According to Thule Ngcese, Creative Partner, Distrikt 9 (a VML supplier development partner), AI is giving us flawless sunsets, flawless skin, flawless everything. But when perfection becomes the norm, it stops being a differentiator. Humans were never built to experience the world through sight alone. We have four other senses waiting to get back in […]
S’phindile Kabwe Garcer from Tribeca Public Relations says in 2026, we are moving into a space where ‘search’ as we know it, is dying. People aren’t clicking through 10 different websites to find an answer anymore, they’re just asking AI, and expect the first answer to be the right one. Whether it’s ChatGPT, Gemini, Co-Pilotor […]
As the stacks of statistics grow higher, Thando Mxosa, Strategy Director at brand and communication agency Penquin, believes that a critical gap is widening: the industry is drowning in data, yet we are starving for humanness. As marketers, that’s not just lazy, it’s lethal. The real revolution isn’t in the algorithms; it’s in reclaiming the […]
Miliswa Sitshwele, Head of social media at Flow Communications, says social media continues to evolve at lightning speed, reshaping how brands connect with audiences. With users projected to reach 40.77-million by the end of 2026, the opportunity for brands has never been greater. But connection isn’t just about reach anymore, it’s about resonance. As we […]
Troy Niddrie, Managing Director, Billboard Management Technologies (BMT), says digital billboards are an inescapable part of our urban landscape, lighting up highways and malls alike. As more of them go up, we have to plan digital infrastructure that’s more resilient by design. This year will build on the momentum of last year, with the focus […]
Jeni‑Anne Campbell, founder of JAW Advertising, says in a culture that often prioritises soft edges and gentle tones, disappointment has become the villain. For many leaders, a difficult conversation, a firm boundary, or a necessary ‘no’ comes with the worry that relationships may be damaged or morale could take a hit. But Campbell argues that […]
Brandon Head, Creative Director at The Hardy Boys, a VML company, says on a crowded supermarket shelf, a little touch of chaos can make your brand stand out. The secret is getting the balance right. I’m paraphrasing, but I’ve always enjoyed Seth Godin’s definition of remarkable: ‘The word ‘remarkable’ literally means something worth making a […]
Dale Van Reenen from Spoor & Fisher, supervised by Jeremy Speres, says that like the fan-fever that followed the Springboks’ win at the 2024 Rugby World Cup, we can expect to see a wave of green and yellow sportswear take over the streets of Mzansi in support of Bafana Bafana on 11 June 2026. This […]
Kwame Senou, Executive Director at THOP, says before we rally against Sir Martin Sorrell’s recent claim that ‘PR no longer exists; it has morphed into social media’, we should pause and ask an uncomfortable question: Why was his comment even possible? When An Industry Loses Its Shape, Others Redefine It The uproar surrounding Sorrell’s claim […]
Richard Lord, a freelance media specialist, asks the controversial question: is programmatic digital OOH (pDOOH) a gimmick in its current state? Is it more about the ‘wow’ of the tech than the ‘win’ for the brand? Increasingly the South African media industry is being told that the future of OOH (out of home) is digital. […]