Think in Bright Colors

This comic series in The New Yorker by illustrator Molly Roth has me cackling at my computer screen tonight. Check them all out here.

I’m getting excited for Monday’s debate! In preparation, here are some sweet designs from Artist Shop artists.

How did I just now discover Cinema Palettes? This awesome Twitter account breaks down your favorite movies by color story, and it’s absolutely fascinating. There are dozens and dozens on their Twitter feed, going back almost a whole year...I love seeing the distinctions between genres: horror vs. animated, comedy vs. dramas. So much story can be told using color effectively.

In this post there’s:

Clueless

Annie Hall

Mary Poppins

The Royal Tenenbaum’s

The Revenant

Pulp Fiction

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The Shinning

Little Shop of Horrors

By Elyse Ash

Unlike Madonna, I’m not much of a “Material Girl.” I’m ambivalent about Prada purses. Meh on McMansions. And completely disinterested in ever owning a luxury car. Even if Xzibit just handed me a free Ferrari in some bizarre alternate universe, it would still be a challenge to feign excitement. They’re just so…tacky…

But if someone offered me free plane tickets to Bali? Or to see the constantly-sold-out, impossible-to-get-into, smash Broadway hit “Hamilton?” I’d cry. Why? Because the show looks amazing! It’s the talk of the town/city/country right now and I’d love to be part of the community that has seen it and experience it live (not to mention, it wouldn’t hurt my social media cred)…

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is real. It’s real and it’s brutal. If a friend posts a pic on Instagram of them at a Beyoncé concert, you can bet your butt I’m going to be feeling the FOMO hard. And if I post a pic of my beautifully composed ice cream cone one sunny Sunday, you can bet your butt that my sister who lives in a different state will be FOMO-ing too. The data agrees.Nearly 7 in 10 (69%) millennials experience FOMO and this fear of missing out drives them to show up, share and engage.

In today’s over-hashtagging, over-sharing society, experiences are the new social currency. Because sending a Snap of a plate of pastel macarons in Paris is epically more impressive and enviable than sporting a Rolex. And this reprioritization is a fairly new trend.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Americans were obsessed with watching MTV “Cribs,” popping bottles of Cristal and drooling over Carrie Bradshaw’s $350 Louboutins. Excess was in (remember the release of the “Hummer?”) But today in 2016, we’re living in what economists are calling “The Experience Economy.” We still love and value luxury, but our definition of “luxury” is no longer confined to champagne and diamonds.

In fact, recent studies show that 78% of millennials would choose to spend money on a desirable experience or event over buying something desirable. And 69% of millennials believe attending events makes them feel more connected to other people, the community, and the world. Take a look at the rise of popularity with Periscope and the live-streaming video feature on Facebook. People are sharing where they are and what they are experiencing in real-time; and it’s bringing them immense joy and fulfillment. Forget scrapbooks. Our digital footprint is now one living, breathing scrapbook of the highlights of our lives.

Why else do we millennials love spending our money on experiences? Because experiences are FUN (shocking, I know). There’s a lot of science to back up the notion that even though you can’t buy happiness, you can buy experiences which in turn, help make you happy.

Retailers need to capitalize on the importance of “experiences” and find a way to apply this concept to their own shopping experiences, both digitally and physically. Consumers don’t want to just transact. They want an experience they can connect with and Tweet about. Even seemingly ordinary purchasing decisions like which gym to join are influenced heavily by experience. Consider SoulCycle — their loyal cult following is all because of the experience they provide; catchy music-themed rides, intense instructors and a community that borders on cultish.

LuluLemon has also created a solid marketing strategy around more than their $90 yoga pants; they offer events, special promotions, connections to charities and a social status that screams, “Namaste, bitches.” And of course, there’s Apple who reinvented the way people purchase big-ticket technology items…without lines (unless it’s New iPhone day), without inventory stocked on a shelf and without a paper receipt. These brands are able to mark up their prices without anyone caring, because their fans are so infatuated with the experience, and quick to share with their friends. Sorry Louis Vuitton, but expensive product sitting on shelves just isn’t cutting it anymore.

So what can marketers do to help make better experiences for their millennial customers?

1. Make It -Grammable: Make your physical space, your products, your packaging as beautiful, curated and shareable as possible. It’s not just what customers enjoy, frankly, it’s what they expect. The bar has been raised and you can’t afford to let one almost-Instagramed/Snapchatted/Yelped moment fly by.

2. Create a Community: If your customers are talking about you on Twitter, join the conversation. Host events. Create a VIP program for your most loyal customers like Sephora. Donate money to a cause you care about à la Toms. Customers want to feel like they are part of something bigger than just you and just them.

3. Understand How Everything You Do Connects: Your website, mobile experience, social media marketing and product offerings should all feel connected, as though they are coming from the same voice (and talking to the same person). When so many people work on different parts of a business, it’s easy for things to feel choppy, but seamless integration is the new expectation.

4. Remember That Hashtags are Not Experiences: Think beyond the hashtag. Beyond the “marketing.” How can you tailor your retail and service experiences to surprise and delight your customers? It’s not as easy as creating a sponsored post on Facebook anymore. Make sure you hire savvy marketers who understand this brave new world and know how to create a brand that people love.

5. Personalize When Possible: There is an endless amount of data floating out in the world right now. We know when people check in and what they think of certain experiences. There is no lack of information out there. So use the information you’re capable of gathering to work in your favor. Not in a creepy way, of course. But a little thoughtful personalization can go a long way.

 does this mean for marketers? A lot. Big luxury brands can’t just rest on their laurels like they once did. They need strategies to entice millennial purchasers and exciting, unforgettable experiences that will keep them coming back for more. It’s definitely not easy, but there’s never been more flexibility or more opportunities to turn a small idea into a big, industry-altering company (again, think Toms).

How beautiful are these landscape rings by Canadian jewelry maker Secret Wood? They’re pretty much like tiny snowglobes! They use materials like wood, resin and beeswax to create these tiny fantastical pieces that show enchanted forests, blue lagoons and more...so dreamy!

I can’t help but be reminded of this Simpsons clip every time I start a new job.

In all seriousness, being the new kid is hard. Like, really hard. You have no idea what you’re doing. Hell, you don’t even really remember where the bathroom is. Your brain is working overtime because there is so much new information to absorb. You’re busy trying to camouflage culturally, learn names and not CC the wrong Matt on an email when there are three different Matt’s. 

What’s your new email address again?

It’s a huge risk, starting a new job. Staying at your current gig is the easy decision. It’s comfortable. People know you and trust you to get your job done. You’ve proven yourself. You know what you can and can’t get away with. But it’s also really hard to grow when you stay somewhere too long, especially if you’re not getting the support or resources you need to push yourself professionally and keep gaining new skills. Leaving though? There’s a lot at stake.

I just started a new job 2 weeks ago at a place called GoKart Labs, a digital innovation company in downtown Minneapolis. To put it simply, we create and grow businesses. How? By using proven methods that help solve complex digital problems. Part digital agency and part start-up innovation incubator, I’ve never seen any company that does this very specific and yet very broad thing. Inspiring doesn’t even begin to describe it.

There are a couple things that have told me pretty quickly that this is a great step for my career and person growth. How? I believe there are very early signs that can tell you quickly whether you’re at the right place…or whether you should ring up your old boss and tell him/her you’ve made a huge mistake:

A seamless on-boarding experience: You can tell a lot about a company based on your first day of work alone. Do people remember you’re even starting that day? Do you have a desk? Does everybody already know your name already? Are people introducing themselves? Did your manager take you out to lunch? These are all seemingly small things that can tell you a lot about a company: are they organized, friendly, respectful and competent?

Everyone seems happy to work here: Morale is sky-high. People seem genuinely engaged and working together towards the organization’s common purpose.

Everyone seems to genuinely like one another: There’s chatting about TV shows. People are running out to grab coffee. They’re laughing. There are recreational sports leagues. Movie outings. Book clubs. There are plenty of outlets for bonding with your coworkers, but none of it feels forced. You get involved with what you want, how you want.

They’re living their corporate values: It’s so rare that an organization’s values and culture overlap. Sure, you can try to ram your corporate values down your employees throats…but having every employee really believe in them and embody them? That’s special. Try to keep an eye out to see what kinds of values your coworkers are modeling. That will tell you loads.

People aren’t working insane hours or bragging about how much they’ve been working: This is a giant red flag. If the expectation is for you to be working crazy hours, including weekends, all the time? Run. Run now. The organization clearly doesn’t respect their employees or any semblance of balance.

Good perks: A generous amount of paid vacation, maternity/paternity leave, discounted gym memberships, discounted Metro cards; although these are technically ‘perks’ what they really say is that the company values their employees and are willing to invest in them and their happiness. They’re also smart…because this is what it takes to attract top talent now. So even though these may seem superfluous, their sheer existence says a lot about the organization’s feelings about employee happiness and retention.

Snacks on snacks on snacks: Free snacks pretty much ensure an awesome company. Ha. Not really, but they certainly don’t hurt.