1. THE
HUMANKIND
AGENCY
CULTURAL FUEL TREND REPORT – MARCH 2012 / ISSUE XIV
2. NEWSLETTER CONTENT
Inspiration
Some creative ideas to inspire you
Trends
Hot trends and interesting marketing strategies
Insights & Opinions
Research news about target groups and
market insights
4. IKEA "BERÖRA"
IKEA came up with a great new product upon the launch of their IKEA-catalogue for iPad in Norway. The new product
consists of a sewing kit with a special thread that when sewn into the fabric of the mittens or gloves the touch screen
devices can be used also with the mittens on! And as the winter was at its coldest the timing of the “Beröra” kit was
perfect, resulting in the IKEA catalogue topping the list of the most downloaded apps in Norway.
Via: http://www.viralviralvideos.com/
Watch it on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn5GIlLGg2w
5. MERCEDES: INVISIBLE CAR
Mercedes got their point across and created quite a buzz, with their “Invisible Car” promotion; showing how their newest
F-CELL technology generates 0.0 emissions; thus makes it invisible to the environment.
Check out how Mercedes turned its car invisible with the help of LEDs and a camera.
Via: http://mashable.com/2012/03/03/invisible-mercedes/
Watch it on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIGzpi9lCck
6. THE BUSHMILLS: WHISKY AND WOOD WAXED
SUNGLASSES
This is a great example of successful co-creation where BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey teams up with Shwoods and the
Boston boutique Bodega in the making of wooden sunglasses made out of old whiskey barrels. To top it off the
sunglasses are waxed in whiskey.
Via: http://coolmaterial.com/video/the-bushmills-by-shwood/
Watch it Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/37775732
7. HYUNDAI i30 - ONLINE HYPNOSIS EXPERIMENT
In this new commercial for Hyundai the car producer is trying to hypnotize their audience – so to speak – with the help of
a professional hypnotist. They claim that the participants in the trailer below are not actors and that the hypnosis is real,
and if you dare you can go to their website and try to be hypnotized yourself.
Via: http://www.fastcocreate.com/1680210/can-you-be-hyponotized-by-a-website-find-out-via-hyundais-online-experiment
Watch it on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MINxg4p0cA
8. LEGO: IMAGINE
Love the new print ads from Lego. Can you imagine?
Via: http://www.ibelieveinadv.com/2012/03/lego-southpark-ninja-turtles-ernie-and-
bert-donald-duck-lucky-luke-and-the-daltons-asterix-and-obelix-the-smurfs-the-
simpsons/
9. CORONA BEER: BOUNDARIES
With their new ads, Corona Beer communicates what they think about drinking and the crossing of boundaries in an
explicit and very nice way.
Via: http://adofdamonth.com/corona-beer-violence-land/
http://adofdamonth.com/corona-beer-crash-county/
10. HIPSTER RESEARCH MUST: ACCIDENTAL
CHINESE HIPSTERS
The blog name alone warrants a closer look, even if you aren’t in a hipster research mode. Check out the whole site here.
Posted by Alexander Wipf on http://culturalfuel.net/2012/03/19/hipster-research-must-accidental-chinese-hipsters/
The blog can be found here: http://accidentalchinesehipsters.tumblr.com/
11. COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR: TRYING STUFF
An unconventional way of testing if their sportswear is keeping the rain out. Check out more of Columbia Sportswear‘s
humorous and unconventional methods here via http://www.adrants.com/2012/03/why-cats-love-columbia-
sportswear.php#more
Watch it on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOMfAaoignk
12. BACARDI: HERITAGE FILM
Bacardi has created a fine series of three short films to celebrate the heritage of the brand for its 150th anniversary.
See the 'Prohibition Parties' here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aSCJrExSes
See 'The Cuba Libre' here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyAGfkmx5mw
See 'The Rum of the Bat' here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVmY2ClfWTQ
13. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: CASTRO
Truly a nice ad from Amnesty, celebrating their 50 years of existence. „50 years together with you cutting down the voice
of oppression”
Via: http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/amnesty_international_castro
14. VIRGIN MOBILE: THE FANTASTIC TALE OF
YOUNG BRANSON
Virgin Mobile makes use of a biographical and humorous story telling starring Sir Richard Branson's as the main
character where the audience will witness how he envisioned the future mobile phone company to be through the start as
a toddler all the way till today.
Source: http://www.adrants.com/2012/03/richard-branson-is-here-to-service-you.php#more
See it on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GYiCvxkkYs
15. ANIMATION: HOW 300,000 PEOPLE MOVE HOME
Check out this beautiful animation, showing how 300,000 Norwegians throughout Norway move home from one year to
the other. The developer Even Westvang was able to collect the data needed through the publicly available tax records
where every tax payers‘ home town, income and birth year are shown.
Via: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2012/feb/08/norwegian-move-home-animation
See it on Vimeo here: http://vimeo.com/36154005
16. SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT COMMERCIAL
This series of advertisements for Sherwin Williams paint is candy for the eyes.
Check it out on Vimeo here: http://vimeo.com/26335998
17. DENIZEN JEANS: HOW TO WIN AN ELEPHANT
BEAUTY PAGENT
Denzin Jeans custom-made an entire outfit for an elephant in the occasion of the annual elephant beauty pagent in
Jaipur, India. See the nice video on Youtube.
See it on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_qb3D_Emh4
18. 13 METER PAPER AIRPLANE NEEDS A
HELICOPTER TO BE THROWN
See what happened when the 13 meter long paper airplane was “thrown” from a helicopter.
Watch it on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6uN3LiJqAo
20. MACOTS ARE MAKING A COMEBACK
The mascot had its glory days back in the 1950s, but thanks to social media marketers all over the world is bringing back
the brand‘s mascots; simply because the consumer can more easily relate and communicate to a mascot than to a plain
logo.
Via: http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/Mascots-Comeback-032612.aspx
See The Wall Street Journal discussing the topic here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7sh4MvBX1U
21. TOUCHCODE
Just swipe a card against your touch screen and your device launches new content.
Via: http://www.trendsderzukunft.de/touchcode-qr-code-nachfolger-mit-viel-potenzial/2012/03/19/
Watch it on Youtube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XT3-IL2pj0&feature=player_embedded#!
22. BELKIN WEMO – CONTROL YOUR HOME VIA
YOUR SMARTPHONE
Ever left the house thinking ‘did I pull the iron’s plug?’. Probably you pulled it, but just to be 100% certain you did you can
now get the help from Belkin’s new WeMo system that with a click on your phone turns the power sources off. This gives
endless opportunities like turning the heat on before you come home or automatically set the kids TV to go off at bedtime.
Watch the commercial on Vimeo here: http://vimeo.com/38054510
Learn more about how WeMo works here: http://vimeo.com/35031065
24. IMPORTANT: LETTER FROM MR. TIM COOK OF THE APPLE
INC. RE: $100 BILLIONS UNITED STATES DOLLARS
Gotta love that Gizmodo sense of humor. The tech blog wrote a Spam Letter, mirroring the famous spam letter from
Nigeria in the name of Tim Cook.
“Dear One, I am Mr. Tim Cook, CEO of the Apple Inc. I followed Mr. Steven P. Jobs who also is CEO of Apple Inc.
though dead now. Mr. Jobs worked with the Apple Inc. for over two decade before the cold hand of death took him away
on the 5th of October 2011. He and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged individuals within the
United States for America, Europe, China and South America, Africa and the rest of the globe as he had passion for poor
persons with Googles Androids phones.
When my late CEO was alive he deposited the sum of $100 Billion (One Hundred Billion United States Dollars) with a
Peter
bank here in the California. Presently, this money is still with the bank. Recently, Mr. Peter Oppenheimer, CFO of the
Apple Inc. told me that we have a limited or numbered days on earth and that our life span will not exceed 150days due
to the Maya calendar of 2012.
With this hard reality that has befallen Mr. Peter Oppenheimer, Mr. Phil Schiller nice all around guy of the Apple Inc.,
and me I have decided to donate this fund to a non-governmental,or a non religious, and or a non profit organization or
better still an individual, that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.I want a non governmental, or a
non religious, and or a non profit,organization or better still an individual, that will use this gift which comes from Mr.
Steven P. Jobs sweat to fund the upkeep of widows,widowers,orphans, destitute, the down-trodden, physically challenged
children,barren-women and persons with Android phones.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank here in the California. I will also issue you a
Letter of Authority that will empower you as the original beneficiary of this fund. My happiness is that I lived a life worthy
of emulation. Please always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in your reply will give me room in souring for a
non-governmental, or a non religious, and or a non profit organization or better still an individual for this same
purpose.Please assure me that you will act just as I have stated herein. Hope to hear from you soon and God bless you
and members of your family.
Mr. Tim Cook, CEO of the Apple Inc. (Benefactor)”
Posted by Alexander Wipf on http://culturalfuel.net/2012/03/19/important-letter-from-mr-tim-cook-of-the-apple-inc-re-100-
billions-united-states-dollars/
25. TITANIC’S VOYAGE REVIVED - ON TWITTER
people involved were updating and posting in real
I love the idea of reconstructing historical events with tweets as if the people involved were updating and posting in real
time, which is exactly what the History Press has done to commemorate the 100 years passing since Titanic rose and
sunk. Starting March 10th, the journey of Titanic-tweets began with updates from #captain, #crew and #engineering; with
more updates to come every day till it (spoiler alert!) all ends on the bottom of the Atlantic April 15th. Go get aboard
Titanic anno 2012 here.
Posted by Ida Opstad on http://culturalfuel.net/2012/03/15/titanic-revived-on-twitter/
26. STARBUCKS ARE GETTING PERSONAL
Starbucks have always been one for creating personal connections with their customers and offering premium and
customized coffee experiences. Unfortunately, this is something that decidely gets lost at the coffee pickup
counter….‘Hey, who ordered the Venti, non-fat, no foam, 6 pumps hazelnut, extra hot, with extra caramel drizzle and
whip, caramel macchiato???’. Does this sound embarrassingly familiar?
This is why Starbucks’ invitation for us to come by and actually introduce ourselves, so that we can from now on be called
by our names and not just be labelled by our order, is a really neat idea. It really is such a little thing, but then again,
aren’t it always the simple things in life that mean the most? What a great way to start a Monday morning!
Posted by Mareike Jaensch on http://culturalfuel.net/2012/03/12/starbucks-are-getting-personal/
27. SNAKE THE PLANET: A DIGITAL AGENCY ALL-IN-ONE
BENCHMARK
Ok, so what would you do if your Chief Creative Officer comes to you and goes: “We need to set a creative benchmark
here. We can’t be dilly-dallying around anymore. If we want new clients, we need to show we are worth the money! So, I
got some cash to spare to prove we can pull of amazing stuff. But I can’t do, like, 7 different things. I need one killer
thing.”
Well, you would have to think about it, wouldn’t you? There is so much a digital agency can do these days, on top of
having opinions about everything, especially when collaborating with specialists. There are so many digital culture trends
to be partaking in.
“So, hmmmm…,” you would say to your CCO “… definitely need some kinda Urban Digitalism statement, right? Or
something with Gaming - better yet Retro Gaming (’cuz only kids play 3D shooters, and our target are those guys with the
cool hip Atari T-Shirts), Mashup Culture (’cuz that’s the lifestyle, mate!), or something Meme-based like they did with
Snakes on a plane, so it gets fun and viral, you know? Right! But definitely gotta have Mobile-Something in it, because
digital isn’t for couch potatoes anymore. Oh, oh… and, and you can’t go without fancy projection technology these days if
you want the wow effect. But also, we need to marry some of the old school stuff like guerilla tactics with insane
programming. Which one should we go for?”
“What do you mean ‘which one?’” says your CCO, “I want ALL that, but it’s gotta be simple, fun and demonstrate our
creative and collaborative capabilities at the intersection of media, entertainment and technology - cuz I’ve been wanting
to get quoted with that phrase for a heck of a long time.”
for
Well, I made that story up, but that’s certainly how it could have been for the team at Mojo Sydney. And, obviously, that’s
an impossible briefing. Impossible? Not for these guys. Here is what they did.
SNAKE THE PLANET
Congrats to Publicis Mojo, MPU and Finch for pulling that off. Because, indeed, it does demonstrate the intersection of
media, entertainment and technology. Let’s hope it catches on and the experience does become planetary at some point.
Posted by Alexander Wipf on http://culturalfuel.net/2012/03/05/snake-the-planet-a-digital-agency-all-in-one-benchmark/
Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXgrvUoq4W0
28. KLM’S ‘SOCIAL SEATING’ PROGRAM
KLM has always looked to be on the cutting edge of social media and its latest initiative is definitely something that’s
going to be creating a lot of buzz. With their new ‘Meet and Seat’ program, passengers now have the option of sharing
their social network profiles and photos and based on this, choose who they might want to sit next to on their flight.
Before all hell breaks loose over privacy concerns, this ‘social seating program’, available on flights between Amsterdam
and New York, San Francisco and São Paulo, currently is opt-in only. You are able to edit your profile and photo, hence
controlling the information visible to other passengers. The seating map shows the seating plan and the Facebook or
LinkedIn profiles of only those other passengers who have decided to participate in Meet & Seat. You’ll be able to contact
them before the flight and choose to sit next to them if the seat is available.
Nevertheless, it’s to be anticipated that there’ll be quite divided opinions on this program, with the more adventurous
amongst us viewing it as a social-networking match made in heaven and others as a stalker’s paradise. What’s your
verdict – cool or creepy?
Posted by Mareike Jaensch on http://culturalfuel.net/2012/03/02/klms-social-seating-program/
29. Released by Planning Department Frankfurt
March 2012
For submission of interesting news, inspiration and comments
please submit to planning@leoburnett.de
