Crisis revisited: A transmedia view of history

17 : 12 : 2012 Smartphone : JFK : The Martin Agency

Boston – Clouds Over Cuba, an online documentary produced by The Martin Agency for the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, tells the story of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis through a new media, cross-platform strategy.

Clouds Over Cuba Clouds Over Cuba
Clouds Over Cuba Clouds Over Cuba

The film is divided into six themed segments. As the film plays, a digital dossier fills up with historical documents, such as JFK’s daily schedule and maps of Cuba. Viewers can navigate between the main documentary and the extra materials, or download the extra features onto a smartphone to play back later.

The timeline of events from 1962 can be synchronised into calendar software, with optional alerts. The JFK Library also live-tweeted the historical timeline in October, 50 years after the events.

The film’s fifth segment is a factional, speculative documentary set in the present day as if the conflict had escalated into nuclear war.

As Generation D continues to adopt multi-screen habits and expects media to be interactive, non-linear storytelling may become increasingly common. Read our Transmedia Futures macrotrend for more.

Discover More Daily Signals
The Trend:  The New Age of Discovery

Daily Signals

The Trend:  The New Age of Discovery

Where can consumers still find newness amid algorithm fatigue, ad blockers and saturated content platforms? Part of the answer lies in gatekeeping ...
Technology : Discovery : Retail
The Big Idea: The Future of  Dating Apps

Daily Signals

The Big Idea: The Future of Dating Apps

Hinge is the ‘designed to be deleted’ dating app now turning to real-life connections to tackle Gen Z loneliness. The Future Laboratory spoke to pr...
Technology : Dating Apps : Hinge
The Campaign: Why Apple leaned into artisanal charm for 2025 festive push

Daily Signals

The Campaign: Why Apple leaned into artisanal charm for 2025 festive push

Apple’s 2025 Christmas campaign A Critter Carol puts human craftsmanship front and centre.
Technology : Advertising & Branding : Apple
The Viewpoint: Cyberchondria and Its Cure

Daily Signals

The Viewpoint: Cyberchondria and Its Cure

The democratisation of medical knowledge – and the spread of fake news – has opened the doors to a new kind of cyberchondria. Jay Topham, co-founde...
Technology : Cyberchondria : Health
The Space: Koibird’s London store mixes digital and physical

Daily Signals

The Space: Koibird’s London store mixes digital and physical

A new wave of designers is bridging the virtual chaos of gaming realms and extended reality with the tactile authenticity of human craft.  
Technology : Retail : Design
Download the Future Forecast 2026 report

Daily Signals

Download the Future Forecast 2026 report

Now that you know what shaped 2025, discover what’s next.
Future Forecast
How Marcin Rusak and Perrier-Jouët translated plant life into sonic installations at Design Miami 2025

Daily Signals

How Marcin Rusak and Perrier-Jouët translated plant life into sonic installations at Design Miami 2025

At Design Miami 2025, designer Marcin Rusak partnered with champagne house Perrier-Jouët to translate the hidden life of plants into a sculptural, ...
Design : Luxury : Drink
Why Myndstream and Mayo Clinic believe music is the future of medicine

Daily Signals

Why Myndstream and Mayo Clinic believe music is the future of medicine

Global wellness music brand Myndstream has partnered with Mayo Clinic to explore the clinical potential of functional music in healthcare.
Health : Music : Technology
Stat: US sports fans show high engagement across travel, gaming and media

Daily Signals

Stat: US sports fans show high engagement across travel, gaming and media

According to GWI’s latest Global Fan Study, 62% of US sports fans are more likely to take three to four international trips per year compared with ...
Sports : Travel : Statistic
How new Evil Ray suncare brand taps the unhinged humour opportunity

Daily Signals

How new Evil Ray suncare brand taps the unhinged humour opportunity

Australian creative agency Pembleton has unveiled Evil Ray, a bold new sunscreen brand designed in collaboration with iconic Australian artist Reg ...
Beauty : Healthcare : Sunscreen
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