girls to reach their dreams, athletic or otherwise. The campaign was originally launched in the run-up to the 2015 Women’s World Cup and has evolved into a special bond between U.S. Soccer and its fans, taking a powerful message of empowerment and that of believing in yourself into communities across the nation.”
The 2024 SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa, featured the USWNT, Brazil, Canada and Japan. The USA defeated Japan in a semifinal 2-1, and captured its fifth consecutive and seventh overall SheBelieves Cup title, defeating Canada 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout following a 2-2 draw through regulation. (source from U.S. Soccer website)
We absolutely love what this organization stands for. We need more empowerment, utilization of resources and encouragement for women and young girls. And we are honored to be able to have contributed to the marketing of this event with our Clean Graffiti (aka reverse graffiti).
