Influx InsightsInflux InsightsA blog about the intersections of branding, marketing and culture Articles
brand transparency- patagonia
2008-04-02 18:47:00 It might be tempting for a brand that's built a reputation for environmental concerns to rest on its laurels and continue on with the same old strategy. However, that's not the case with Patagonia , who despite building a brand that's focused on supporting the environment, it's recently turned its attention to the eco-footprints of its products. There's a dedicated space on its website that examines the footprints of four of its products. While this is a very limited selection of its total SKUs, the manner and honesty in which the information is presented is refreshing for the following reasons.1. It explores the breadth of the issue from materials to transportation2. They acknowledge that things aren't perfect 3. They highlight the fact they want to improve4. They encourage others to comment5. The translate the impact into language we can all understand- the energy to produce a rain jacket is the same as leaving a regular lightbulb on constantly for 42 days!!It would be good t... More About: Transparency , Brand
user generated love
2008-04-01 06:07:00 Learning to Love You More is both a web site and a book comprised of work by the general public in response to assignments given by artists Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher.The project and its assignments range from lighthearted (snap a flash photo under your bed) to thoughtful (feel the news) to painfully real and honest (spend time with a dying person), and the responses are so impressive and unexpected, that it's just as amazing to look at them as it is to make your own.An uncountable number of brands have also given the public a chance to express their creativity. It's the age of user generated content and it seems everyone has utilized some type of contest or opportunity for people to make their own commercials. At first glance, Learning to Love You More might be mistakenly lumped with those efforts. But here's why it's not:For one, the assignments are purely self expressive. The content is not merely an interpretation of the brand from the user's eyes - it is the brand. ... More About: User
user generated love
2008-04-01 06:07:00 Learning to Love You More is both a web site and a book comprised of work by the general public in response to assignments given by artists Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher.The project and its assignments range from lighthearted (snap a flash photo under your bed) to thoughtful (feel the news) to painfully real and honest (spend time with a dying person), and the responses are so impressive and unexpected, that it's just as amazing to look at them as it is to make your own.An uncountable number of brands have also given the public a chance to express their creativity. It's the age of user generated content and it seems everyone has utilized some type of contest or opportunity for people to make their own commercials. At first glance, Learning to Love You More might be mistakenly lumped with those efforts. But here's why it's not:For one, the assignments are purely self expressive. The content is not merely an interpretation of the brand from the user's eyes - it is the brand. ... More About: User
buy the age of conversation
2008-04-01 00:20:00 The Age of Conversation is a unique project.It’s a book that “brings together over 100 of the world’s leading marketers, writers, thinkers and creative innovators in a ground-breaking and unusual publication.” All the proceeds from sales and referrals are donated to Variety, the Children’s Charity. If you haven’t yet, you should purchase your copy here. For best effect, purchase 1 copy at a time, using that link - because proceeds from the referrals go to charity as well. And on that note, the authors and topics for The Age of Conversation 2.0 have been announced. This year, 275 authors will be answering the question “Why don’t people get it?”. And I have the honor of being one of the authors. Here’s the full list: Adam Crowe, Adrian Ho, Aki Spicer, Alex Henault, Amy Jussel, Andrew Odom, Andy Nulman, Andy Sernovitz, Andy Whitlock, Angela Maiers, Ann Handley, Anna Farmery, Armando Alves, Arun Rajagopal, Asi Sharabi, Becky Ca...
brand transparency- patagonia
2008-03-31 00:50:00 It might be tempting for a brand that's built a reputation for environmental concerns to rest on its laurels and continue on with the same old strategy. However, that's not the case with Patagonia , who despite building a brand that's focused on supporting the environment, it's recently turned its attention to the eco-footprints of its products. There's a dedicated space on its website that examines the footprints of four of its products. While this is a very limited selection of its total SKUs, the manner and honesty in which the information is presented is refreshing for the following reasons.1. It explores the breadth of the issue from materials to transportation2. They acknowledge that things aren't perfect 3. They highlight the fact they want to improve4. They encourage others to comment5. The translate the impact into language we can all understand- the energy to produce a rain jacket is the same as leaving a regular lightbulb on constantly for 42 days!!It would be good t... More About: Transparency , Brand
buy the age of conversation
2008-03-30 21:13:00 The Age of Conversation is a unique project.It’s a book that “brings together over 100 of the world’s leading marketers, writers, thinkers and creative innovators in a ground-breaking and unusual publication.” All the proceeds from sales and referrals are donated to Variety, the Children’s Charity. If you haven’t yet, you should purchase your copy here. For best effect, purchase 1 copy at a time, using that link - because proceeds from the referrals go to charity as well. And on that note, the authors and topics for The Age of Conversation 2.0 have been announced. This year, 275 authors will be answering the question “Why don’t people get it?”. And I have the honor of being one of the authors. Here’s the full list: Adam Crowe, Adrian Ho, Aki Spicer, Alex Henault, Amy Jussel, Andrew Odom, Andy Nulman, Andy Sernovitz, Andy Whitlock, Angela Maiers, Ann Handley, Anna Farmery, Armando Alves, Arun Rajagopal, Asi Sharabi, Becky Ca...
the joy of trucks- cadbury's latest
2008-03-30 07:12:00 I get the joy of trucking expressed in the ad, but it lacks the layers of Phil Collins and the gorilla. Still, this has to be one of the most surreal ads of all time and that can't be bad thing!Posted by Ed Cotton More About: Trucks
the joy of trucks- cadbury's latest
2008-03-30 07:12:00 I get the joy of trucking expressed in the ad, but it lacks the layers of Phil Collins and the gorilla. Still, this has to be one of the most surreal ads of all time and that can't be bad thing!Posted by Ed Cotton More About: Trucks
growing food in transit
2008-03-30 07:10:00 Interesting idea from design student Agata Jaworska. She imagines a world where we shift from thinking about "best before" and move to "ready by", as a new way of food production. Food could be made in transit and trucks into turned into growing factories!ViaPosted by Ed Cotton More About: Growing , Transit
growing food in transit
2008-03-30 07:10:00 Interesting idea from design student Agata Jaworska. She imagines a world where we shift from thinking about "best before" and move to "ready by", as a new way of food production. Food could be made in transit and trucks into turned into growing factories!ViaPosted by Ed Cotton More About: Growing , Transit
the $35 movie ticket
2008-03-27 15:55:00 If you live in Redmond, Washington or South Barrington, Illinois, you could be in for a treat this year with the arrival of Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas. A new concept that takes the movie experience to new heights for a hefty price. This is the world of luxury movie going. - 40 seat cinemas- Luxury reclining arm chairs- Latest state-of-the-art technology with digital projection, including 3-D, as well as super-wide screens and digital soundThis isn't just a about the movie, it's dinner and the movie since guests can watch their film drink wine and eat gourmet cuisine from the seasonal menu prepared by chefs in the Gold Class kitchen. If that isn't enough each seat has its own service button which brings personal waiter service. Given that we live in a world where experiences matter, it makes sense to see an elevation of the movie going experience. I can't imagine people are going to regularly spend $150 on a movie night out, but for special occasions and to see a g... More About: Movie , Ticket
the $35 movie ticket
2008-03-27 15:55:00 If you live in Redmond, Washington or South Barrington, Illinois, you could be in for a treat this year with the arrival of Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas. A new concept that takes the movie experience to new heights for a hefty price. This is the world of luxury movie going. - 40 seat cinemas- Luxury reclining arm chairs- Latest state-of-the-art technology with digital projection, including 3-D, as well as super-wide screens and digital soundThis isn't just a about the movie, it's dinner and the movie since guests can watch their film drink wine and eat gourmet cuisine from the seasonal menu prepared by chefs in the Gold Class kitchen. If that isn't enough each seat has its own service button which brings personal waiter service. Given that we live in a world where experiences matter, it makes sense to see an elevation of the movie going experience. I can't imagine people are going to regularly spend $150 on a movie night out, but for special occasions and to see a g... More About: Movie , Ticket
alan cooper and the quest for quality- interaction design
2008-03-26 23:30:00 Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to attend a packed IXDA event at San Francisco's Hot Studio, to listen to Alan Cooper talk about the emerging world of Interaction Design .It was a fascinating discussion that had so many parallels to the world of planning.These guys are probably the next generation of planners and instead of briefing creatives- they are briefing and working with programmers. With the web and technology increasingly becoming an ad/brand/media space, we all know what happens next.Cooper's talk revolved around the idea that Interaction Design allows technology companies to inject some quality into their process. The idea is that IDs create the insights, research and smart behavioral understanding create solid blueprints from which to build the first product generation.Cooper was vocal in his critique of companies who rush products to market, just for the sake of being first. He also touched on the environmental consequences of these actions calling them the "moral eq... More About: Quest , Quality
alan cooper and the quest for quality- interaction design
2008-03-26 23:30:00 Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to attend a packed IXDA event at San Francisco's Hot Studio, to listen to Alan Cooper talk about the emerging world of Interaction Design .It was a fascinating discussion that had so many parallels to the world of planning.These guys are probably the next generation of planners and instead of briefing creatives- they are briefing and working with programmers. With the web and technology increasingly becoming an ad/brand/media space, we all know what happens next.Cooper's talk revolved around the idea that Interaction Design allows technology companies to inject some quality into their process. The idea is that IDs create the insights, research and smart behavioral understanding create solid blueprints from which to build the first product generation.Cooper was vocal in his critique of companies who rush products to market, just for the sake of being first. He also touched on the environmental consequences of these actions calling them the "moral eq... More About: Quest , Quality
saab to launch a clothing line
2008-03-26 01:14:00 It’s interesting how brands are starting to embrace the broader lifestyle concept surrounding the environment. One tactic to broaden the idea is to partner with other like-minded companies to generate a halo effect. Saab , a company not necessarily known for its green credentials, but is now keen to push them, has just embarked on a new program. Saab is moving into the clothing business with the launch a new “Pure BioPower EcoClothing ” collection. The goal is to push Saab’s BioPower technology. To do this, the Swedish automotive giant has partnered with Reflective Circle for the clothing that will include a range of dresses, t-shorts, blouses made from certified organic cotton, other clothing lines will be introduced over the course of the year. The line will be available online at Saab Expressions. The idea of partnering and combining to add impact is interesting in this case.Traditionally, brands have partnered with companies of equal size and weight and in ... More About: Launch , Line
we are hard-wired to be info junkies
2008-03-25 16:29:00 There's a good piece in the WSJ about research conducted by Irving Biederman, a neuroscientist at the University of Southern California. His research has found that we crave information, just like we crave food. If there's lots of information to look at and digest, we seem hard-wired to enjoy wallowing in it. This explains why fundamental disloyalty and clicking away from a site to something else is so attractive to us. It suggests that the experiences we create for brands should be multi-dimensional and give the user more control, rather than something that's tightly edited. It appears that we are happiest when we roam and don't want to be boxed in. "In other words, coming across what Dr. Biederman calls new and richly interpretable information triggers a chemical reaction that makes us feel good, which in turn causes us to seek out even more of it. The reverse is true as well: We want to avoid not getting those hits because, for one, we are so averse to boredom. It is somethin... More About: Info , Hard , Wired , Junkies
from user-generated to mass-generated
2008-03-22 02:06:00 Is the “swarm” a way of improving the quality of user-generated content?There are signs that the next wave of interesting stuff on the web will be all about collaboration. Some examples;Kluster: A collaborative networking site that allows people to come together around ideas. They recently completed an interesting capabilities demonstration at TED.Kaltura: Lets users develop a collaborative video project by uploading video clips, photos, or audio tracks to a wiki. User s edit collaboratively using Kaltura’s browser-based video editor. They then import their video creations into Kaltura’s library of legally remixable content.Collaborative Playlists: Edit and share playlists with others- like with Spotify. This new collaboration movement will allow things to happen faster, allow the end results to be better and make the process more engaging and fun for all involved. Posted by Ed Cotton More About: Mass
from user-generated to mass-generated
2008-03-22 02:06:00 Is the “swarm” a way of improving the quality of user-generated content?There are signs that the next wave of interesting stuff on the web will be all about collaboration. Some examples;Kluster: A collaborative networking site that allows people to come together around ideas. They recently completed an interesting capabilities demonstration at TED.Kaltura: Lets users develop a collaborative video project by uploading video clips, photos, or audio tracks to a wiki. User s edit collaboratively using Kaltura’s browser-based video editor. They then import their video creations into Kaltura’s library of legally remixable content.Collaborative Playlists: Edit and share playlists with others- like with Spotify. This new collaboration movement will allow things to happen faster, allow the end results to be better and make the process more engaging and fun for all involved. Posted by Ed Cotton More About: Mass
democratic exclusivity
2008-03-21 20:05:00 I often wonder if brands fail to use exclusivity as a marketing tactic. The idea that they can produce limited quantities of high value and high worth products and services and make them available only to a select and pre-selected audience of high rollers. The problem is, that’s the old way. Perhaps we are witnessing the arrival of something new- Democratic Exclusivity.I’ve recently been following the story of David Chang’s new restaurant in New York, Momofuku Ko. The restaurant only has 14 seats and you can only reserve one online on a first come first served basis. This is especially interesting, because unlike days of old where it was who you were that got you a table, this is all about a democratic process where it doesn’t matter who you are. Instead, if you are prepared to be patient and work, you will get rewarded with entry. Brands could be exploiting Democratic Exclusivity in all its multiple forms; from designer editions, to limited time offers. Coup...
facebook applications and brands
2008-03-18 14:11:00 Can the success of Facebook applications provide any help for brands seeking deeper relationships with consumers? Shelly Farham has done some interesting research into the applications to determine what works and why. "In reviewing the dominant types of applications, it is clear that most of the applications are helping users achieve social goals such as improved communication, learning about the self relative to others, finding similar others, improving self-presentation, engaging in social play, and engaging in social exchanges via gifts and media. Despite its shifting demographics, Facebook is still very much a social arena in the private, personal domain, not the professional domain.There are some clear signposts here for brands if they want to play in this domain and beyond. Net/Net- How can they provide tools that allow for social exchange, social learning and communication?Posted by Ed Cotton More About: Applications , Brands
facebook applications and brands
2008-03-18 14:11:00 Can the success of Facebook applications provide any help for brands seeking deeper relationships with consumers? Shelly Farham has done some interesting research into the applications to determine what works and why. "In reviewing the dominant types of applications, it is clear that most of the applications are helping users achieve social goals such as improved communication, learning about the self relative to others, finding similar others, improving self-presentation, engaging in social play, and engaging in social exchanges via gifts and media. Despite its shifting demographics, Facebook is still very much a social arena in the private, personal domain, not the professional domain.There are some clear signposts here for brands if they want to play in this domain and beyond. Net/Net- How can they provide tools that allow for social exchange, social learning and communication?Posted by Ed Cotton More About: Applications , Brands
we think- a short film about mass innovation
2008-03-18 13:00:00 A nice film promoting Charles Leadbetter's new book "We Think". Most of us know all this stuff, but it's nice to see it in a film and the conceptual idea of the shift from "the pyramid" to the "birds nest" is a good one. Posted by Ed Cotton More About: Film , Innovation , Short , Mass , Short Film
we think- a short film about mass innovation
2008-03-18 13:00:00 A nice film promoting Charles Leadbetter's new book "We Think". Most of us know all this stuff, but it's nice to see it in a film and the conceptual idea of the shift from "the pyramid" to the "birds nest" is a good one. Posted by Ed Cotton More About: Film , Innovation , Short , Mass , Short Film
the future of agency presentation skills training- powerpoint karaoke
2008-03-17 23:03:00 Here's the future of agency presentation skills training, from a recent session at this year's SXSW. Posted by Ed Cotton More About: Karaoke , Agency , Future , Training , The Future
the future of agency presentation skills training- powerpoint karaoke
2008-03-17 23:03:00 Here's the future of agency presentation skills training, from a recent session at this year's SXSW. Posted by Ed Cotton More About: Karaoke , Agency , Future , Training , The Future
h&m sets a new course
2008-03-17 16:38:00 The well-known Swedish fashion company H&M enters a new phase. H&M always followed the same route: cheap trendy fashion. Now they enter a new phase. By buying the upcoming Swedish fashion company Fabric Scandinavien (behind brands like Sunday Sun , Cheap Monday . HM enters a new role as a venture capitalist. Before HM had to produce products to get revenues, now (with acquisitions) they have to control the portfolio of stocks. This could be a boring, dangerous and reactive way to go. Before they were forced to lead and forge a path, now they can just look and follow. In the long run, this could be a problem: when you fall back and get satisfied, the world around seems to fade away. The acquisition strategy marks a shift from H&M’s old approach of launching sub brands (or rather sub companies in another category such as COS Where will it end for H&M? Will it become the new PPR ?By Claes Foxerus. You can find more writing from Claes here. H... More About: Sets
the lost ring- a breakthrough arg?
2008-03-17 15:24:00 The Lost Ring is one of the most lavish alternative reality games ever presented. It probably helps that it has the massive budgets of the International Olympic Committee and McDonald’s to leverage.Like every great ARG it has lots of layers/nuances and really engaging ways to drag players into the mystery of The Lost Ring. A quick peek at the trailer and it’s easy to see they are trying to take ARGs to the next level; somewhere between movies and video games. The problem is that ARGs are pretty inaccessible to the masses. Unlike movies and video games, which operate on the “sit and watch” or “pick up and play” modes of operation, ARGs demand a lot of attention from the players as they trawl through clues to crack codes. While the IOC and McDonald’s might have high hopes for The Lost Ring, it’s unlikely to get the masses anytime soon in its current form. However, perhaps this game or something in the near future will find a way of opera...
the art world's number one star-banksy
2008-03-15 16:47:00 Has Banksy taken over from the "Master of Light" Thomas Kinkade , as the number one artist in the world? Interesting film showing 1 hour in the life of one of his pieces.(Via Wooster Collective).Posted by Ed Cotton More About: Star , Number
design and the elastic mind
2008-03-15 16:39:00 Core 77 has a great podcast on the new MOMA exhibition "Design and the Elastic Mind ". It features a few interviews from the opening night and a longer sit down discussion with famed curator Paola Antonelli. The interview is Paola is especially good, as she talks about the idea behind the exhibit, the process of curating and highlights some of MOMA's future plans for bringing a Boeing 747 into the collection. My big take-away from the broadcast is the emergence of two interesting forces that are now shaping contemporary design thinking. 1. The shift from the decorative to the serious- designers are no longer content creating beautiful objects- they want to have an impact. Design and the Elastic Mind is all about the intersection between science/technology and design. 2. The idea of "beta" is now present in the design world- work in progress is good and objects no longer need to be finished to be presented. Posted by Ed Cotton
real time brand tracking
More articles from this author:2008-03-15 16:21:00 Most of us are used to tracking brands on an infrequent basis, but given the rise of internet conversation and the emergence of Black Swan events, shouldn't we be looking at something that's closer to real time? YouGov is a company that has been doing just that in the UK for a number of years and now appear to have brought their service to the US. With the recent FAA grounding of Southwest planes, YouGov used its Brand Index tool set to measure the impact of the news. Interestingly, it showed just how strong the Southwest brand is and how it looks likely to be able to weather the current storm. By combining buzz with other more traditional measures BrandIndex gives you are more holistic view of brand performance. Posted by Ed Cotton More About: Time , Real , Tracking , Real Time 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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