News 22.08.2022

Need to Know

A DAO deviating from design tropes, an electronic music festival gets an AI-generated rebranding, and the climate reality sinks in

This DAO is making Web3 more welcoming

Metaphor rebranded by Wildish & Co, UK

US – Decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO) platform Metaphor is ditching the dark and moody visuals that dominate the Web3 space to create a more approachable aesthetic. The goal of the platform, which makes it easier to ‘discover, join and participate in DAOs’, is to empower users to enter the Web3 eco-system.

The rebranding uses nostalgic visuals and retro images to make the cutting-edge technology feel more familiar. Designed by creative branding agency Wildish & Co, the visual identity uses images from the public domain to create over 200 background options and 1,000 avatars that can be combined to create various scenes. The studio also applied a 1950s filter over the images to ‘encourage people to be excited about Web3 in a similar way to how people were excited about technology during that period’, explains Sam Fresco, managing director of Wildish & Co.

While DAOs represent the bleeding edge of Alternet Economies, that doesn’t mean that their aesthetics need to be off-putting to the everyday consumer. To help onboard new users, Metaphor is injecting its platform with familiar images and nostalgic visuals.

Strategic opportunity

Technology companies should consider straying from the typical tech tropes to build more tactile and inclusive visual identities

AI-generated artworks transform music marketing

Jardim Sonoro creative campaign by Dentsu Creative, Lisbon Jardim Sonoro creative campaign by Dentsu Creative, Lisbon
Jardim Sonoro creative campaign by Dentsu Creative, Lisbon Jardim Sonoro creative campaign by Dentsu Creative, Lisbon

Portugal – Jardim Sonoro, one of Europe’s leading electronic music festivals, is getting an artistic rebranding courtesy of artificial intelligence (AI). Marketing agency Dentsu Creative is using Mid Journey – a visual AI platform that creates images using keywords submitted by users – to create promotional materials for the festival.

The three-day festival, which combines music, travel and culture, is designed to arouse the senses. To capture the sensorial thrill of attending the event, the agency used Mid Journey to create abstract compositions that combine music with nature. The computer-generated images combine photographs of performers attending the festival, such as Todd Terje, Jeff Mills and Jan Blomqvist, with birds, butterflies, leaves and trees.

This is not the first example of an AI-generated advertisement. Rémy Martin recently used AI technology to create a compelling campaign starring the musician Usher. As open-source AI technology gains popularity, it will add another marketing tool to the arsenal of creative agencies and branding businesses.

Strategic opportunity

How can companies use the rise of AI technology as a way to fuel co-creation with consumers? Ask your clients to create their own AI-generated advertisements for a chance to win a reward

JP Morgan plans to become a travel agency

US – Investment banking company JP Morgan Chase is aiming to become the first port of call for holidaymakers and travellers. Over the past 18 months, the bank has been quietly acquiring businesses so it can grow into a sprawling travel agency.

The company plans to offer services that allow consumers to plan and reserve trips ranging from a straightforward domestic flight to a lavish safari. Already, the bank has acquired a premium travel agency, a restaurant review business and a booking system. It's also developing its own airport lounges and employing thousands of travel agents. A new website is set to be launched soon.

Travel has become one of the most significant spending categories for banks and credit card companies and JP Morgan wants a larger share of the growing market. The bank estimates that one out of every three dollars spent on leisure travel in the US is spent by its customers.

When the pandemic hit in early 2020 and travel came to a grinding halt, JP Morgan saw an opportunity to revisit the travel agent model, seizing the bear market to make important acquisitions.

Garden Home, Airbnb

Strategic opportunity

Fintech companies can consider entering the travel sector by opening airport lounges for consumers and expanding their hospitality presence

Stat: The reality of the climate crisis is sinking in

 Invocation for Hope by Superflux  Invocation for Hope by Superflux

As fears over the climate emergency continue to ramp up around the world, the reality of the situation is now setting in. Some 58% of consumers globally agree that seeing extreme weather events in the country they live in encourages them to personally do more to protect the planet, according to the 2022 Mintel Consulting Sustainability Barometer.

While awareness of the impending crisis has been steadily growing for years, the increasing regularity of extreme weather events such as flooding, wildfires and heatwaves can no longer be ignored. But taking action does come with positive sentiments, as 68% say that doing things to help the environment makes them feel happy.

As the urgency about the climate crisis continues to build and its effects are felt, consumers are increasingly looking for ways they can make a difference. Look to the Climate Newsrooms monitoring the rapidly changing situation and be a part of positive solutions.

Strategic opportunity

Build initiatives and campaigns that allow consumers to play a constructive and tangible role in fighting the climate crisis

Previous News Articles
AI-generated images of animals in plastic help WWF-Korea raise awareness about pollution

News

AI-generated images of animals in plastic help WWF-Korea raise awareness about pollution

WWF-Korea has launched Animal Trash Fashion, a powerful out-of-home campaign using AI to starkly illustrate the devastating impact of plastic pollu...
Sustainability : Design : Advertising
Rixo launches pre-loved resale platform

News

Rixo launches pre-loved resale platform

British fashion brand Rixo is expanding its circular ambitions with the launch of Rixo Pre-Loved, a resale platform where customers buy and sell it...
Retail : Fashion : Sutainability
Stat: Global business travel spending hits historic high

News

Stat: Global business travel spending hits historic high

Business travel is set to reach a record £1.18 trillion ($1.57 trillion, €1.36 trillion) by the end of 2025, according to ...
Stat : Statistic : Global Travel Market
Axe gamifies fragrance sampling with arcade-inspired bus stop activation

News

Axe gamifies fragrance sampling with arcade-inspired bus stop activation

Axe is making fragrance sampling fun again with a new campaign for its Cherry Fizz body spray.
Advertising : Fragrance : Retail
New wearable tracks hydration levels in real time

News

New wearable tracks hydration levels in real time

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a non-invasive wearable that continuously monitors hydration levels in real time.
Wearable Technology : Healthcare : Hydration
Stat: Online resale is booming in Britain

News

Stat: Online resale is booming in Britain

Online resale is booming in Britain, with pre-owned shopping now worth £4.3bn ($5.8bn, €5bn) annually and is set to rise to £4.8bn ($6.4bn, €5.5bn)...
Retail : Fashion : Technology
Prada’s 2025 Qixi campaign turns Shanghai’s bridges into a stage for love

News

Prada’s 2025 Qixi campaign turns Shanghai’s bridges into a stage for love

Prada’s campaign for the 2025 Qixi Festival – often referred to as Chinese Valentine’s Day – reimagines China’s legendary love tale through an...
Luxury : Fashion : Chinese Folklore
M&S tracks plastic’s afterlife with invisible UV packaging tags

News

M&S tracks plastic’s afterlife with invisible UV packaging tags

M&S : Sustainability : Retail
Stat: Britons are increasingly turning to biohacking through wellness supplements

News

Stat: Britons are increasingly turning to biohacking through wellness supplements

According to a July 2025 YouGov poll, one in five Britons (21%) have taken a wellness supplement in 2025 – pointing to the rise of personalise...
Health And Wellness : Supplements : Stat
Ocado’s Shopping List Stories campaign finds emotional value in the weekly shop

News

Ocado’s Shopping List Stories campaign finds emotional value in the weekly shop

Ocado is reframing grocery shopping as an emotional experience with Shopping List Stories, a new campaign by Uncommon Creative Studio.
Food And Drink : Supermarket : Branding And Advertising
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN