Think pieces

Letter From Johannesburg: prohibition and hangovers

The Coronavirus pandemic has exposed governmental lack of preparedness, naivety, fear and tawdry political opportunism in many countries, but it may be hard to find a regime...

The emperor's new brand

If you’re contemplating your brand, you don’t need to look far to find a guru. But how do you know that they’re not a charlatan? And that what they say will benefit your business?

The Quiet Achiever: Learning Lessons from RBG

Are you doing enough to ensure that the quiet achiever in the office can still be heard?

Let’s redesign life

Design is central to sustainability. It can be a force for good. Or design can foster unsustainability, by creating throwaway and harmful products.

Burger King: how traditional media drives digital outcomes

Burger King’s Stevenage FC tie up lit up the Twittersphere last week - the wonderful cunning of a cheap real world sponsorship campaign that converted into hoots of earned media online.

Risky business: the risks of risk aversion

Risk aversion is a well-documented and perfectly understandable behaviour. In times of uncertainty, people prefer to make investments with more certain outcomes...

Advertising’s biggest challenge? The Mandy Rice-Davies problem

Perhaps advertising’s biggest challenge is what I would call the Mandy Rice-Davies problem. Not familiar with Mandy? Well, let me give you a bit of background. It’ll only be a small digression.

The necessary, but sometimes uncomfortable conversation

As the Black Lives Matter movement swept globally after the brutal murder of George Floyd, it is clear that returning to “business as usual” just won’t be good enough

TSB Pete Markey's tips for avoiding fraud during Covid

The challenges of Covid 19 and the lockdown have been felt right across the UK and it’s been particularly disheartening to see how fraudsters have used this situation...

It’s about not blinking

‘The fact of the matter is I’m interested in a truth. I cannot put a filter on life. It’s about not blinking.’ Steve McQueen

The Man in the White Suit

‘You’re not even born yet. What do you think happened to all the other things? The razor blade that never gets blunt, the car that runs on water with just a pinch of something.

The Triumph of the Frustrations

Well, yes, since you were asking, I can sing. I have a sweet voice, but it has a narrow range and a tendency to go a-wandering.

The new government war on obesity

The current government is clear in its intention to reduce obesity. However, its chosen strategies have met with criticism.

Reality, What a Concept

A coincidental confrontation at Costco in America has increased their sales drastically, proving that "people don’t actually need conventional, patronizing advertising."

Fashion goes digital

VCCP's Innovation Lead Peter Gasston investigates this emerging trend and its implications for the future of retail and sustainability.

As a leader, your team is your priority

Seven top tips on the difference between being a leader and a boss, from Saudi German Hospital's Rami Zahran

BÓ bank is no bank

High street banking group RBS’s closure of its new digital bank Bó shows the risks of launching new brands to compete with smaller ‘insurgent’ brands.

A Face in the Crowd

'A Face in the Crowd' is a 1957 satirical drama that considers the power of modern media to create celebrities

Build back better with digital accountability

When it comes to online, we all just fast forwarded. Nearly half of us are more comfortable with digital tech post lockdown and shopping online has exploded.

The Behavioural Scientist's Guide to Physical Distancing

Drawing on award winning global experience, The Behavioural Architects have developed a guide for physical distancing during COVID-19.

Communicating with empathy

Other industries can learn from the healthcare sector, while it, too, is taking lessons from Covid-19, writes Saudi German Hospital’s Rami Zahran