# Social Media-Inspired Signage 'Signs of the Times' Introduces Internet-Like Suggestions Offline By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2017-08-30 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/signs-of-the-times References: [psfk](https://www.psfk.com/2017/08/internet-suggestions-real-world-locations.html) & [scottandbenorbenandscott](http://scottandbenorbenandscott.com/#/signs-of-the-times/) 'Signs of the Times' is a project from Scott Kelly and Ben Polkinghorne that takes inspiration from the way [social media](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/socialai) and the Internet offer suggestions based on content a user has previously engaged with and enjoyed. As the project's creators note, [recommender algorithms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goodgoodtime) have "become ubiquitous in the online world, determining what we look at, buy and like." The project introduces [real-world signs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-billboards) that say: "People who like this also liked..." alongside a list of similar real-world recommendations for destinations that may also offer similar enjoyment. These Signs of the Times installed around New Zealand are stationed at beaches, among flowers and picturesque mountain viewpoints, offering a thought-provoking way to bring the online experience of content discovery to offline travel. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.4/10 - Popularity: 76% | Activity: 77% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Travel](https://www.trendhunter.com/travel) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Offline Recommendations:** The trend of offering offline recommendations inspired by social media algorithms presents opportunities for physical stores to better direct customers to related products and services. - **Smart Signage:** The growth of smart signage allows for more personalized and interactive experiences that adapt to user preferences. - **Digital-to-physical Crossover:** The concept of bringing digital algorithms to physical spaces enables seamless cross-referencing and opportunity for exploration across both worlds. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Retail:** Physical stores can embrace digital algorithms for recommendations to better direct customers to related products and services via interactive, smart signage. - **Tourism:** The use of social media-inspired offline recommendations can transform travel experiences and help travelers discover new, related destinations and experiences. - **Marketing:** The introduction of social media-inspired signage offers marketers opportunity to bring online experiences offline to engage customers on new levels and drive brand engagement. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Generated Real-World Transformations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-generated-world.md) - [Deserted Island Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/silk-spice1.md) - [Offline Shopping Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shop-offline.md) - [Large-Scale Digital Signage](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/largescale-digital-signage.md) - [Community-Powered Recommendations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/something-like.md) - [Playful Creative Design Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-billboards.md) - [Augmented Reality Travel Murals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/travel-murals.md) - [Real-Time Trending Spot Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trending-spots.md) - [Interactive Mountain Oracles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whispering-mountains.md)