You can’t expect anything more crazy than this. A literal yet impactful approach taken by Volkswagen Denmark to introduce the direct sales of cars online. I think the idea of having it so direct creates the powerful message of how easily one can own a Volkswagen. Funny as this stunt might seem to be, it sure delivers a good conversation starter. Das Auto.
Fly!
While working on a previous brief for a client of mine, the idea of VR struck us in the midst of our brainstorming session. Some cringe while others embrace it passionately. Consumer VR experience in today’s context revolves greatly in a ‘controlled’ interactive environment. Why is that so? It becomes extremely challenging to bridge that level of experience into consumer retail, exhibition or even online. Brands are riding on the technology wave but are always skeptical about its outcome and especially for those who are cautious of the perceptions from their target audience. So, we have always had a conservative approach to emerging technologies. Have a look at Parrot’s new Drone plane. The drone offers real time flight experience by allowing the user to navigate the flight from a first person view. The “Disco” drone is no mediocre technology. It ramps up to 80km/hr and its glide trajectory is almost impeccable. Running at 45mins per flight, it allows consumers now to own a piece of technology that brings drone flights to a whole new experience. VR is no longer just a novelty experience used to boost brand’s ego but a usable technology that consumers can indulge in.
Talk the walk
Couldn’t agree anymore that this is one fxxking brilliant execution! Good work here by Graubünden tourism. I mentioned before a number of times the importance of having an engaging platform to communicate your message and this is clearly another example of how unique stunts can be effectively pulled off. Imagine a talking billboard that corresponds with you LIVE and actually invites you on a trip! Through the use of an interactive screen, Graubünden tourism was able to capture the attention of the public. By having a man in the mountains, they load up a real time camera and had him interact with the public. He invites them to a challenge and the person with the best yodel gets a free ticket to the mountains. Truly amazing.
Beverage leverage
Coffee is almost mandatory in our daily routine. And I think to actually tap on the beverage’s popularity to drive through a meaningful communication message is extremely rewarding. Nescafe’s campaign to create “Instant Connections” through their Nescafe generating machines, helps to convey the importance of sharing joy and making friends. I guess our hectic life creates lesser opportunities for people to actually communicate or know one another. But this approach truly brings people together with just a touch of the button. OgilvyOne Frankfurt gave birth to an idea which targets the busy traffic light junction where hundreds of people would pass by. Their machines piqued the interest of the commuters and had them being curious and slowly finding out the mechanics of this pairing devices. As long as both side of the machines are both pressed together, a cup of Nescafe coffee appears. Everyone likes a warm cup of coffee before heading to work and this is done with the effort from somebody else. Wouldn’t this encounter just make your day better?
Gourmet burger kiosks
A rather interesting way to sell their burgers. McDonald’s have just came out with a rather innovative way to get their customers to order their signature burgers their own way. McDonald’s new create your own gourmet burger iniative in Australia is pretty interesting. It allows their customers to customise their very own burger. How cool is that? Check this guy’s burger at the end of the video!
Coca Cola Wi-Fi
Fancy having a can of Coke while you surf your phone browser or check an email? Coca Cola’s vending machines now equipped with Wi-Fi Internet access is one way to enhance their services.Even if it isnt for the drink, the idea of going there just for the Internet is going to get you to coin a can one way or the other. Together with BT Global Services, the free Wi-Fi helps to enhance experience in impoverished communities. Targeted to launch in Eastern Cape and rural Mpumalanga, the launch locations ensure easy accessibility to the local communities.
A really good idea to provide both win-win situations for both drinking and enjoying Wi-Fi services. Definitely a good way to enhance the experience and strengthen Coca Cola’s brand equity amongst the less developed areas. In fact, there were plans to actually install “Wi-Fi coolers” over the rest of South Africa. Do you think this is a good initiative by Coca Cola?
Sources: digitaltrends, techcentral.
Living on the edge
I know I havent been catching up a lot on design stuffs. Not that I will, but this article I chance upon on DesignTaxi just had to come on to the blog. First thing that came to my mind, “Man, I want that!” A house so dangerously mounted on to the edge of the cliff! Check this house from the Southwest coast of Victoria, Australia. That view! At this point, the design had significantly outweighed practicality. The Cliff House, is designed by Modscape Concept in an attempt to answer to the amazing needs for an unique yet adventurous clientele. Definitely a very intense moment for those with a phobia for heights but a very outlandish way of living for those who truly appreciate heights! As you can see, the highest floor is basically designed for the vehicle while the different levels portray a different segment of the house. Interestingly, the house diverges down narrowing as it moves lower. One must be pondering how this structure can actually be securely mounted to the edge of the cliff. To answer that, the designers have used engineered steel pins to ensure security has not been compromised. Awesome!
Talking to me?
Always a big fan of outdoor activations, I enjoyed seeing how powerful ideas turn to life together with the amount of joy and laughter it elicits from people. What we have here is an interesting mirror that actually talks to people who passes by. Originated from Brazil, bread brand Nutrella created the ‘friendly mirror’ which aims to make your day by singing praises and talking. Creepy, some might say, but the tonality has simply made it a rather amusing experience.
Payphone
People need to understand that for something really groundbreaking, it is not just injecting pure creativity, there is an imperative need for unconventional content. Heineken’s social experiment, ‘Routine Interruptions’ placed thousands of people in a dilemma, in a decision making scenario. And I like decision making scenarios. You get people all cold feet and under stress while they attempt to make a really scary decision. In this case, the answer to an ultimate night out is simply picking up the phone, mustering up the courage to do exactly what the caller says. People get really scared when they don’t know what unfolds and this level of suspense is what builds the plot for this campaign. Excellent work there, Heineken.
Don’t hit them
I realise i do have a liking for billboard advertising, especially those that bring out the intended messaging through very creative means. Take domestic violence for example, I have seen tons of them done in a very statistical manner, direct and not interesting at all. You don’t grab a person’s attention, you don’t get to communicate anything at all. UNICEF’s recent billboard shows transitions between the day and the night. Just like violence at home, it usually happens during the night. Interestingly, this level of relevance is imperative in getting the right attention at the right time. It is reported that there are close to three million cases in the United States where children are abused badly. These ads brings awareness to people about violence at home, in the night where it goes pitch dark, it brilliantly casts a shadow of a horrifying figure attempting to strike the little kid. Interesting execution.
Zack Chia 