http://www.psfk.com Your Go-To Source For New Ideas And Inspiration Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:43:01 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.psfk.com/2010/08/pics-tiny-mobile-living.html Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:39:44 +0000 A compact camper offers most of the necessities of life in a small space.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2010/06/unilevers-smile-activated-ice-cream-machine.html Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:10:26 +0000 The branded vending machine experience "shares happy" during its intro at Cannes.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2010/05/interview-jonathan-beilin-and-erhardt-graeff-on-information-flows-between-culture-and-communities-online.html Mon, 03 May 2010 16:39:29 +0000 In the shade of the Austin Convention Center, we spoke to Jonathan Beilin and Erhardt Graeff of the Web Ecology Project the day after their SXSWi Panel, "Seven Years in Online Dating."]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/03/good-ideas-in-storytelling-from-good-ideas-london.html Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:18:02 +0000 This past January PSFK held Good Ideas Salon in London, bringing together the most forward-thinking tastemakers, innovators, and experts from around the world to discuss key areas steering innovation and opportunity. As part of the day of inspirational ideas, Colin Nightingale, Creative Producer of Punchdrunk and Founder of Gideon Reeling, introduced the audience to a new form of meaningful storytelling. By creating platforms for individuals to participate in their own entertainment, his storytelling design allows users to be part of the story as spectators, performers, and directors. Colin summarizes his work as part theater experience, part art installation, and partRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/working-with-your-competition.html Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:25:31 +0000 As a follow-up to our post examining the Top Ten Big Brands in Social Media, we felt that strategist and PSFK friend Mike Arauz‘s ideas on working within the online space were both thoughtful and timely. He begins by making the claim that where the internet is concerned, everything is your direct competition which reminded us of this quote from Lorne Michaels when recently asked about the competition for Saturday Night Live – his answer “Guitar Hero.”   Needless to say, the rules have changed, particularly when you look at the microcosm of the web as an experience in and ofRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/44-brands-in-6-minute-good-brands-in-the-music-space.html Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:00:45 +0000 We’ve heard a lot of brands wishing to ‘own’ music recently, and we always get a bit, well, annoyed about it, because music belongs to people and persons, not brands. And the only thing brands should be trying to do in terms of music are those bandied-brand words, ‘facilitating’ and ‘enabling’. Ruby Pseudo’s team in the UK did a focus group recently where – in six minutes – the kids named 44 brands they saw as being part of the whole music “thing”, either in a good or an appropriate way. Our results? The same brands kept coming up. AsRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/recap-good-ideas-in-2009-in-digital-shaping-our-online-identities.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:58:17 +0000 At our Good Ideas in 2009: Digital salon yesterday, much of the conversation surrounded how our online identities are created, both actively – through our own decisions of what we share about ourselves – and passively – through the actions and perceptions of others. Given that we only have control over half of that equation, how do we ensure that the best and brightest portrait of ourselves is seen by the wider community? Piers posited his “Red Coat, Black Coat” theory back in 2006, which proved to be a harbinger of conversations to come about approaches to online privacy asRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/simpsons-satirize-apple-brand-culture.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:20:04 +0000 On last night’s episode of The Simpsons, Springfield was graced with the appearance of a fake Apple store, known as Mapple.  The iconic cube store appeared in cartoon form complete with MyPods, MyPhones, MyCubes and an appearance by Steve Mobs reminiscent of the 1984 commercial.  Should Apple take offense or is satire is the sincerest form of flattery? [via Laughing Squid]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/att-text-jumbli-many-screens-one-experience-2.html Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:04:58 +0000 Screens are everywhere—in bars, taxis, movie theaters, living rooms, city streets, in your hand, in front of you right now—and it’s making media increasingly fragmented. Yesterday we talked about how the ad business is being affected by this proliferation of media channels. “We have a story we want to tell, and we use different media channels and different touch points to tell it. We have to rely on the consumer to pull the story together,” said Robert Rasmussen. However, the mark of a good campaign is not just narrative cohesion between these channels, but truly connecting them in an interactive,Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/hands-on-with-the-engaging-ideas-card-pack.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:21:37 +0000 A while back, we wrote a short post about the Engaging Ideas Card Pack and mentioned, “We haven’t gotten our hands on the full set, but it looks like a neat package for a broad range of ideas.”  Well, now (thanks to Rob Fox) we’ve gotten our grubs on the entire pack and sifted through the stack of colorful cards. The first impression is that they look like a deck of large novelty sized playing cards printed on thick stock cardboard.  The front side of each card is an image meant to invoke the message or activity presented on theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/hands-on-with-the-engaging-ideas-card-pack-2.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:21:37 +0000 A while back, we wrote a short post about the Engaging Ideas Card Pack and mentioned, “We haven’t gotten our hands on the full set, but it looks like a neat package for a broad range of ideas.”  Well, now (thanks to Rob Fox) we’ve gotten our grubs on the entire pack and sifted through the stack of colorful cards. The first impression is that they look like a deck of large novelty sized playing cards printed on thick stock cardboard.  The front side of each card is an image meant to invoke the message or activity presented on theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/herman-miller-tie-in-provoking-thoughts-and-innovation.html Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:57:50 +0000 Herman Miller’s heir apparent to the Aeron Chair, the Embody series, is a design that promises to promote clear-minded thinking by lowering the stress placed upon the body while sitting. With that in mind, they’ve created a microsite called Thought Pile that invites users to participate in an ideas forum by answering weekly questions that are meant to provoke conversation and innovation. The results are displayed visually in a mind map on the screen, the circles displaying individual concepts growing in real time as the audience votes. Interaction can be as simple as clicking agree or disagree based on anRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/innocent-drinks-fosters-user-feedback.html Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:54:49 +0000 The folks at innocent drinks, makers of tasty smoothies, have revamped their site to include a rating and review section. Hoping to foster a more robust brand culture and connection with their audience, innocent is trying out a consumer-centric website. The new feedback area provides simple ratings along with more detailed reviews. A built-in feature promises to randomly select comments to be highlighted on the homepage and further entices visitors by awarding funky prizes each month. The site layout was designed by Soup with a goal of pushing the playful nature of the company into the digital arena. [via EllieRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/the-risk-of-combative-ad-campaigns.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:39:31 +0000 Eschewing the prevailing theory in advertising that one should never mention your competitor’s product, many companies are taking a page out of the political campaign season and going with attack ads or in the parlance of the industry, “comparative advertising” that do just that.  The trend towards negative marketing is being attributed to the downturn in the economy, forcing businesses to compete for a smaller pool of consumer dollars. Although a dangerous proposition with plenty of potential to backfire, agencies tasked with creating these campaigns have found injecting humor to be the best method of ensuring success.  Additionally, the chargesRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/have-it-your-way.html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:35:50 +0000 Taking a page from their customer friendly food service model, Burger King recently took “Have It Your Way” into the realms of D.I.Y. fashion.  A collaboration between 5 designers and artists tasked with reinterpreting elements of Burger King’s icons and logos culminated at an event held in Chicago on October 24th.  The gathering invited participants to take part in the studio creation process by silk-screening the final designs onto their own clothing in any combination they chose.  Essentially, a clever form of marketing that allowed Burger King to subvert their own image, while at the same time maintaining recognizable aspectsRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/the-idea-conference-2008-reviewed.html Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:28:24 +0000 It has a broad reaching name and this year Advertising Age and Creativity brought together an equally wide range of speakers for a day of dialog about creativity and innovation. This year’s conference was held in New York City at Terminal 5, usually a concert and nightclub venue on October 30th. Once inside, attendees could congregate in the Inspiration Pavilion which was made up of booths and displays representing most of the days speakers. Notable was GM who had the Volt on display and Yahoo! who featured one of their Purple Pedals bikes. The following are some highlights of theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/are-brands-compromising-their-morals-to-increase-sales.html Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:28:03 +0000 As pop-culture and celebrity gossip blogs continue to see increased traffic, particularly with the youth demographic, advertisers’ views on what counts as acceptable have started to change.  Given the uneasy economic climate and tightening budgets, it’s become increasingly important for mainstream brands to be mindful of where their ad dollars are going.  As a result, following the crowds, even if that means entering non-traditional venues on the web with less respectable material, makes a good deal of sense.  Despite the inherent logic of this move, some in the media still question whether this issue has more to do with negligentRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/best-unboxing-video-ever.html Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:44:49 +0000 We’ve all made a snide remark or two about those painfully slow “unboxing” videos clogging up the blogsphere. We never really got into them until we saw this recent clip showing the opening of a Samsung Omnia i900. So far, the video has already been seen by nearly 2 million people!]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/the-muji-is-the-message.html Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:24:44 +0000 Japanese design company Muji wants to be clear with the latest message on their website: they are “not a brand.”  They simply develop “products with a view towards global consumption of the future.”  Curious. On one hand, their vision is to be commended for offering an intelligent response to unchecked consumerism, where fads and cheaply manufactured goods are too often easily discarded when they go out of style or break.  To combat this trend, “MUJI aims to raise the standard of ‘enough’ to the greatest extent possible.” They plan on accomplishing this by creating universal products made with dependable materialsRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/sharedegg-maps-of-consumer-culture-2.html Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:08:08 +0000 SharedEgg offers some neat data visualization maps that provide a glimpse of the interconnected web of products, brands, and activities that binds us. Based on data collected from constituents of various ‘subcultures’, the maps reflect the different labels people have for themselves and others based on what they like, what they consume and how they spend their free time. SharedEgg explains their process: What we ended up asking of our participants was just to list some of the products, and activities that they are involved with: what music artists they listen to, what movies they watch, what television shows theyRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/flawed-brands-are-the-key-to-success.html Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:05:22 +0000 Internet culture whiz Clay Shirky gave some interesting insights into the biggest mistake of corporate branding. Shirky argues that advertising seek to perfect brands, and in doing so, fail to reach and speak to average day people. When a brand markets a perfect image, people are less inclined to interact with the product, because it doesn’t reflect their imperfect lifestyle. Brands that use a flawed, or ‘human’ marketing campaign reinforce and locate themselves within people’s lifestyles. The most promising direction now for brands, Shirky argues, is to use a raw and unfinished front, making their image far more approachable andRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/amazon-launches-new-browsing-interface.html Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:53:34 +0000 Amazon.com has quietly released a beta version of a new web-browsing interface for its massive online shop.  The site is aptly named “WindowShop” as it allows visitors to survey popular items that might have been showcased if Amazon ever launched a physical storefront.  Users can either browse individual items and preview them or step back and view multiple items in a column display.  Not only is this an efficient way to find new products you may be interested in, but it’s also an effective way to get lost in a vast amount of material. It is common knowledge on theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/the-dilemmas-of-tv-product-integration.html Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:33:42 +0000 As technology like TiVo or internet streaming enables individuals to avoid advertising, the industry has sought ways to sneak into the shows themselves.  The moral dilemma of corporate control was often dodged during the age of record viewers, but as television budgets tighten and viewers seek alternatives to the tube, network execs push product integration into the plots themselves.  While this long hated practice is often fought by the writers and actors, it is arguably an inevitable development in our favorite characters’ lives.  Tina Fey mocked product placement on 30 Rock, but it was in response to actually needing theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/more-ad-supported-iphone-apps-coming-soon.html Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:31:54 +0000 The allure of the iPhone has unsurprisingly garnered the rapt attention of the advertising industry.  With 100 million App Store downloads since it launched and 90% of those downloads being free applications, ad support is a clear way for developers to balance profitability and popularity.  Currently, one of the iPhone’s most popular applications is Loopt, a location-based social networking program, but on different platforms and in early development it was sold to consumers for a few bucks.  Now, thanks to venture capital backing and further ad-revenue support, Loopt is hoping to be completely free.  A similar story can be toldRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/viking-line-launches-online-dance-match-program.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:32:44 +0000 Viking Line, a ferry service running between Finland, Sweden, and the Aland Islands, has recently introduced a new offering for its guests. In an effort to promote the on-ship dance halls, the company has created Dance Match, a purpose-built website that allows user to post videos of themselves dancing. There are several categories under which you can post your video including Disco, Boogie, and Salsa. When posting a video, you can rate your dance skills, and check out the moves of others, all in an effort to find the ideal dance partner. After filling out information on the application, usersRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/14-ways-starbucks-has-tried-to-revitalize-its-brand-2.html Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:36:51 +0000 PSFK friend Diana Wolf recently wrote an insightful piece on Starbucks’ multipronged attempt at brand revitalization. The whole article is republished here (with author’s permission): “We’re not this young, beloved, entrepreneurial enterprise anymore… We have to do business in a different way.” – Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz And that’s exactly what he’s doing – business in a different way. And then in a different way. And then in a way that’s different from that. In early January, Schultz reclaimed the CEO torch he passed on back in 2000 and has since been making some pretty drastic and rather disparate changes.Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/inspiration-retail-experience-johnny-cupcakes.html Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:04:01 +0000 Johnny Cupcakes just opened a new location in Los Angeles after amassing a line of people who waited up to four days for the grand opening. The store doesn’t actually sell any cupcakes but rather focuses on a quirky retail experience to guide you through the process of getting your paws on their coveted clothing. SlamXHype writes: The attention to detail that went into every small aspect of the shop is unbelievable… everything from a fake stove that lights up underneath the counter where you pay for your shirts to the full wall of ovens that open and close randomlyRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/07/as-starbucks-closes-stores-biggby-coffee-opens-new-ones.html Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:40:21 +0000 As Fourbucks closes 19% of its stores, Michigan-based Biggby Coffee, formerly known as Beaner’s (yes Beaner’s) is celebrating the opening of their 100th store – a 30% increase since January 31st, 2008. Back in January Biggby received a bit of press because of their name change. Some criticized them for caving into pressure from the “politically correct” crowd. I said it was a smart move. As the Detroit Free Press reported: Juan Tornoe, an Austin, Texas-based Hispanic marketing consultant, said it’s clear to him and should be to anyone that Beaner’s name is about coffee, not contempt. But the nameRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/07/hms-summerstore.html Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:51:24 +0000 Once again, the clever Marketing Folks from H&M have put up the H&M Summerstore at one of Hamburg’s oldest Beach Clubs- Strand Pauli. Backed by a huge H&M Blowup, the store fits nicely into the Beach Clubs architecture and design. It gives all the beach bums who forgot to bring their Bikini for a spontaneous sun-bath the convenience of a cheap buy. More photos can be found on this Flickr Set.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/axe-3-the-power-of-mixing-and-matching-2.html Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:33:48 +0000 One of Unilever’s most renowned brands, AXE deodorant, recently went to market in Argentina with a new product concept and communications strategy. In order to increase consumption of its product, Unilever created “AXE 3”, a combination of two already-existing AXE deodorants mixed into a third fragrance. In order to convey this innovation, Unilever’s agency developed a media-neutral campaign where “mixed fragrances” corresponded to “mixed women.” The idea was to show men the power of mix and matching women with different tastes and preferences. Initially, the launch consisted of TV and billboards, as well as flyers that showed how men couldRead more...]]>