Gamification

Implications - Tech brands that specialize in personal drone systems are incorporating gesture-control functions that allow consumers to operate their products unencumbered by hand-occupying tools. These products cater to consumers seeking seamless ways to integrate tech-related play into their lives. [More]

Implications - Having a family creates financial strain for the average consumer, especially members of Generation X. This generation finds themselves taking care of their families, while also trying to recover from post-recession debt. Money management services focused specifically on family care aid in this process, speaking to the nuanced priorities of the often-overlooked generation. [More]

Implications - More than simply a sensory enhancement, fragrances are being added to products as an added gamified feature. From using smell to add a competitive element to board games to adding incentive to activities like waking up, brands are utilizing the multisensory element of fragrances to add more engagement and motivation to traditionally mundane activities. Targeting the senses, brands are using various scents to reinvent certain experiences into something much more multisensory in nature. [More]

Implications - Despite what it’s traditionally used for, the act of hacking has some arguably positive impacts — namely in furthering the educational development of those who practice it in non-harmful ways. The development of hacking communities, or communities with programs that include education on the subject, allows for more open-minded, subversive spaces in which consumers can develop their skills. [More]

Implications - Brands are harnessing tech and hands-on educational tools to create storybooks that are interactive in nature. These products enhance the already engaging concept of storytelling by making it more hands-on and informative, while giving brands ample room for flexibility in their creative process. [More]

Implications - While gaming is traditionally associated with excitement and competition, there is a growing category of games that are focused on encouraging relaxation for consumers. Interactive experiences like the ones that promote de-stressing are aimed to challenge the common perception that spending too much time with technology magnifies consumer stress. [More]

Implications - Traditional face-to-face activities are adapting with the use of technology to better integrate into consumer’s day-to-day consumption habits. Tapping into mobile apps and social platforms, brands are revamping how typically analog activities like dares and lip-syncing battles are experienced. Allowing consumers to engage in such challenges at any time they want to, these digital alternatives continue to promote social engagement in a much more streamlined, connected manner. [More]

Implications - While golf is a well-known pastime, hobby and professional sport, brands are now seeing a lucrative opportunity to reinvent the game with technological advancements. Adding voice interactions, automation and more, golf is captivating multi-generational audiences. With these emerging themes in a long-established pastime, showcase how brands can further embrace nostalgia with the incorporation of high-tech functions. [More]

Implications - While visual art, cinematography and graphic design are all traditional modes of conveying a story and message, modern technology is adapting to these mediums by integrating AR and other digital tools into the mix. From comic books that offer a virtual 360 experience to books that utilize voice-control capabilities, these adaptations showcase how traditional storytelling mediums are adapting to be not only more high-tech but also experiential in nature. [More]

Implications - For many Millennials, restaurants and events that layer elements of adulthood, experiential dining and nostalgia provide an escape from the stresses of life as a grown-up. While Millennial consumption has been known to contribute to the demise of fast-casual dining, these organizations allow patrons to reminisce about simpler times while simultaneously indulging in privileges that can only be afforded through adulthood. [More]