Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 478,197 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,287 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 107,665 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,287 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 107,665 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,232 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 478,197 cutting edge ideas.

Connecting Dead & Alive Icons

Clean the Sky - Positive Eco Trends & Breakthroughs

Converse Centennial 'Connectivity'

— March 4, 2008 — Marketing
As a celebration of 100 years in the footwear business Converse is launching a year-long global centennial “Connectivity” campaign. The campaign pairs up legendary dead icons across the worlds of music, art, sports and fashion, with emerging (and alive) ones. The sneaker company features “cultural heroes” like James Dean, Sid Viscious and Hunter S. Thompson “connecting” via infused feet with today's influential stars like Joan Jett, M.I.A, Billie Joe Armstrong and Dwyane Wade.

Geoff Cottrill, Chief Marketing Officer, Converse said: “Converse is the footwear company that was first in sports and first in rock 'n' roll. We are extremely proud of our history and excited about our journey into the next century. "Connectivity is an exceptional global campaign that fully captures our spirit and brand ethos celebrating true originals. The campaign is bold and iconic saluting those people - past and present - who push the boundaries of creativity, who inspire originality and who embody the values of the brand.”

The complete uninterrupted ad (see below) features from left to right: Hunter S. Thompson, Dwyane Wade, Sid Vicious, M.I.A., James Dean, Karen O, Common, Joan Jett and Billie Joe Armstrong.


Dead stars are pretty hot these days, see another campaign that uses dead icons in new ad compaigns:

Trend Themes
1. Celebrity Pairings - Opportunities to connect deceased cultural icons with emerging live stars in various industries for marketing campaigns.
2. Cultural Heritage Branding - Branding opportunities to celebrate brands' history through connecting dead and alive icons in various industries.
3. Icon Salutation - Ways for brands to salute past and present cultural icons by highlighting their influence and contributions across industries.
Industry Implications
1. Footwear - Opportunities for sporting and fashion footwear brands to pair up historical and emerging celebrities in marketing campaigns.
2. Music - Opportunities for music industry brands to highlight legends and new artists' connections in their marketing content.
3. Fashion - Branding possibilities for fashion brands to infuse their marketing campaigns with dead and alive cultural icons, honoring their contributions to the industry.
2.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness