Lately Volkswagen have been running an ad campaign called Fun Theory. They’re not actually selling any specific cars in this campaign, in fact they’re not mentioning any at all. What they’ve decided is that the world needs more fun, so they have teams of people out there putting a little exuberance into things. Case in point, they rigged up a set of stairs that run next to an escalator with piano keys, so wandering up and down the stairs becauses something new and exciting. The point of the whole thing is that they can change peoples behaviour in simple ways simply by changing something mundane into something a whole lotta fun.
They reckon that 66% more people used the stairs because of the change. I think it’s a great idea, I love that something so simple might make an otherwise dreary morning into a bright start to the day. They have another two similar videos, one is a bin that’s ‘bottomless’ and the other is a bottle recycling bin that’s been rigged up to be a game. I want something like that in the park near where I live here, it might stop the shits leaving their beer bottles lying around not 4 metres from a bin. Or they’ll be brutally vandalised… but hey, maybe they can see how much fun being targetted by a vigilante gang can be.
Ooof.. got a little dark there. Anyway, take a look at the other two – they can be found at the website for the campaign. They even have an award for a similar great idea, so get those minds cranking and see what you come up with. I’m not sure my vigilante gang will get through the selection process, but maybe you can more successful!