INSIGHTS FROM PARALLEL WORLDS

Most innovation workshops happen in a room. Ours happen everywhere else. Six ideas for your next one, from nap pod salons to parkour.

An Insight Immersion takes a team out of the office to learn from passionate experts in parallel worlds, then turns what they see into actionable strategy.

Every industry runs on rules nobody ever wrote down. Banks close at 5. Hotel checkout is at 11. Cars are sold at dealerships. Nobody remembers who decided, but everyone plays along. Teams rarely notice these rules. They just design inside them, which is why so many new ideas look a lot like the old ones. That's the idea behind Rule Breakers, one of my favorite strategic tools. Teams name the unwritten rules of their own category, then ask what would happen if one of them simp

The moving assembly line didn't start at a car company. It started in a slaughterhouse. Henry Ford's team watched Chicago meatpackers move carcasses past workers on overhead trolleys, each person making one cut. They turned that disassembly line into an assembly line, and it changed how almost everything gets made. I think about that story a lot. Inside any category, everyone reads the same reports, hires from the same companies and goes to the same conferences. Over time, th

I'm noticing more and more in real life and from the headlines, that passive, low-friction scrolling is losing its monopoly on consumer engagement. Across every demographic, audiences are raising the bar for what earns their dedicated attention. More and more, when people leave their homes, they are seeking high-touch, active experiences where physical presence creates shared value. Look at how consumer behavior is shifting across five distinct spaces: Event Cinema: Theatrica

The global food industry isn't just growing; it is accelerating at a breakneck pace. This was more evident than ever at the recent Alimentaria & Hostelco Barcelona, which celebrated its 50th anniversary by transforming the Fira de Barcelona into a massive laboratory for the future of food. With over 109,600 professionals and 3,300 exhibiting companies gathered to rewrite the rules of hospitality and retail, the event surpassed even the scale of the Mobile World Congress. The

When uncertainty becomes the background condition, predictability starts to feel like value. Across categories, it’s quietly outperforming excitement. You can see it when you look sideways: Beauty Recent launches and coverage show brands doubling down on skin barrier health and inflammation control. EADEM, Dieux, and La Roche-Posay are gaining attention not for transformation, but for calming stressed skin. Vogue Business is framing this shift as a drive for protection and

Every time I hear a brand leader say “We’re watching TikTok trends”, I want to ask: Watching for what, exactly? Because what’s happening on TikTok right now isn’t just about silly dances, or demure aesthetics. It’s about how people are making sense of the world. TikTok has become a cultural early-warning system. And the most interesting part? You only see the signal clearly when you look across categories. Food & Everyday Rituals TikTok's repetitive, low-effort food routines

Within a few weeks HBO MAX's show "Heated Rivalry" has officially moved from “niche hit” to “global sensation.” But as a culture intelligence expert, and someone obsessed with where fresh ideas actually come from, I’m less interested in the clickbait drama, and more about what it reveals. Why has a story about two rival hockey players (Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov) captured the collective imagination of everyone from Gen Z TikTokers to Fortune 500 executives? The answer l

Real breakthroughs rarely happen in endless meetings or another “team alignment” PowerPoint. They happen in unexpected experiences that shake things up, challenge assumptions, and bring people closer. Think about it: When leadership teams dive into collaborative improv, they don’t just build trust., they master agility in real time. When product innovators push their physical boundaries through parkour and bouldering, they reimagine the concept of play and innovation. When R&

What can a firehouse teach a beverage company? Or, a sexuality boutique teach a cleaning products brand? More than you might expect. We’ve seen over and over again what happens when teams step outside the walls of their own industry and into unfamiliar environments. The perspective shift alone can change how they see their work. Like when: - The Coca-Cola Company Scientific & Regulatory Affairs team visited the New York City Fire Department, not to observe firefighting, but t

Clarity is comforting. But uncertainty? That’s where growth happens. There’s something powerful about being in a place where you don’t know the rules, where your expertise doesn’t apply, and your assumptions quietly fall apart. I’ve seen it again and again with every Insight Immersion I've designed: The strongest teams don’t bond by staying in their lane. They bond by stepping out of it together. Coca-Cola’s Global Packaging Graphics Team visited NASA Jet Propulsion Laborator

Innovation often happens when teams step out of their usual routines and try something different—especially when that something involves hands-on creativity. Recently, we had the opportunity to bring Fairlife's R&D and Technical Sustainability teams together for an Insight Immersion in Chicago designed to do just that. This wasn’t your typical off-site meeting. Instead, the team dove into creative workshops like LEGO Serious Play and Collaborative Improv, pushing their thinki

As 2024 winds down, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on a year filled with growth, innovation, and connection. Alongside the Now Plus One team and our passionate experts, I’ve had the privilege of exploring bold ideas and uncovering powerful lessons alongside many remarkable brand teams. This year wasn’t just about solving problems—it was about rethinking how we work, communicate, and innovate. Together with our client teams, we embraced unconventional experiences, gained

Ever wondered how a little laughter can transform team dynamics?! In our recent Insight Immersions, a tailored improv workshop on the first night created an interactive atmosphere that encouraged participants to step beyond their comfort zones. Through lively improv exercises, everyone relaxed into the experience, built meaningful connections, and prepared for the inspiration and insights awaiting them the following day. We saw improv infuse team dynamics with fresh perspecti

Thrilled to have had the opportunity to visit the New York City Fire Department as part of our Insight Immersion in New York City with the Coca-Cola Scientific and Regulatory Affairs team. Interacting with the brave men and women of the FDNY was truly humbling. Their dedication to protecting and serving the community is unmatched, and their unique insights into our project topics of Risk, Trust, and Safety provided us with unexpected inspiration. Some of our key learnings fr

In today's uncertain business climate, trust is essential for high-performing teams. It enables healthy conflict, spurs innovation, and accelerates problem-solving. When team members trust each other, they navigate healthy conflict with ease, embrace risk to fuel innovation, and conquer obstacles swiftly. So how do we cultivate workplaces that empower individuals to consistently bring their best selves forward, regardless of external circumstances? One of the most thought-pro

Our time at the Texas Immersive Institute with the Hershey Design team wasn't just a fun visit; it was a deep dive into the realm of immersive technology, where boundaries blur and innovation thrives. This experience served as a powerful reminder as to why including academic institutions in our experiential programs can reshape our perspectives and foster forward-thinking discussions. From redefining consumer experiences to enhancing learning environments, the possibilities

In the bustling city of Austin, the Design team from Hershey embarked on an immersive journey aimed at fostering deeper connections and collaboration through a curated series of workshops designed to provoke thought and inspire growth. The Neuroscience of Trust Led by executive coach Kim Carpenter, this workshop delved into the intricate neuroscience of trust. Through candid discussions and interactive exercises, team members gained insights into the mechanisms that underpin

Uncovering the power of emotional understanding, human connections, and resonant storytelling with the Pet Valu executive team.