The Spotlight Series - Volume 6

I'm back with my sixth instalment of 'The Spotlight Series'. A selection of my favourite things in the world of?#experiential #events #marketing #design #tech #art #culture and #retail

Shoppable TV ads

ITV in partnership with Boots and LG TV debuted shoppable TV ads during popular TV show Love Island this month.

Claiming to be the first of its kind in the UK, viewers could ‘shop the villa’ via the shopping interface at any time by using their LG remote. However, they must have actively opted in to receive the notifications and use the service.?

How does it work, I hear you cry? The interactive system uses AI technology already built directly into LG TV sets in the UK. The service identifies and tags featured products during programmes and notifies viewers that what appears on-screen is available to purchase. If a viewer is interested, they can select to view more info with their remote and make a purchase via the vendor’s site or a link sent to their phone.

Using the on-screen shopping interface, viewers are able to scroll through products, which will refresh when different products and characters are shown during a programme. Additionally, viewers can choose to view all products available from the episode of the show that they are watching.

Amazing innovation and a huge step forward for the future of ‘online’ shopping - is this really the beginning of the end for the high street??

ITV are said to be planning to roll this out throughout the rest of 2021. Watch this space.

Bumble Brew NYC

Once again, gutted I’m not in NYC for this. Bumble is going from strength to strength now opening it’s first IRL location, in NYC later this month.

It’s a partnership between Bumble and Pasquale Jones a New York based Italian restaurant. Although it’s been two years in the making with not only a location change but a project mission change too, given the pandemic and all that, that brought with it.

Bumble Brew will be a “safe space for healthy and equitable relationships and connections.” This includes welcoming meetings meant not only for dating but also for meeting new people and even for networking.

It’s located on Kenmare Street in Nolita, go check it out!?

Tamagotchi makes a comeback?

Everyone loves a bit of nostalgia - although I have to admit I felt slightly stressed to know that Tamagotchis are making a comeback. All the hours of feeding, exercising and tending to my digital pet for it to suddenly, well you know…

But they’re back and now they’re WEARABLE so you need never miss a thing. Tend to your digital friend with voice control and touchscreen controls. Plus?since its a wearable device it’s also a pedometer so it not just for show. Move over apple watch!

Launching in Japan on November 23 (where else!) the international rollout is penned to come shortly after that...

Lego recycled bricks

I’m not sure there will ever be a spotlight series without LEGO. A brand on a mission.

This time around LEGO have revealed that they have successfully prototyped their infamous LEGO bricks using recycled plastic. A HUGE step in the right direction when considering more sustainable materials for production of the iconic brick.

Over the past three years, materials, scientists and engineers tested over 250 variations of PET materials and hundreds of other plastic formulations. The result is a prototype that meets several of their quality, safety and play requirements.

Sleeper trains are making a comeback

A new French start up is claiming that the sleeper train will be back in fashion, nearly a decade on since the popular mode of transport came to a close.

Midnight Trains is hoping the post-Covid interest in cleaner, greener travel will generate momentum for its proposed “hotels on rails”, which aims to connect the French capital of Paris to 12 other European destinations, including Edinburgh, Porto and Copenhagen.

Offering an alternative to the basic and ‘cheap’ flights between popular European cities, the service will offer hotel style rooms - promising privacy and security with ‘home comforts’ such as an onboard restaurant and bar.

Live anywhere on Airbnb

Continuing with the travel theme…fancy living like a nomad? How about dialling into that next zoom call with an ACTUAL beach in the background as opposed to a lousy virtual one. ME! ????♀? In a world still plagued by the pandemic and travel restrictions, this new offering from Airbnb could not have come at a better time.

Live Anywhere is offering 12 individuals and up to three companions the opportunity to live exclusively in Airbnb properties for up to one year.?

The catch? Well there isn’t much of one...other than you share your experience with Airbnb possibly helping to shape the future of travel. I’m looking forward to seeing the stories emerge and how this might grow into something bigger...

Seven Deadly Sins?

Tony Award-winning designer David Rockwell has converted eight storefronts on West 13th and Gansevoort streets into vibrantly coloured performance spaces for a summer theatrical event called “Seven Deadly Sins,” which kicked off on June 22.

Audience’s will actually be the facilitators who start the performances by gathering outside, encouraged to wander through seven separate 10-minute plays. Watchers will be listening via silent disco style headphones and Broadway talent is tipped to be hosting some of the shows.

The ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ runs through July 18. For my NYC fam - tickets are available here.

Beyond the Rainbow

I first saw this on LinkedIn and found myself watching the intro b-roll several times before I dived into the full experience; an authentic and hard hitting reminder that the LGBTQ+ community have had to fight for their [own] right to live freely and without prejudice. The battle is not won and there is STILL a long way to go.?

H&M’s approach to this, rather than add to the colourful noise that is PRIDE month, was to go beyond it and reveal some of the powerful stories that give it such meaning.

View it here, but for the best experience use your mobile. It is a real educational piece featuring REAL people and REAL stories and it’s stunningly beautiful.

Beyond the rainbow supports the UN Free & Equal campaign, a global initiative for LGBTQ+ equality led by United Nations Human Rights.

LEGO CON 2021

LEGO has featured heavily in my spotlight series posts recently and here they are again with another absolute corker. The very first LEGO CON which took place on June 26, 2021.

An online experience for LEGO fans everywhere. It promised 90 minutes of live entertainment, world-first reveals (I heard rumours about a new Star Wars set incoming...), BTS access and never-before tried built attempts...it sounds dreamy.

Going live from LEGO house (the home of the brick, in Billund, Denmark) they were joined by some extra special guests to mark the occasion.?

Totally FREE and it looks like it was such a success that LEGO CON 2022 is already on the cards! If you missed the livestream you can catch up here.

Superblue, Miami’s new experimental art venue

A brand new, 50,000 square foot space has been transformed into an immersive installation space in Miami’s Allapattah neighborhood. (Allapattah neighbours the City’s world famous Wynwood district).

The opening kicked off an inaugural programme with large scale works from artists such as ES Devlin (who featured in my previous spotlight series post), James Turrell and teamLab. The programme will encompass digital experiences alongside the creation of new environments.

DRIFT an Amsterdam based artist studio, has transformed a space using technology to reflect many of nature’s growth processes. The kinetic installation, Meadow, is choreographed to mimic nature's rhythm as mechanical flowers open and close when they sense visitors nearby.

ES Devlin’s Forest of Us, draws parallels between the human mechanisms that allow us to breathe and those structures surrounding us. Her work begins as a film, following which guests are then asked to step inside the experience leading to a mirror maze.

Adding this to my list of ‘must-sees’ next time I’m in the area.

Burger King “Where there’s smoke there’s fire”

Ya’ll know my obsession with Burger King is quite something. Here they are doing it again!

This time they’re using AR powered OOH ads to create ‘smoke trails’ which lead to a Burger King store. See an ad? Just pick up your mobile, scan the QR code and follow the smoke to Whopper heaven...

Watch a demo in action here...

Spotify only you

Another in-app experience from Spotify. Another really well thought out campaign.

In a world where the use of our data has become a hot topic of discussion and debate, this is a celebration of each and every user's data (in a sensible and fun way) and I love it.

Unique song and artist pairings were matched to tunes you’ve already listened to, plus an audio ‘birth’ chart of your top artist from the past 6 months (your sun) the most emotional artist (your moon) and the artist you’ve most recently connected with (your rising) plus the three artists you would most likely invite to a dinner party. NICE.

Show your true colours

I just HAD to give this one a mention because it's simply beautiful. AND I happen to know the very people at Pinterest who helped make it a reality. Very talented individuals indeed ?????If you’ve not seen it yet (where have you been?) you can view it here.

Self healing concrete

This one caught my eye because I could just imagine the possibilities and savings to be made on expensive repairs and reducing our overall contribution to our carbon footprint.

Some very clever researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have developed a ‘self-healing’ concrete that is four times more durable than traditional concrete. How? Well...the process uses an enzyme found in red blood cells that reacts to CO2 to create calcium carbonate crystals which can fill cracks before they cause structural problems within 24 hours.

The enzyme is mixed into and added to concrete powder before construction begins, meaning that any small cracks appearing later down the line will allow the concrete to trigger its ‘self-healing’ process by simply being exposed to the CO2 in the air.?

Pretty Impressive huh?

EU bans all SUP by July 3

We’re finally starting to make some headway towards becoming more responsible when it comes to single use plastic.

As of July 3 the EU has banned all single use / disposable plastics??????

90% of all single use plastics (SUP) found on European beaches consists of 10 types of SUP - which will subsequently form part of the ban; including expandable polystyrene. Wave goodbye to those pathetic plastic knives + forks, water bottles etc. It’s about time.

Crochet artworks are the new jungle gym

Anyone else secretly want to be let loose in one of those kids jungle gyms - MINUS the kids and the icky-ness?

Well this is kinda close to it...Ernesto Neto has created one his largest crochet works to date, taking residence at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, TX.?

SunForceOceanLife, the large-scale installation is a colossal spiraling structure that highlights the cyclical relationship between the sun and the sea to produce life on earth. The immersive piece has been installed inside the Cullian hall, filling it with yellow, orange, and green materials that have been hand-woven and suspended in a spiral formation.

Water bottle ad by IKEA

Quick thinking here from IKEA in the wake of the ‘Coca Cola bottle incident’ that wiped billions of dollars off the stock exchange…

IKEA advertised a reusable water bottle aptly named: Christiano.

Reactive marketing at its best.

TikTok jumps

Never one to slow down, TikTok has released yet another way to enable creators to share content on their platform.

‘Jumps’ essentially allows the user to engage with more content BUT keeps them on the TikTok platform by encouraging them to explore more fun video content, take quizzes, learn how to do things and lots more. Although if you’re wondering ‘this looks familiar…’ Snap released ‘mini’s’ back last year which is essentially a VERY similar thing.

Brickit

No, not the kind of ‘brickit’ like before a big interview or a nail-biting performance. The Brickit app is a very clever app indeed…

It’s not ‘new’ but it’s had an upgrade and people have gone more than a little crazy for it.

The app can identify all the LEGO bricks you have (from a pile of jumbled up bricks) and then suggest new and exciting builds you can try with them. The app can accurately tell you the size, shape and colours available in that style of brick too.

It’s a great demo of AR technology. Its also free to download from the app store.

Health and safety warning: treading on a LEGO brick is the most painful experience on Earth. Proceed with caution.

Queercircle x Design District

Queercircle is an LGBTQ+ led cultural charity. They have recently launched a public crowdfunding campaign to open a permanent, dedicated space for LGBTQ+ artists in the UK on the Greenwich Peninsula, in London.?

Curator, filmmaker and Queercircle founder Ashley Joiner conceived the idea in response to the staggering loss of artist studios in London, with 50 per cent of LGBTQ+ venues shutting their doors during the last decade; with COVID-19 the urgency for a dedicated cultural hub and safe space for the LGBTQ+ community has never been greater.

The Design District venue is penned to open in Winter 2021, designed by David Kohn Architects. Comprising of a main gallery, a library and project spaces, there promises to be an annual programme of boundary-pushing physical and digital exhibitions, commissions, residencies, education programmes and events.?

Sited in the new Greenwich Peninsula Design District, Queercircle will be at the heart of London’s first permanent, purpose-built hub for the creative industries.?

The organisation is now campaigning to raise ￡40,000 of public funding to open the new site. Let’s help support them and make this a reality.?

Find out more about Queercircle here and donate to their crowdfunding campaign here.

Greenroom, from Spotify

We knew it was coming, but here it is. Spotify’s answer to Clubhouse. Named Greenroom, the app’s new live audio experience will enable creators and their fans to connect in new ways. Made possible by the company's purchase of Locker Room in March, it will be a premier creator-friendly live audio platform. In addition, the launch of the new Spotify creator fund will enable creators to monetise their work.

Available on iOS and Android (something Clubhouse couldn’t quite master from its inception) Greenroom is currently available to 135 markets worldwide. With the promise of the platform ready to evolve Spotify are promising its users fresh new programming to follow, covering music, culture and entertainment (in addition to the Sports content Locker Room has been famous for).

Dissolvable ramen packaging

Now this isn’t totally new on the scene but it's new to me. So I thought I would share it with you in case it sparked inspiration...Clever product design student Holly Grounds created a dissolvable ramen packaging that turns into sauce. The idea came from her many late nights studying and consuming noodles, that she famously states “are more plastic than noodles”. Genius.

Netflix.shop

Stepping up to try and catch up the rival Disney+ franchise, Netflix is releasing its own shop and it’s pretty RAD.

It’s a new way for fans to connect with their favourite stories and I quite like the idea. “It’s an exciting new destination combining curated products and rich storytelling in a uniquely Netflix shopping experience.” says Josh Simon, VP of consumer products

Netflix.shop will drop exclusive limited editions of carefully selected high-quality apparel and lifestyle products tied to their shows and brand on a regular basis, working with new voices and up and coming artists to curate the collections.

Netflix.shop is only currently available in the US but it will expand into other markets around the world over the next few months.Check it out here.

Adidas ‘Beyond the Surface’

Billed as a first-of-its-kind stunt, Adidas, in partnership with Havas Middle East have installed a 5-meter high swimming pool that holds 11,500 gallons of water (that 163 bathtubs to you and I).

Adidas wants more women to embrace the waters, regardless of their shape, ability, or religion, and for them to benefit from the mental and physical benefits that come with swimming.

The sports giant has also released a wider range of inclusive swimwear to help build confidence amongst women who often felt the lack of privacy combined with body shaming left them feeling unable to wear swimsuits. A YouGov survey commissioned by Adidas in 2021 revealed that only 12% of women in the United Arab Emirates were completely comfortable wearing a swimsuit at a public beach or pool.?

Facebook supports small businesses (again)

Yet again the tech giant is supporting small businesses on its platform by installing stunning window displays in 13 brick & mortar stores, telling each business’ unique story.

British conceptual designer Jo Sedley has been drafted in to created the masterpieces which are digitally shoppable, using a unique QR code to take prospective customers to Facebook and Instagram, where they can browse, shop and support local stores online.

One of the many things facebook is doing to support small businesses and I have to admit, it’s really nice.

Created by Facebook, Hope & Glory PR and Studio Stilton.

Google retail space

It was only a matter of time, right? I mean, part of me asks - why did it take so long?

Google debuted its first ever permanent retail and experiential event hub, based in 5,000 sqft of the Google NYC office in Chelsea.

The store will provide hands on interaction with Google products and with a strong commitment to sustainability they have secured a LEED Platinum rating (only one of 215 retail spaces globally to have received one). Theres plenty to do and see when inside, including the Google imagination space. See Google’s blog post for more detail on the opening here.

*These are some of my favourite picks from the past month! I do not claim to have taken any part in these events/campaigns etc. Images were sourced from published articles online and credited where credits were noted. Whilst I have made every effort to credit any agencies and/or partnerships, if you’re viewing this and think I’ve made a mistake, would like me to change something or add a missing credit - please let me know! I’d be more that happy to*.