The State Of Play

When algorithm flattens cultural markets, how to create against this backdrop? When everything is “meh,” winners are the surprising, the unexpected, and the different. The problem is, these things suc...

6 Feb 202546min

Creativity is not just an ideas game. More than anything, it’s a matter of process, organization, and the problem-solving abilities of the “backend” office. McKinsey study found that companies that pr...

23 Jan 202540min

What is culture? Culture can mean a lot of different things, and in this episode we zero in on our working definitions, along with the brands, consumer behaviors, and trends that we can expect to see ...

9 Jan 202544min

In their last episode of 2024, Ana and Rei talk about predictions. Rather than predicting the future, companies should set themselves out for the future's inherent unpredictability. In this context, w...

26 Dec 202448min

Why some rebrands succeed and why some fail? Why do we usually dislike new logos and then slowly get used to them? What are the best and worst rebrands, and how to tell the difference? We are joined b...

12 Dec 202454min

What are luxury goods good for? How about a pair of socks or sneakers? In this episode, Rei and Ana talk about apparel’s two opposing forces - product identity and functionality - is deeply embedded i...

28 Nov 202443min

What do Banana Republic and Google have in common? By combining brand strategy with merchandising, these brands influenced culture. They grew by building a product universe.In this excerpt from episod...

21 Nov 202414min

What do Banana Republic, McDonald’s, and a 1,800-year-old Japanese shrine have in common? By combining brand strategy with merchandising, these brands influenced culture. They grew by building a produ...

14 Nov 202432min