Gamification

Trend - In response to global sustainability concerns, brands are designing new loyalty programs to encourage and reward shoppers for making environmentally friendly choices. These programs typically offer discounts on eco-friendly products, rewards points, or donations to environmental causes.

Insight - The demand for convenience in today’s food and beverage market has significantly impacted the environment, creating a harmful cycle where old products and packaging are discarded immediately after consumption. In response, brands are now offering incentives for eco-friendly purchasing decisions. By integrating sustainable rewards models, these brands help make it easier for customers to make greener choices, appealing to contemporary convenience culture while preserving the environment.

Implications - Humans are innately competitive, constantly struggling to prove themselves in battles of dominance. Contests are huge opportunities to engage consumers and encourage brand interaction. Challenges can range from designing logos, to Photoshop contests, to creating art out of branded cans.

Implications - Now that the concept of Apple’s once unique hand-held touchscreen has spread to other manufacturers, touchscreen innovation has been integrated into the basic functionality of other products. Touchscreen games are hitting the market faster than ever, from handheld to full-size gaming devices.

Implications - Many children exhibit an aversion to hand-washing, a trait that some even carry into adulthood. As people become more aware of the importance of proper hygiene, especially hand washing, creative soap designers are pushing hard to invent new soaps that will make the experience an enjoyable one.

Implications - Advertising intended to share a key message benefits significantly from hiding said message, or keeping it extremely subtle. Once the consumer makes the connection, the impact is much greater than conventional messaging due to the emotional connection that Covertising helps to create.

Implications - Designers have been evoking people’s inner ‘geeks,’ appealing to anyone who has ever engaged in gaming. Using themes from the past as inspiration, from LEGO and Rubik’s cubes to Pacman and Tetris, designers have reintroduced arcade appeal to the modern age of virtual worlds and HD graphic gaming.

Implications - The credit crunch will increase time in the home, and reduce the use of maids and nannies. The majority of people don’t like cleaning; while some innovations work on cutting down the time spent cleaning, others focus on making the necessity enjoyable. Success in improving a product used for a disliked yet requisite activity offers the opportunity to revolutionize and dominate a vast market.

Implications - Technology and gadgets have become pervasive. In 2007, we saw bathroom electronics evolve from shower radios to video cameras and television monitors. In 2008, it was verified there isn’t any facet of life untouched by technology. The key is placing existing technologies into unconventional locations.

Implications - Instead of the virtual portrayal of real life in video games, clever marketing agencies of major gaming companies are integrating video games into real life. Due to the ubiquity and popularity of gaming, these campaigns are incredibly enticing, and also eye catching as the concept is still relatively new.

Implications - The general interest in playing musical instruments plummeted dramatically after the 80s, leading to mockery of those who engaged in group play like orchestras ("band geeks"), or played independently, such as pianists. However, new video games have emerged that make instruments hipper than ever; and they’re also spurring related innovations.