From famous ice cream treats for furry friends to shining a light (literally!) on sustainable agriculture, here are some things that made us say “That’s Interesting” in the studio this week.
Pooch scoops.
Super popular ice cream makers Ben and Jerry’s have some exciting news to share! They’ve started making treats for a new consumer category… One that is (generally!) much furrier, runs on four legs and gets very excited at the mention of a W-A-L K. Yep, you guessed correctly! Ben & Jerry’s are launching a new line of treats for dogs. The packaging is similar to their human ice cream range, but the iconic brand cow has been replaced by frolicking pups. The new product stems from the strength of the bond between pets and their owners, and a desire to create more moments that they can enjoy together… Sort of! How can brands credibly extend their portfolio into different categories to create meaningful new rituals for consumers?
Desserts for good doggos here
Mindful Microsoft.
If there is one thing we can all agree on, it’s that the last year has really highlighted how important balance, wellness, emotional wellbeing and mental health are. With that in mind, Microsoft – the owners of Teams, one of 2020s most used digital platforms – has announced new updates that aim to improve users’ work/life balance in this new WFH world. The new interface will introduce features like a virtual commute through which users will be able to create mental bookends to better manage the working day. And it gets better! Microsoft has also partnered with meditation app Headspace and added a new emotional check-in tool to Teams. With mindfulness becoming a key desire for people, how can brands evolve their products and services to help them become partners for wellness?
Join the Team(s) here
Musically al dente!
Cooking is all about timing, especially if you’re making pasta! Barilla has created a music playlist to help you perfectly time making your pasta, to avoid it turning into a sticky, soggy mess and to cook it like a true Italian, al dente! The Italian pasta brand has created a series of Spotify playlists to help you with every pasta type – from fusilli to linguine, you can find all the shapes and, most importantly, cook everything perfectly! An innovative, contemporary twist to an iconic brand, and a new way of engaging and delivering convenience.
Get into the “Boom Bap Fusilli” groove here
Farming highlight.
Rotterdam-based Studio Roosegaarde has just unveiled Grow, a 20.000 sqm installation designed to highlight the beauty of agriculture while simultaneously improving crop growth. The designer behind this visual spectacle, Daan Roosegaarde, used red, blue and ultraviolet light to transform and convey the dynamism of a field. But Grow is much more than a work of art: it is also a prototype that aims to understand how “light recipes” can be used to increase plant growth and reduce the use of pesticides by up to 50%! It is no surprise that this idea sprouted (pun intended!) in the Netherlands as, fun fact, they are one of the world’s largest producers of vegetables. Design and technology combined are made to do great things. For more on the potential of Artificial Intelligence to create a better planet, check out our latest Earth Matters article.
Light it up here