From Skittles to Dior, many brands see Halloween as an opportunity to have a little more fun with their content marketing campaigns. Check out 12 of the most interesting examples of how they get their ghoul on.

Here in the A, we like to celebrate our hometown heroes. Outkast’s Big Boi is always a favorite from ATL’s rap and hip-hop scene. So we’re excited to see him featured on Budweiser’s new, limited-edition tall boy, which has been dubbed the TallBoi. It’s cooler than a polar bear’s toenails, y’all, and only available in Georgia. The effort is just one way the major beer labels are trying to remain culturally relevant in a world where local breweries can do a better job at authentically tapping into a city’s vibe and gaining a loyal fan base among beer drinkers in their community. Check it out.

Scientists recently discovered the blackest black in the world and BMW was quick to offer this ultra-black light-absorbing paint as a color for its new X6. But Vantablack is so 2016. MIT scientists have now discovered a black substance that is 10 times blacker than any other known black in the world. And they’ve used it to cover a $2 million yellow diamond for an art/science concept called The Redemption of Vanity. We’re interested to see how the new black will affect design trends and product development in the near future.

Bombay Sapphire’s latest campaign continues the brand’s focus on art and creativity with #FindYourCanvas, a social art experiment that crowdsources its artists to create a robotic art installation in Los Angeles. Fans were invited to contribute to the effort via paintedbyeveryone.comthrough September 1. The final artwork will be revealed on September 5 at The Other Art Fair LA during a series of workshops the brand is putting on to explore and inspire creativity. We love this out-of-the box way to engage consumers and provide an experience and content that is both valuable and memorable.

Now that summer’s basically over, our tribe has definitely turned its attention to the fall season of movie releases, returns of our favorite shows . . . and of course, a little sportsball. Check out some of our picks below and then head over to Fast Company for a comprehensive list of September releases that also includes books and music to inspire some fresh fall thinking.

Ikea is known for tweaking the way it markets products in different countries to suit local tastes, but as the furniture giant continues to expand globally, it has updated its standard typeface to one that will function in any market, because it supports more than 800 languages. See which ultra-flexible font they’ve selected and learn more about the brand update here.

With college football kicking off this weekend, here are a few things marketers can take note of that could help you improve your game.

For all that we hear about technology causing greater disconnection in society today, a growing movement of “makers” is offering a different twist on this narrative, instead using technology to unite people around making the world a better place. See how companies like Nintendo are developing educational toys that help teach young people how to put innovation and collaboration into action.

Brands who use humor in their marketing are tapping into a tried and true way to connect with consumers on a truly human level. Who doesn’t like to laugh? And if you can get your audience laughing along with you to boost brand recognition, affinity and shareability, you may just find the secret to marketing success. Check out six brands who are doing it really well.

After a record 19 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, the song of Summer 2019, Old Town Road, has been dethroned. Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy  took the title this week after a record nine weeks in the No. 2 spot. A remix of the song featuring Justin Bieber failed to push the song to the top of the chart, but some speculate that the “vertical video” released last week is what gave the single the final push. This first No. 1 hit for Eilish also makes her the first artist born this century to reach No. 1. And it’s probably not the last time we’ll see her trying new approaches to both her music and how it’s promoted or the last time we’ll see her on top.

When anyone asks me who’s my favorite artist, the answer is always Lloyd Cole. I was in high school when he fronted the Commotions, turning out indie hits like Perfect Skin that paired smart, irony-laced writing with catchy tunes. And he was cute. I was smitten. In the 90s, when I was still a giggly twenty-something fangirl, I was lucky enough to see him at the (old) 9:30 Club in D.C. and meet him after the show. I still treasure the ticket stub he signed that night “love Emma.” Swoon. I saw him again just a few years ago — many years and solo albums later — at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, where he signed another scrap of paper that my best friend and I split. My half says “Emma! Yours Always.” And yeah, I swooned again.

So, all that to paint a picture of how excited I am that he’s just released his 15th solo album, Guesswork. Over the years, he’s done a lot that’s more on the experimental end of the spectrum and been dropped by more than one label as a result. I like that he’s not afraid to do his own thing. This album has a much more electronic feel than is typical for most of his music, but his voice and lyrics have the same old mix of cynicism and softness that drew me in thirty-some years ago. I always look forward to hearing what he’ll do next — and getting my next autograph.

Back-to-school time means stocking up on more than just notebooks and pencils. Dorm life is better with the right soundtrack and this list is full of ways for music lovers to cultivate the perfect mood. From retro to cutting edge (and sometimes a nice mix of the two), some of these items are so good, Mom & Dad might just keep them for themselves.

“Yes, branded pop-up experiences have long been trending as the marketing tactic du jour, but experiential marketing can (and should) be about so much more. Especially when it comes to using the power of in-person brand engagement to work for brands beyond the usual suspects. The challenge is how.” Check out some of the more out-of-the-box ways ways even beginners can approach this essential way of connecting with customers.

There’s a brand new video for Old Town Road, the song that officially won’t quit. Already an Instagramsensation, Somehoodlum teamed up with Lil Nas X to illustrate/direct this new version that takes a star-studded animated crew (helloooo, Keanu) to Area 51. The artist is known for creating memes and scenes heavily influenced by trap culture and popular music. He’s already worked with Comedy Central, Soulection, Migos and many others to create animations with an edgy sense of humor. And with all this new exposure, we expect to see a lot more high-profile collaborations to come.

No likes? No biggie. According to liquor brand, Kahlúa, we should be spending less time worrying about how many likes we’re getting on our social media posts and focusing more on enjoying all those real-life moments. Its new Zero Likes Given campaign and art exhibit promotes that approach to living life by celebrating Instagram photos that received zero likes. We love the fresh approach that defies conventional thinking and combines both physical and digital components, including a tool to find your #bottomnine.

With last week’s release of The Lion King on the heels of live-action remakes of Aladdinand Dumbo some of us have started wondering whether Hollywood has simply run out of new stories to tell. But even if the circle of life is predictable, the technology used to create this stunning new take on a Disney favorite is anything but. See how director Jon Favreau created each scene on a virtual set, using VR goggles to explore a computer-generated replica of the African savannah for spectacular results that walk the line between animation and live action.

This Thursday (7/11), iconic convenience chain, 7-Eleven, celebrates its 92nd birthday and, as usual, is inviting fans to join the celebration with free Slurpees. This year, the tradition (and the brand) has a well-timed boost from product placement in Stranger Things 3, which was released last Thursday. This season, fans were introduced to Russian engineer, Alexei, who pretty much loves all things American and even knows a cherry Slurpee is better than strawberry (duh). The internet went wild for him, with fans posting memes featuring, you guessed it, Alexei and his Slurpee. Whatever boost 7-Eleven got from the original placement, the unexpected attention on social has put the brand even more front and center, just in time for its annual giveaway. Check out just a few here (spoiler alert!) and on Instagram. And don’t forget to get your free Slurpee on Thursday!

This 15-year old phenom grabbed the world’s attention last week by beating her longtime hero, Venus Williams, at Wimbledon and becoming the youngest player to advance to the 16th round of the tournament. Currently ranked 313th in the world, Gauff has been a dominant presence in the junior tennis circuit, winning the the Junior French Open in 2018. In 2017, at 13 years old, she became the youngest player to make the finals of the Girls’ singles at the U.S. Open. Though the Women’s Tennis Association limits the number of matches girls her age can play, and even how much time they can spend speaking to the media, we expect to continue to see a lot of her. Brands, including New Balance and Barilla, have already signed her for endorsements and in her own words, “Not many people get to play Wimbledon at 15 . . . and we’ll see where this goes.”

There has been a seismic shift in attitudes towards women’s football in recent years. And with the Women’s World Cup in France underway, major brands are out in force to support the squads. Take a look at some of the most significant sponsorship investments into the sport in recent years and the standout creative campaigns that go along with them.

Now that the parties are over and all the awards have gone home, see what some of the brightest minds in advertising and marketing had to say about some of the bravest and most talked about ideas that won at this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.