This week: A fast feeder gets into the tech hardware business, where you should stay for Halloween, a motivational message for the ages and more

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5. Miller Lite: The Timeless Collection
Agency: DDB Chicago and San Francisco, Alma

In perhaps the most outrageous idea of the week, Miller Lite, in a campaign from DDB and Alma, crafted six gaudy, bejeweled gold rings to celebrate friends being able to get together again for game day as pandemic restrictions have lifted. A contest encourages posses of friends to share on social why they deserve to win, and the bling will be awarded to one crew. The rings also have a superpower. They’re embedded with proximity sensors that detect the other rings, so when all six come together, they unlock a lifetime supply of Miller Lite. We just wonder what happens if you have more close buddies than Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, Rachel, Ross and Joey did. 
 

4) Wendy’s: Wendy's Phone
Agency: McCann Canada

Fast food brands have gone all in on promoting their apps, leading to inventive, celebrated ideas such as Burger King’s one-cent Whopper stunt. Wendy’s, however, recently went to the next level by creating its own Wendy’s-branded phone, complete with its own “Hey Wendy” voice assistant. “We saw an opportunity to make something expected more interesting,” said Josh Stein, chief creative officer at McCann Canada, the agency behind the idea. “People expect apps—but they don’t expect the phone to come with it."

3) Airbnb: "Scream" House 

Sure, it’s a great vehicle for finding lodging, but Airbnb also continues to be the marketing platform that keeps on giving. The company’s previous brand partnerships have invited consumers into the homes of Winnie-the-Pooh, Barbie and Van Gogh, and now, in time for Halloween—the “Scream” house. For just $5, lucky travelers will get to stay in the abode from the classic horror flick—where they’ll be greeted by the film’s sheriff, Dewey Riley (David Arquette), and get a call from the killer, Ghostface himself. It’s all being promoted in a spooky film starring Arquette. 

2)  Netflix: Don’t Give Up

Last week, Netflix shared on LinkedIn a post of a new billboard it erected overlooking Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. While capturing the company’s entire history in just two spare lines, it’s also pretty much the modern-day equivalent of the “hang in there” poster.

1) Emily Zugay: Logo Makeovers

Sometimes a logo makeover is so horrific we're moved to tears, but never has a logo redesign made us cry from laughter. That is until we discovered the work of TikTok creator Emily Zugay. Zugay won the internet with her hilarious new takes of the marks of major brands including McDonald’s, Amazon, Starbucks and NASA. In her TikTok posts, the self-professed graphic design expert points out the current symbols’ failings and then proceeds to improve them—a process that usually involves the introduction of stodgy fonts, head-scratching palettes and misspellings (Adobe becomes “Abode,” Amazon becomes “Amason”). Her videos have become so popular that the brands themselves switched out their real logos for hers, and those with whom she hasn’t yet tinkered are begging her to butcher them.

@emilyzugay

Reply to @mcdonalds easy

♬ original sound - Emily’sTikTok.edu

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