Uncovered: Banksy’s latest isolation artwork
The Innovation team at Instinctif harness the best of the future to deliver market-leading ideas in the present. The team’s specialism spans digital strategy and marketing, data & analytics, and strategic brand. This fortnightly update shares top tips to help you foster creative and challenge the status quo and summarises the news that matters.
Campaigning for good
Moments of difficulty perversely often bring out the best in people. Call it ‘the Blitz spirit’ or ‘rising to the challenge’; crisis can lead to cohesion. Here’s a round-up of some of the brands who are currently using their influence to make a positive change:
DOVE – COURAGE IS BEAUTIFUL
Dove is well-known for its campaigns celebrating beauty diversity – and now it’s turned to those who are looking after us in the current crisis. In a simple ad campaign showing the faces of healthcare workers marked by the protective equipment they must wear at work, Dove draws attention to the risks taken daily by those on the front line.
And it’s backing up the campaign with action, contributing products to NHS workers and pharmacists as well as food banks and shelters across the UK.
LEGO – CALLING FOR HEROES
The Danish toy company has launched an advert encouraging all families to step up and become heroes – simply by staying at home.
In its 90-second stop-motion film – entirely shot in isolation over just three days – the recognisable Lego characters deliver the message that people have superpowers at their fingertips, which can be activated by not going outside. They reiterate the government advice now familiar to viewers: staying home; protect our NHS and save lives.
LINKEDIN – FINDING FRONTLINE WORKERS
The professional network is doing what it does best – matching up job hunters with roles. And in their ‘Front Line’ campaign, the focus falls on connecting those with critical skills to essential jobs in the COVID-19 relief efforts.
As part of the campaign, the platform is offering free job posts and hiring resources to hospitals, not-for-profit organisations, supermarkets and warehouses.
SAINSBURY’S – FIGHTING FOOD WASTE
With food banks across the UK under pressure to meet increased demand, Sainsbury’s has partnered with food aid charity FareShare, donating £3 million and donating its surplus food to the non-profit.
It’s an example of a company tapping into its existing resources to support societies in the most effective way it can – and potentially setting a precedent around how supermarkets manage food waste. Watch this space.
Tool of the week
Snapchat is making it even easier to see the benefit of your charity donations through its new AR lens.
Forming part of its COVID-19 awareness-building campaign, the tool lets its 200 million active daily users scan their currency to see a visualisation of how the World Health Organisation (WHO) could use that money in the fight against Coronavirus. Showing everything from patient care to medical supplies and research, it’s a way for the platform to bring to life the real value of pledged money.
Snapchatters can then easily donate directly from their accounts and spread the word by sharing Snaps of their experience.
All donations go directly to the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund
Top tip
This week’s tip comes from Innovation’s Visual Strategy Director, Matthew McGuinness:
Many of us aren’t used to spending this much time in our homes. The anonymous artist Banksy counts among our number.
With a lack of outdoors walls to graffiti, he has instead settled for some canvases closer to home. His bathroom, to be specific. He posted his creation through a series of photos on Instagram, showing rats (images from his previous works) causing havoc in his bathroom, from stepping on toothpaste tubes to swinging from a towel ring.
Banksy adds another element of colour to the post, with the image caption: ‘My wife hates it when I work from home.’
This display from Banksy is a nice reminder we can stay inspired when stuck at home…but maybe stop short of defacing your houses.