LSN : Daily Signals : Second sight

Exit Stage Never by Wieden + Kennedy as part of the National MS Society campaign Together We Are Stronger, US

US – A campaign by advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy uses virtual reality (VR) to enable multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers to experience the activities that they were passionate about before they became ill.

The campaign highlights the emotive power of VR
MS sufferers witness the activities they love from a first-person perspective

In Together We Are Stronger, a collaboration with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS sufferers wear VR headsets to vicariously experience activities they can no longer physically partake in.

Each of the tv spots focuses on the personal story of an MS sufferer. Former surfer Steve Bettis and former dancer Amy Meisner are later introduced to a professional surfer and dancer, respectively, and experience their exploits though an immersive VR experience.

A website for the campaign invites existing MS sufferers to use the #WeAreStrongerThanMS hashtag to capture, share and tag their creative methods for coping with the disease.

The Big Picture

The potential of VR extends beyond the entertainment sector into experiences that enable people to form a deeper understanding of themselves and others. For more on The E-motional Economy, buy your ticket to Backlash Culture, our Spring/Summer 2016 Trend Briefing.