Need to Know
09 : 05 : 19

UK – Virgin Media has created an animated identity to bring its new Intelligent wifi product to life.

In partnership with consultancy Zag and motion graphics specialists Territory Studio, the brand has produced a series of marketing films that represent the next generation of wifi as a lightweight, futuristic entity. The films visually explore the unique features of this enhanced wifi service, which automatically fixes itself, detects black spots and optimises to use less congested channels.

‘The living identity we have created is a fusion of the well-known wifi radar symbol and the Virgin Media logo,’ says Neil Cummings, head of creative at Zag. ‘We’ve given it an intelligent mind of its own through four animated behaviour ‘stings’ and four explainer films where it moves and behaves in ways that communicate the product's key features such as scanning, mapping and optimising.’

Similarly, our Digital Dialogues design direction explores how a new visual language is helping to demystify algorithms and AI-driven systems by communicating them as visible and tangible entities.

London – The e-commerce platform is a wellness and retail destination that specialises in high-end CBD products from around the world.

Focusing on five key areas, The Chillery provides education and product recommendations for sleep, stress, pain, beauty and intimacy. The site was launched with brands such as Kiki Health, Yuyo Botanics, and You & Oil, and will continue to add premium brands in future, including Saint Jane Beauty.

‘We decided to build The Chillery based on three pillars that are our key beliefs: to raise awareness [of] and educate on CBD, to provide a trusted place to find the world’s most premium products, and to offer a helpful guide to the personal use of CBD,’ explains co-founder Marisa Schwab. By positioning itself as an online destination for elevated wellness, the platform reflects the extent to which CBD is undergoing a luxury makeover. For more, read our Luxury CBD Market.

UK – The eco-friendly cleaning and laundry brand has produced a satirical campaign to mark the launch of its scentless, hypoallergenic range, Ecover Zero.

In collaboration with creative studio Uncommon, the brand has created L’Eau de Bébé, a fictitious perfume supported by a humorous film and social media campaign that celebrates the unadulterated scent of a baby. The twist: the campaign encourages conscious consumers to question using products with chemical fragrances. Targeting parents, it states: ‘Everyone loves #BabySmell, so why cover it up?’

‘Our research proves that nothing in the world smells as good as natural new-born babies, and yet as a nation we’re in the habit of surrounding babies with overly fragranced laundry products that have the potential to irritate delicate skin,’ says Sara Mendez Bermudez, European head of brand at Ecover. Shot by playful Norwegian directors Matias and Mathias, the film is the first to highlight Ecover's brand mission, Let’s Live Clean.

Read our Home Cleaning Market for more on how environmentally friendly brands are championing the mindful act of cleaning.

Sales of new vehicles in the US are slowing as more young people delay purchasing their first car, or simply don’t buy one at all. Of those who do buy a car, many more are opting for used vehicles, according car review platform JD Power. Compared with Millennials in 2004, the company estimates that Generation Z will purchase about 120,000 fewer new vehicles this year.

Cost is seen as the main barrier, with the average price paid for a new vehicle rising from £19,606 ($25,490, €22,756) a decade ago to £25,032 ($32,544, €29,053) in 2018. Now, to appeal to younger consumers, car-makers are developing smaller vehicles at lower price points. Citroen, for example, recently unveiled an ultra-compact concept car that can be driven without a licence.