This year we will continue to see brands shifting towards more earth friendly packaging. It is an inevitable shift and one we at gel are particularly excited about. From sock tags that turn into dnd signs to tracking your corn (rad) to sugarcane based plastics; these packages are not only greener, but very well designed. Check out the play-by-play disintegration of the bio-based choco bar, pretty sweet.

01: www.acornbd.com.au 02: www.madegrate.com 03: www.packworld.com 04: http://www.lovechock.nl and www.designforgood.eu 05: www.themoderns.com/

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It’s simple! (sort of…) You design your tattoo around a QR code and use a smart phone to generate the animation. Genius!

Is this the next big trend in personal branding and creating a self-identity? I think so.

Social acceptance for tattoos has changed drastically in the past 10 years. In Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland you’ll find that most Millennials have branded themselves with one or more tattoos and they’re no longer shy about it. It’s self-expression, whether you do it because you love art, believe your skin is only a shell, or you simply want ink!

The difference between a traditional tattoo and a QR code tattoo is that the associated image can be changed. For instance, if your code initially reflects a flower, but you decide you want to see a unicorn during the animation, it’s completely feasible.

Take a look:

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Gelcomm and Playsocial Games launched, Chicks vs. Bunnies in the spring of 2011. Chicks vs. Bunnies, was a Facebook game for the movie Hop, the latest animated motion picture from Universal. Designing a multiplayer game was a fun and new experience for Gelcomm. The production of the game required extensive branding and technology collaboration. Our partner, Playsocial created an incredibly powerful avatar engine that we filled with costumes and weapons. A gamut of costumes ranging from silly gum-ball machine guns, an Evil Knievel outfit, to a Viking warrior costume,  which was all available for purchase with Hop credits. The game is similar to other social games, in that levels are achieved by passing through obstacles or obliterating the opponent. The Gelcomm team created hilarious levels inspired by the movie, including a candy factory with animated machine parts. The next iteration of Chicks vs. Bunnies will be the release of the DVD, which will launch Easter 2012.

In 2012, we will continue to expand our digital services and help our consumer package goods clients reach their audiences with innovative applications.

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Black and white trends for kids; from sweet and imaginative to bold and saucy…it works, it rocks.

01: www.guapito.be 02: www.chinche.es 03: http://newgenerals.com 04: www.lovemaki.com 05: www.atsuyoetakiko.com 06: www.iamquirky.com

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Unlike earlier generations, Millennials have a near-zero generation gap, and parent-child co-purchase decisions are common. Martin agrees, saying: “When you ask this generation who their heroes are, the majority say their parents.” Brands seeking to appeal to this generation in the name of rebellion will increasingly fall flat.

Dr. Pete Markiewicz, for Brandchannel

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