Trend of the Week

Despite the rise of touch screens and other sophisticated gaze and gesture technologies, experiential brands this year are choosing analog-style mechanisms for their activations. Think: Push buttons and turn dials that feel purposeful, participatory and nostalgic. But let’s push pause for a moment, and look back at one place where the trend bubbled up. Reddit’s […]

Trains often evoke feelings of nostalgia and adventure, with some of the most memorable and profitable IPs, like the “Harry Potter” series and “The Polar Express,” inspired by the movement of these storytelling engines. Today, brands are taking engagement to the rails to the delight of pop-culture fandoms, and beyond. To promote the debut of […]

Last week at CES 2026, our editors noted a distinct move away from the spectacles and theme-park-style thrills of the past, and towards cozier brand environments. The landscape served as yet another signal that a larger, industry-wide paradigm shift is at hand, with both business and consumer attendees increasingly seeking out creature comforts and opportunities […]

In a year where designer dolls and love stories grabbed the world’s attention, event marketers also leaned into niche interests and the speed of pop culture across their campaigns. These were among themes across the nearly 50 installments of our Trend of the Week column in 2025, and as the wheels turn for 2026, we’ve […]

To capture the fleeting attention of passersby, you have to go big or go home, and this year, we’ve seen brands popping up towering installations of recognizable icons that have had consumers doing a double take, pulling out their phones to snap photos or even just stopping for a moment to admire the temporary monuments. […]