From new applications that turn smartphones into stethoscopes to campaigns that help us become better listeners, here are some things that made us say “That’s Interesting” in the studio this week.
So, we see applications that make us feel more connected to our heart health, new products that celebrate upcycled waste in fashion, campaigns and cross-category partnerships that enable wider reaching conversations about mental health, and the nostalgia trend still going strong and acting as a positive influence for younger generations.
Listen to your heart!
Echoes is a new app created by design studio Cellule, which allows users to hear the sound and rhythm of their heartbeat at any moment of their day using only their smartphone. Cellule designed the app working closely with medical researchers, and the idea behind it was to make it easier and more accessible to track heart conditions and health. Making this information available through an everyday object like a smartphone and linking it more closely to day-to-day life makes the experience accessible to everyone and helps users form a stronger connection with their body. New experiences that make consumers feel more in tune with themselves physically and mentally are increasingly valued and sought after.
Feel the beat here
Walk on balloons.
Nuven is a new amazing shoe line released by the brand undo for tomorrow. They’re completely vegan and made with the best recycled and natural materials. The sneakers combine the comfort of sneaker performance with the style of casual shoes. The designers wanted to change the way that people look at trash and to prove that recycled and upcycled materials can be as cool and desirable as new ones. And the most exciting part of Nuven is that they have a colourful sole which is made from recycled party balloons! Party perfect, right? Another cool addition to the growing catalogue of waste materials being redefined as valuable resources. For more on this, see our Earth Matters article, Winning with Waste.
Float forwards here
Learn to listen.
Over the last three years, Three Mobile has been working with mental health charity Samaritans UK. As part of their partnership, they’ve now launched a campaign that encourages everyone to become a #Betterphonefriend by learning how to be a better listener. In their short video they illustrate five problematic listening styles in order to help people identify which traits they may have, how to overcome them, and how to become better listeners. As the conversation around mental health continues to evolve and grow, it’s encouraging to see brands use their reach to enable a better, more constructive dialogue.
Listen closely here
The Hut newstalgia!
Years ago, in an analog world far far away, Pizza Hut used to encourage kids to read via “Book It!”. The program rewarded children with free pizza when they met a set of page goals. The beloved pizza chain has recently reviewed its strategy and decided that, following their new “newstalgic” initiative (which we covered in a previous edition of That’s Interesting), it will revive “Book It!” and use it to encourage children to fill the summer months with good books, good pizza and good times. How can other brands leverage nostalgia to revive positive habits, ideas and behaviours from our past and make them relevant to the modern consumer?
Pages and slices here