Mashable Brand Lab

The Mashable BrandLab helps our clients become content creators and amplify their social media assets. Here, we share some of our favorite work, comment on industry developments and discuss the trends we’re watching.

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Mashable & Infiniti talk High-Tech Humans

Infiniti is known for its sleek, luxurious take on futuristic design -- and is also aiming for a focus on how machines help to empower people.

In High-Tech Humans, we're examining products, wearables and bionic technologies that are not only improving human performance, but making the world a better and more connected place.

The series consists of three immersive posts: The first examines some of today's modern, smart technologies that work not only on but inside our bodies, such as "smart tattoos," smart contact lenses, exoskeleton technologies and smart textiles/fabrics. In later posts, we'll be going into world-altering technologies that are empowering people and societies around the globe, and lastly, how technology helps people realize their passions.

From climbing everest to helping people with disabilities conquer obstacles, this series is an immersive deep-dive into some of today's most awe-inspiring and empowering technology. Find the full series here.

Photo credit: exiii

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#AskTheCMO: Mashable and Marketo get you all the answers

In Ask the CMO Mashable and Marketo have teamed up to interview CMOs at companies like Heineken, Cisco and AOL about the marketing trends of the future. We'll discuss how the organization of marketing departments will change with the demand for new job skills, how markers maintain consistent yet personalized messaging across channels and what the marketers predict will change in marketing in the next 3-5 years. 

For a sneak peek, meet our first CMO:  Carlos Becil, CMO of Equinox

We talked to Becil about how he envisions the marketing organization of the future, how he hires employees, how he pushes the envelope and measures the success of his team's marketing campaigns (like the recent "Equinox Made Me Do It" campaign). 

For more of our interview with Becil and other impressive CMOs across various industries, take a look at the series. 

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Imagining the future of cities with Toyota Ha:Mo

What will our cities look like in the future? And of the cities of today, which are the most inventive, technologically-savvy and sustainable? In our "Smarter Streets" campaign, presented by Toyota Ha:Mo (Harmonious Mobility), we explored some of the most significant issues that architects and urban planners are thinking about when designing for the future, as well as highlighted interesting urban projects around the world. 

From focusing on the most brilliant cities in Europe to how the Internet of Things is affecting urban design, this series highlighted innovations in city infrastructure, data analysis and traffic prevention. 

All this was aimed to align with Toyota's multi-partner project called Cité lib in Grenoble, a car-sharing program that's sending three- and four-wheeled Toyota electric-powered cars whirring through the city. 

Here's how it works. 

Now, if that's not building smarter streets, than we don't know what is. 

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Innovative gadgets for all

For our Essential Gadget Guide, Mashable partnered with Bose to highlight some of the latest innovative gadgets for a variety of consumers. Young adults in their 20s can perfect their yoga practice with SmartMat yoga mats whereas frequent jetsetters might be more interested in the Trakdot Luggage Tracker.

The six-part series is still underway, so check back soon for articles about high-tech devices geared toward bookworms, commuters and early adopters.

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Keep your life in check

Physical calendars, post offices and maids may soon belong to the past, thanks in large part to recent technologies like Google calendar and the Roomba. For our “Life in Check” series, Mashable partnered with Capital One to round up some of these tools, companies, apps, businesses and services that are redefining the way we complete everyday tasks.

In this 12-part series, Mashable explored how these technologies are streamlining tasks in many areas of our lives – from moving to cleaning to meditating. These articles parallel the ease-of-use theme behind Capital One’s 360 product, which helps consumers handle their banking.

Give your productivity a boost by checking out the series -- your personal assistant is waiting.

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Enter our Ford #TechTimeMachine and relive the evolution of tech

Before Instagram there was Polaroid. Before the iPhone there was the car phone. And before Fitbit there was the Flex Belt. Technology is rapidly evolving, with talk of personal robots and innovative medical breakthroughs that would have been unimaginable even 20 years ago, which is why we partnered with Ford Sync during this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to highlight the history of different technologies in our “Tech Time Machine” series.

For this series we focused on several industries, from gaming to TV to music to fitness, and looked at how the innovations that have shaped these fields have evolved with time. Music has certainly come a long way since the first jukebox in 1889, and it’s pretty hard to imagine the world before color television was invented in the early 1950’s – especially with products like “smart cars” and the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset continually being unveiled at CES and similar tech conferences.

For a trip back in time, as well as into the future of tech, check out the series now!

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Celebrating Austin and London: Mashable travels to innovative hubs in #CurioCity

To promote their new daily nonstop service linking Austin and London, British Airways partnered with Mashable to create their #CurioCity campaign - a celebration of new ideas about technology and travel. We developed a multidimensional campaign that included two Twitter contests, each of which asked our community to tweet ideas for future travel technologies - one for Austin residents to win a trip to London, and one for London residents to win a trip to Austin. Our winners enjoyed a whirlwind getaway that included customized itineraries celebrating the best in each city’s tech, music and art scenes. To cap off each city’s trip, we threw a themed party showcasing the best of our winners' hometowns - a London-themed bash in Austin with British bands and food, and an Austin-themed party in London complete with an Instagram booth decorated with cattle skulls. See more about the contest and the winners here!

To supplement this campaign, Mashable and British Airways joined forces to celebrate the cities of London and Austin in a new light. We explore the metropolises through a tech lens, highlighting innovative ways to see the cities: from grabbing a pint at a pub that take Bitcoin to stopping by a 3D printing mecca. We delve into the cities’ burgeoning startup scenes through a food angle — startups sharing their favorite city eats, to be exact — for a true “byte” of culture. We also spotlight emerging bands and artists in London and Austin, sourcing recommendations for those who know the cities’ sonic landscape best: resident music journalists and bloggers. 

Through these unique angles, we discover the many ways London and Austin are innovation hubs —where new ideas are born and take flight. 

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Take a trip with the people shaping our lives today

In Driving Conversations, Mashable, partnering with Cadillac, follows pairs of influencers  — individuals that are shaping their industries— on short journeys. Through their conversations, we get an exclusive peek into these worlds via the people driving them: From how they launched their careers to what the future looks like, the series offers insight into seven different fields. 

In our first episode we ride along as design gurus Yves Behar, COO of Jawbone and founder of fuseproject, and Jaime Derringer, founder of Design Milk, drive to the Golden Gate Bridge — a spot that’s served as inspiration for Behar. In our second episode, Daniel Houghton, the 26-year-old CEO of Lonely Planet, and Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, venture to New York’s Hudson Valley and make a case for the day trip; exciting adventures can be had in your own backyard. 

Stay tuned for our remaining five video installments, highlighting key players in the sports world, the restaurant scene, the music industry, the tech landscape and the fashion realm. 

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What does it mean to be 'THE'? Stoli and Mashable explore in 'The Originals'

Stoli's recent campaign positions itself as 'THE' vodka -- and in turn, we're profiling individuals, companies and cultural icons who are 'THE' in their respective categories. 

The series, entitled 'The Originals,' combines Q&A-format articles and video profiles of a variety of people and businesses making a splash in their industries. So far, we've spoken with James Freeman of Blue Bottle Coffee, Baratunde Thurston of Cultivated Wit and Mary Huang of Continuum Fashion. We're digging into their unique approach to business, and examining what makes these individuals successful, exemplary and unique in their field.

Stay tuned for profiles of Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo from Of A Kind, Timothy Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Work Week, and more. 

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Make Your Home a Luxe Home

  Following our first successful partnership with Dyson, the Mashable team is pleased to announce “Luxe Home Hacks” – a content program exploring efficiency and luxury in home products and design. Presented by Dyson Hot + Cool, the articles cover topics from Feng Shui to home storage hacks.

We kicked off the series with “Simple Home Design Ideas to Impress Your Neighbors.” The piece discussed different ways to make use of your home, no matter how big or small. Tips included mantras like “Finding a space the fits your life, not your stuff” and “Avoid clutter. Just because a space is open doesn’t mean it needs to be filled.”

A portion of the article also covered multi-purpose furniture, from under-the-stairs storage systems to collapsible tables. We’ve even reversed course on the Murphy bed -- even though we only use our beds while unconscious, they take up to 10% of most New York City apartments! 

Check out the series to learn more tips and tricks for creating a simple home. It is, after all, where the heart is.

Image: LifeEdited

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Mashable and Capital One 360 Are Helping You Keep Your Life in Check

Last week, we launched a series with Capital One 360 highlighting utility-driven tips, products, technologies, startups, services and apps that are helping us live our lives in a more streamlined and efficient manner.

The series aligns with Capital One's 360 Checking Product, which targets "Next Generation Bankers," who are technically savvy and place value on convenience and efficiency. 

So far, we've written about technology that's revolutionizing daily chores -- such as the innovative Swash machine, which "refreshes" clothing in as little as 10 minutes, and apps like PillPack, which is changing the way people order and receive prescriptions -- and services that can help take some of the hassle out of moving. 

Stay tuned for more advice on how to keep your Life In Check.

Image: Swash

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Smart, Stylish Creatives Explore Unique Passions, #styldby Gap

In this year’s #Styldby program, Gap and Mashable profile four creative influencers across a variety of fields. Styled in Gap's fall looks, the articles explore their individual passions and authentic points of view.

The campaign spreads Gap’s belief in the “art of dressing normal,” a mantra that empowers each of us to be our most authentic selves.

Through this series, you’ll meet:

R&B crooner Luke James, who recently released his debut album Luke James

Ryan Babenzien, founder of Brooklyn-Born sneaker brand Greats

Founder of OKDOTHIS, Jeremy Cowart, photographer and humanitarian

Marina Cashdan, editorial director of Artsy, an online mecca for art lovers

These smart, stylish professionals are taking the world by storm.

This partnership marks the second iteration of the campaign, which first appeared on Mashable in 2013.

*Photos by Nathan Perkel, styled by Gap

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It's Ad Week!

Our latest partnership with Adobe comprises 10 pieces of content around the 11th annual Advertising Week in New York City. The conference brings a mix of established executives, rising stars and new technologies to discuss trends in advertising. The event encompasses myriad panels, parties and awards that celebrate the art -- and increasingly the technology -- of advertising.

The first piece, “5 Ways the Ad World Has Changed in the Last 10 Years,” was published in tandem with the week’s official launch. As outlined in the articles, perhaps the largest change is the shift from a Mad Man-like approach to the business toward a more data-focused one.

As people continue to adopt new platforms and devices, industry leaders must change the way they speak to consumers. In “Advertising Turns to Tech to Engage Consumers,” we call out a tactile mobile ad recently released by Showtime. The ad causes a viewer’s Android phone to shake throughout the most dramatic moments of the trailer, creating a compelling and memorable IRL experience.

Learn more about these and other Advertising Week topics in our series here and follow the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #AdWeek2014.

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Two Heads Are Better Than One in #Duality

In our new series, Duality, Mashable and Intel set up 4 pairs of innovative creators, equipped them with Intel-powered tablets and 2-in-1s and asked the to create a multimedia project in the short span of 16 days.

The first project was announced today, created by dynamic duo Matt Richardson and Ben Light, who are tinkerers, builders and creators. Together, they're working on an Internet-connected change dish -- a place to keep loose change and house keys that's connected to Wi-Fi and can be programmed with IFTTT to glow under certain circumstances as an alert or reminder.

While these two have respective areas of expertise, they worked from New York and San Francisco to ideate, collaborate and execute this project.

"We're born makers," says Light. "Making is my drug of choice." Watch them work together to make something beautifully brilliant in the first episode of #Duality.

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We’re thrilled about our new Mashable HQ. Take a peek at our new digs!

Images: Mashable

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Let’s Talk Small Business In Our #SettingUpShop Twitter Chat

Starting a business of any kind is a strenuous task, no matter your skillset, industry or previous experience — it’s daunting, exciting and something worth documenting. In our video series “Setting Up Shop,” we follow two small business owners on their journey to profits.

In episodes 1-3, Stephen Roginson (@batchbrewing) and Azalina Eusope (@azalinamalaysia) talk about their passions, fears and excitement about their small businesses -- one a nanobrewery, the other a Malaysian food brick-and-mortar. Through thick and thin, these fearless entrepreneurs keep the flame alive and will claw their way to opening day, no matter what hurdles stand in their way.

The conversation doesn’t have to end there. We want to hear more about Stephen’s and Azalina’s journeys, and we’re asking you to join in. We’re hosting a #SettingUpShop Twitter chat on Tuesday, August 26th at 3 p.m. ET. on our @MashBusiness account to discuss the pros and cons of starting your own business and tips for startup success.

How to Join

Join us for a #SettingUpShop Twitter chat at 3 p.m. ET on Aug. 26. Follow @MashBusiness on Twitter, and tweet your questions and comments — and be sure to check out the show on our Mashable Originals YouTube channel.

We hope you'll join us for an engaging and enlightening conversation with two entrepreneurs who are in the midst of the most exciting and nerve-racking experiences they’ll ever have.

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Have a Next-Level Summer in the City With Mashable's City Guides

When it comes to celebrating all that summer has to offer, there’s no reason to leave city limits. Mashable BrandLab has partnered with PayPal -- vendors that accept PayPal are noted in the guide with the logo -- to show you how to make the most of the season in four urban settings: New York, San Francisco, Austin and Seattle.  

From locally treasured casual eats to incredible outdoor events, these cities have got it going on.

Indulge in fried (!) pizza in the Big Apple and dress up in your Gatsby-inspired fringed finest to do the Charleston at Jazz Age Lawn Fest. 

If you’re going to San Francisco -- cue music -- chow down at a beloved local eatery that specializes in prime dip sandwiches and visit the former seaside location of a magnificent 19th century bathhouse

Austin is teeming with Texas-sized options. Cool off in a natural spring that stays 68 degrees year-round, and keep the chill vibe going with a stop at the ice cream festival ... yes, festival. 

For unique array of summer activities, look to the Pacific Northwest. Believe it or not, this notoriously cloudy city does it right -- the options within Seattle are infinite, and there's way more than just coffee (see: dumplings with candied bacon).

You’ll be inspired to squeeze it all in before Labor Day, but if you can’t, we’ve still got you covered — stay tuned for our fall city guides to get your fix of sugar, (pumpkin) spice and everything nice.