Science of the Time, formally known as Signs of the Time

Here you can find more information on how to participate in the Erasmus University CoolHunt.

You have been briefed on various mentality trends. In the lecture, trends in general have been introduced by the three cases:
- Publicis new headquarters in Paris (’opening up to the world’)
- Coca Cola (out of sync with the target group, in various continents different mentalities are born on ‘Cool Drinks’ and Coca Cola is not serving these target groups; no participation in the general ‘wellness-trend’, and when doing so, acting out of sync with target groups desire for and abilities in ‘transparancy, honesty, power of communities on the net, power of blogging).
- Levis (icon brand that ‘forgets to keep differentiating, and thus neglecting the wishes of the younger generations, and by doing so making space for competitors)

Mentality trends presented:
* Computer Game Kids - Respect my authority
* Computer Game Kids - Precious accessories
* Computer Game Kids - Too fat
* Computer Game Kids - Give me interactive Kicks
NB: remember “No seperate place for brands in the human brain!”
NB: remember ‘Power of blogging’, “Co-creation”, “User-generated content”
NB: remember ‘Living in a stress society’
* Top-15: Sellaband, Like a local, Hubbuzz
* Experience economy
- General
- Strategic alliances
- More Authentic (back to the product)

(For all examples and short descriptions go to: http://www.scienceofthetime.com/trends )

Key questions to think about, before CoolHunting:
1. Are there important themes & insights for us hidden in this?

2. How can we broaden our business opportunities with these themes and insights?

3. What do we have to know more about these themes & insights to make them really effective to our businesses?

Your assignment:
Make your own CoolHunt now!
You have to hunt for something COOl yourself.

Chose two trends (described above) and find for each trend an example (either found/described online or in the real world, out on the streets) that is COOL. Remember, Cool is attractive, inspirational and with future growth potential within the own generation.
ONE Cool example is found in the Netherlands.
The OTHER Cool example is found abroad (that is your place of birth/country of birth if you are an international student; if you are Dutch, then your Cool example is found in the country of your latest visit abroad).

The COOL examples must illustrate the trend, and you have to write ‘Why it is Cool’.
This can be a very short alinea, but it always makes clear:
- What trend are we dealing with
- Where you found it
- Why you think it is Cool
- Why it is a good example of the ‘main theme’ of the trend, or
- Why it takes the trend a little further.
- To what other trends can you link this Cool example

Where do you leave your input:
Email to

Best format to do is using Word, and insert the pictures of the Cool things you have spotted.

Deadline:
Thursday 2nd of octobre, so we have time to look for the winner and announce them on friday the third during your next lecture.