Lyft uses humor and goofiness through their pink mustache logo to help riders feel more comfortable getting into cars with strangers. The director of community relations at Lyft discusses how humor can help break down barriers and create bonds between people. By designing the Lyft experience like an improv scene and fostering a culture of creativity and agreement between riders and drivers, Lyft aims to help people feel more trusting and less awkward about riding with strangers.

1. Laughing with Strangers!
The Comedy of Lyft!
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!
!
!
Emily Castor!
Director of Community Relations, Lyft @emilycastor

2. What is humor for?

3. Laughing disarms us
Releases social tension
We break the rules together
!
Humor creates a bond.

4. Humor breaks the ice

5. Why don’t people ride
with strangers?

6. Trust is fundamental

7. And…!
It could be AWKWARD!

8. How can we change
how people feel about
riding with strangers?

9. How can we change
how people feel about
riding with strangers?

10. The mustache is a smile.

11. The ‘stache is
straight up goofy

12. The ‘stache is
straight up goofy!
by design.

13. That’s its superpower.

14. "In everything that is to excite a lively
convulsive laugh there must be
something absurd... Laughter is an
affection arising from the sudden
transformation of a strained
expectation into nothing.”
!
Immanuel Kant, 1790

15. Use humor to
dismantle
emotional barriers.

16. The Lyft experience is
improvisation.

17. A safe space to
connect and create.

18. Sit up front

19. Go for the pound

20. Each ride is a new scene

21. “Yes, and…” culture

22. Embracing creativity!

24. Agreement, !
not rejection

25. Creativity leads to
great content.

27. Reward and nurture
community creations.

29. Smiles will !
break barriers

30. Laughing with Strangers!
The Comedy of Lyft!
!
!
!
!
Emily Castor!
Director of Community Relations, Lyft @emilycastor