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Microsoft Turns the “World’s Most Viewed Picture” into an Ugly Holiday Sweater

Microsoft Turns The World's Most Viewed Picture Into An Ugly Holiday Sweater

“It looks good on a monitor, but better on you.” That’s the legendary tagline for this soon-to-be iconic ugly holiday sweater featuring the “world’s most viewed picture,” that green and blue landscape that has shipped as the default screensaver on Microsoft Windows for nearly a quarter century. This is the perfect combination of nostalgia, dorkiness and understated … Read more

The World’s Hottest Pepper Will Never Succeed for This Reason

Pepper X

A list of the world’s hottest peppers before 2023 includes some scary names. The Carolina Reaper. The Ghost Pepper. The Trinidad Scorpion. The Infinity Chili. Those are respectable, intimidating names for peppers that can melt your face starting with your taste buds. Apparently this year for the first time since 2017, there is a new pepper that … Read more

What Is Prada’s New $650 Underwear Designed to Be Worn Without Pants Really Saying?

According to fashion industry insiders, Prada’s latest release of a $650 pair of underwear is “no surprise” given the brand’s track record of expensive essentials. What was unexpected, however, was how the brand seemed to be positioning the underwear as desirable outerwear without pants.  In conversation at a fashion industry event once, I recall hearing these runway … Read more

When Influencer Marketing Goes Predictably Wrong

When a fast fashion retailer often criticized for negative environmental and labor track record wants to recast its brand image, it is not a good strategy to rely on the vapid commentary of social media influencers enjoying an all-expenses paid junket to your headquarters China. This week, retail giant Shein created their own predictable self-imposed controversy when … Read more

The Most Popular Non-Obvious Stories of 2022 (Based On Reader Feedback)

Based on this combination of quantitative and qualitative data, here is a partial list of some of the most popular stories of the year, based on what my readers shared.

The Non-Obvious Insights Show – Episode #234

The show where we curate the most interesting and underappreciated stories of the week. On this week’s episode, we’ll be talking about Gucci’s $10,000 virtual dress, the return of the NFL and the entertaining future of fundraising and much more! Stories in this week’s episode: https://time.com/5881265/story-behind-time-new-american-revolution-cover/ https://adage.com/article/sports/fantasy-football-leagues-and-advertisers-vie-attract-fans-and-each-other/2277136 https://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/week-ahead-nfl-season-kicks-and-adcolor-goes-virtual/2278711 https://www.fastcompany.com/90546878/would-you-spend-10000-on-a-virtual-dress-gucci-is-betting-on-it https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2020/09/01/disinformation-deepfakes-newsguard-video-authenticator/ https://thewalrus.ca/how-algorithms-are-changing-what-we-read-online/ https://www.anthropology-news.org/index.php/2020/07/15/articulating-anthropologys-value-to-business/ https://www.fastcompany.com/90544916/selena-gomezs-new-beauty-brand-wants-you-to-know-you-dont-need-makeup https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/05/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-college-admissions.html https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/how-innovative-educators-are-engaging-students-online … Read more

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In addition to Non-Obvious Thinking, Rohit is the author of 10 books on trends, the future of business, building a more human brand with storytelling and how to create a more diverse and inclusive world.

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