Brands & Branding

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.

Why Are We So Unprepared For Predictable Things?

In a world where we spend a lot of time worry about disruptions that we can't see coming, this whole week should be a reminder that there are some disruptions we clearly know are coming. So when they do happen, being unprepared is no one's fault but your own.

Monopoly Makes Kids Angry, For Their Own Good

I really wish I was in the room when they presented the insight behind this campaign to Hasbro. It's bold, clever and deep in a way you don't expect marketing to be.

Why Microsoft’s Clippy Is Now a Pop Culture Icon

Clippy's newfound popularity seems to reflect a hunger for the good old times when assistants might be annoying, but were also easily switched off and lived without. Unlike the ubiquitous voice assistants of today.

Tom “Marketoonist” Fishburne on How Humor Can Inspire Change | Non-Obvious Insights Show

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...

The Non-Obvious Insights Show – Episode #233

This week’s stories will include desperate airlines selling in-flight meals online, the LA Olympic committee’s brilliantly inclusive new logo, how to use stupidity to get...

Branding Lessons From the Shady History of the Oreo Cookie

I love a good branding story and the history of the Oreo cookie has plenty of fascinating hooks. The story starts with two feuding brothers, Joseph and Jacob...

Coca-Cola Imagines the Future of Refreshment with “Coca-Cola Coffee”

I spent four years in a place that acclimatizes you to believe there is nothing strange about having a Diet Coke for Breakfast. I’m speaking,...

Trader Joe’s and the Slow Death of Brand Personality

Update – Two weeks after this post was originally published, Trader Joe’s issued a new statement sharing that they do not consider these brand names...