Monthly Archives: August 2013

Flags of the world

world flags1world flags2Are you hungry? You should be after looking at the creative collection of food designed by Australian advertising agency WHYBIN/TBWA. These flags of the world were created to promote the Sydney International Food Festival, which is Australia’s largest food festival.

The ad team re-created the national flags using food native to the respective countries. Basil, pasta and tomatoes made up the stripes on the Italian flag, while hotdogs and buns make us the U.S. flag. What’s impressive is the team’s creative improvisation of the stars and symbols on the complex flags.

What sparked our fire: Culinary effect on culture and national identity.Which one looks most delicious?

Enjoy!

-Canopy Team

Branding, now arriving on baggage claim 3

japan-airportjapan-airport2The baggage claim at the airport is the last place anyone would expect branded works of art. This is exactly why tourism agencies in Japan have focused their latest efforts there. If you have traveled to the country recently, you might have noticed a number of themed pieces of art adorning the baggage claim carousels. This was no accident. Each piece of art was meant to promote the uniqueness of various regions within the country, focusing on culture and cuisine. This guerrilla advertising, assisted in branding each geographic region by transforming specific characteristics into visual symbols. For example, sea food pointed out the clean ocean waters near the Toyama Kitokito Airport, and the fruit represented Miyazaki’s diversity of distinct fruit.

What sparked our fire: Mundane locations used to brand and display unconventional works of art.

How would you tap into marketing potential at more unique markets like the airport?

Enjoy!

-Canopy Team

Wait, wait, don’t tell me!

day dreaming1We have all been there. It’s late in the day you’re feeling tired, so your mind begins to wander. New research suggests that daydreaming is totally normal and is actually encouraged to exercise a healthy mind. According to research psychologist Peter Killeen, “Your neurons can fire for a while with the energy they have inside, but not for long: After a dozen seconds, each neuron needs more energy.” If your brain does not have enough energy, your neurons will fire more slowly and your chances of focusing on one thing quickly decrease.

How do we deal with the wandering? One way is to recognize that you have a finite attention window and to structure your workflow to match that same capacity. In other words, to be the most productive and creative it’s best to work in a series of bursts and unplug throughout the workday. By switching tasks we can delay mental fatigue. It’s a way of being creative,” says Killeen. “It’s a way of giving the linear programming, engineering, hard core work in the brain a break.”

What sparked our fire: Creative problem solving completed by creating unique contexts around each problem.

Is this solution enough to combat the addiction to multi-tasking that we already see in millennials?

Enjoy!

-Canopy Team

Living in the cube

living cube 3Studio apartments are not known for space. They quickly and easily shrink in size with the addition of furniture, leaving little room for any kind of living space. Till Konneker, a Swiss based designer, wanted more space out of his studio apartment. He and a friend designed the “Living Cube”, a storage unit which doubles as furniture. The Living Cube combines several basic types of furniture such as a storage shelf, TV stand, closet and bed, all in one unit. Konneker can access his bed by climbing a ladder at the end of the unit, while other items such as clothing can be found through a door on the side.

What sparked our fire: Smart units that save on space.Is the “cube” the next innovation in studio apartments?

Enjoy!

-Canopy Team

Some, privacy please!

digital privacy

Most Americans have at least one mobile device in which they send and receive data. With all of this data floating around, it is very easy for someone to steal your personal information in a matter of seconds. Now, you probably don’t care if someone reads a silly text from your friend. But how would you feel if a total stranger read a confidential email from a colleague? Or from your doctor?

Adam Harvey, a New York City based artist, has designed a mobile device accessory that can stop all signals. The OFF Pocket, a case for your cell phone, blocks WiFi, GPS and cellular signals making your device untraceable, unhackable and undetectable. The only major downside is you cannot send or receive any information while your device is in the case.

Today millions of people are tracked through their mobile devices, even when they’re not being used. The OFF Pocket allows you to completely disconnect while maintaining total control over your privacy. The accessory will prove most valuable when the phone is not being used, which is more often than you would expect! Think about it, how much time do you actually spend on a mobile device a day? The average American spends roughly an hour a day on their smartphone, so the remaining 23 hours could be spent protecting your information.

What sparked our fire: An innovative product that encourages and allows consumers to truly unplug.

Would you give up instantaneous connectivity for some privacy?

Enjoy!

-Canopy Team