Top 60 Footwear Trends in August – From Casual Comfort Sandals to Awkward Sneaker Ads (TOPLIST)

(TrendHunter.com) These August 2016 footwear trends range from casual comfort sandals to awkward sneaker ads that use familiar celebrity faces to ironically sell a product. For example, Reebok’s latest…

Modern Wooden Home Exteriors – This Modern Home is in the Middle of a Wine Region in Australia (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) This wooden home exterior gives it an aesthetic that combines natural elements with modern design.

Homes that are almost completely clad with wood are more often than not associated with rustic…

Top 50 Wellness Trends in August – From Virtual Meditation Experiences to Morning Yoga Events (TOPLIST)

(TrendHunter.com) These August 2016 wellness innovations range from virtual meditation experiences to early morning yoga events that are marketed to active professionals with a hectic schedule. Additional standouts…

NFL "One team" (2016) 1:20 (USA)

The Star-Spangled Banner electrified version played by St. Vincent wafts its over the scene of grounds crew creating stencils out of spray paint on astroturf. But instead of marking each team by name, (i.e. Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks) it all says the same thing despite the logo: Team USA. Why? Because it’s the Summer Olympics. Nice way to co-opt the Olympics– a brand that is known for being really persnickety when it comes to other brands who aren’t official sponsors.

Enterprise "Business Boldly Going" (2016) 1:30 (USA)

Here’s a charming spot for Enterprise car rental and their tie-in to Star Trek and Beyond. The Enterprise folks are all happily getting into the spirit of Star Trek by learning Klingon, interacting with customers who really want to rent the enterprise, bumping their heads on stealth ships and more. They even amended their tag line, going from “We’ll pick you up,” to “Until we can beam you up, we’ll pick you up.” Good to see a brand has a sense of humor. Why not? I’m sure that tie-in cost a pretty penny. Or whatever currency they use in space.

Chevron "Anthem" (2016) :30 (USA)

Nothing’s gonna stop the tractors and semi pullers and miners and loggers and excavators from working, because they’ve got Chevron Delo in their engines. It’s a very rugged spot and shot to emphasize the unforgiving terrain these guys have to navigate. It’s a fun twist on the Postman’s creed as well. Starting off as normal with neither rain nor snow..and then listing off their equipment. Championing the worker. I love it.

Chevron "Creed" (2016) :30 (USA)

This spot features Lisa Kelly, from History Network’s Ice Road Truckers reciting the Postman’s Creed and then amping it up further to include the failed missions of other truckers, to acts of god and more to make the point that no frontier is too foreboding enough to prevent her from hauling that big ass truck to her destination. All thanks to Chevron’s Delo in her engine. The tagline “Let’s Go Further” reminds me too much of Toyota’s “Let’s Go Places,” though. Seems like this is the go-to idea of most vehicle-related brands these days. I’d love to see a brand come out with a line that is a bit more surprising in the future.

Powerade "The power of blue blood" (2016) 1:00 (USA)

Meet the new blue bloods. Giving it their all, especially in Rio during the Olympics. Not settling for anything less than victory just like the knights from days of yore. Visually it’s quite the metaphor. And a nice way to put athletes on the same pedestal thanks to the blue liquid. Shame they decided to spoil a good moment with an awkward product explanation. You had me until electrolytes. I guess I should spare some wrath since they didn’t use the word “hydration.” BY the way, sports drinks, no one says hydrate except brand team members and maybe sports coaches. The rest of us are still using the word “drink.”

Tired of no-no Olympic words? Try The #RioCorrector and help a good cause.

Every four years, official sponsors of the Olympic games proudly tout their association, while the rest of the world’s brands are forbidden to even say the word “gold,” not to mention a host of other words, too. Belgian Agency decided to turn this problem into a solution for a very good cause. With Rio Corrector they will fix your Tweets and Facebook posts for you, because those social posts are also included in the ban, scrubbing them of all no-no words, so you can still celebrate without enduring the wrath of the International Olympic Committee.
So how do they fix it exactly? By jumbling the words, and creating a dyslexic version so you can stay under the radar. Smart idea. But they took it one step further– if you use Rio Corrector, they urge you to make a donation to their client Sprankel who specializes in helping children with learning disabilities including dyslexia. Nice idea!

Credits:
Client: Sprankel vzw
Agency: FLEXUS
Account: Renaat Delporte, Elisabeth Vanhoutte, Dorine De Paepe Creation: Ken Callebaut, Sebastien Van Reet & Thomas Ploem Copy: Gregy Vergauwen & Dirk Raemaekers
Development: Dreams & Creations

Coverfox "Unskippable ads" (2016) 2:00 (India)

We’ve seen plays on skipping ads before in the insurance space, notably from GEICO but now Coverdale’s gotten in on the action. First they dropped pre-roll with a Coverfox employee telling you he was going to follow you around until you renewed your insurance. Then by using Youtube’s retargeting program, they did just that, specifically tracking the people who hadn’t renewed, and reminding them in takeovers of that week’s popular videos. Fun idea.

Gymboree "Summer is over" (2016) :30 (USA)

Summer’s over, this spot tells us, using adorable kids dressed in Gymboree’s Fall 2016 collection. And there are some new rules to be followed, they tell us, as the camera slowly pans across all these kids one more adorable than the next. Leave the pet nickname at home. If I say I’m going to make lunch do not let me make lunch. Math is gonna suck for us both this year, etc. The kids end on the delightfully out of sync line “Don’t worry even though we don’t act like it, we definitely need you: you make everything happy!” Great casting in this spot, too. By the way, it wasn’t really one long take. An outdoor green screen studio provided the background for the children. They shot each one individually. Then they went back in and make it look seamless. Magical, huh?

Trailblazing Skateboarding Shoes – The New Nike SB Shoes Feature Distinctly Danish Designs (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) The release of a new Nike SB footwear offering is always great cause for celebration among the sneakerheads of this world, which is precisely why the American urban fashion giant’s newly…

The Best Ads of the Olympics Opening Ceremony


It seems the Olympics Opening Ceremony may reach Super Bowl proportions when it comes to the advertising, from what we’ve seen so far. Nike, Gillette, Samsung, Powerade, Apple and more have come out with powerful, engaging stories that will likely keep viewers entertained when the camera takes a break from the first-day festivities.

Below, get a preview of some of the best work you’ll see at the Opening Ceremony.

Nike goes even beyond Nike in the spectacular “Unlimited You” ad, which shatters the brand’s famous “Just Do It” tagline and shows athletes from all walks of life reaching new (and unbelievable) heights. Wieden & Kennedy Portland was behind the spot, directed by The Daniels of Prettybird.

Continue reading at AdAge.com

Top 45 Start-Up Trends in August – From 3D Printing Restaurants to Book Delivery Platforms (TOPLIST)

(TrendHunter.com) 3D printing filament subscription services, plant-based meal-planning services and apps that will quickly deliver books from nearby bookstores are just a few of the most innovative August 2016 start-…

Top 100 Business Trends in August – From Laundry Pod Subscriptions to Disruptive Telecom Startups (TOPLIST)

(TrendHunter.com) These August 2016 business trends range from convenient laundry pod subscriptions to disruptive telecom startups that aim to make premium internet access more readily available to budget-conscious…

Compactly Versatile Multi-Tools – The MSTR Key Multi-Tool Offers 20 Different Tools In One Package (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) The MSTR Key multi-tool is a high-utility gadget, developed by none other than the MSTRMND Collective, that is designed to make it possible for users to access as many as 20 different and highly…

Top 70 Sports Trends in August – From VR Swimming Lessons to Female-Empowering Athlete Ads (TOPLIST)

(TrendHunter.com) These August 2016 sports trends range from VR swimming lessons to female-empowering athlete ads that dispel common stereotypes related to women in sports. In addition to inspiring commercials and…

Top 40 Menswear Trends in August – From Rapper-Modeled Menswear to Skater-Designed Sneakers (TOPLIST)

(TrendHunter.com) These August 2016 menswear trends range from rapper-modeled menswear to skater-designed sneakers that are an homage to nostalgic pop culture imagery. Rather than enlisting traditional models, more…

Top 100 Gadget Trends in August – From Connected Cycling Devices to Smart Air Purifiers (TOPLIST)

(TrendHunter.com) These August 2016 gadgets range from connected cycling devices to smart air purifiers that aim to make homes a healthier place for inhabitants. In addition to the month’s many smart home…

Monochrome Menswear Editorials – undecorated MAN Presented Its Collection with One-Colored Ensembles (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) ‘undecorated MAN,’ a Japanese menswear brand that’s known for its high-quality construction and minimalist styles, recently premiered its 2016 Fall/Winter collection, which is…