The Union  
 
The latest Thunking to get you thinking
 
   
 
   
 
    Thunk    
 
    #PlayHard    
 
    Creativity is a tricky thing to manufacture. What brings out that spark in people? What opens minds to new possibilities? The answer doesn't lie in bean bags or swanky offices.

The secret to creativity is play.
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Have we put a pause on play?  
 
    Meetings at 9am, 1pm and 4pm, with a doom scrolling break at 3pm and a random interruption at 10.38am. Sound familiar? Union Direct's Creative Director, Sheryl Thomson, laments our loss of downtime and asks how we can make time for that crucial creative ingredient: play.    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bronwen recommends
 
  "The Black Mirror episode 'Nosedive' explores the way social media has invaded our lives through a dystopian fantasy and a satirical representation of the modern world. It looks at how being so media focused can damage an individual's worth. For anyone who is an avid social poster and regularly checks their media engagement, it certainly begins to feel uncomfortably close to reality. It's a must watch for a perspective shift!"

Bronwen Farquhar, MSS Awards 2023 Aspiring Creative Star winner and Intern, Union Direct
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Watch Nosedive, Black Mirror season 3, episode 1, on Netflix  
 
 
 
   
 
 
  Our thunking  
 
 
 
 
 
  Twitter gets the chop
 
 
  Twitter is being replaced by X, but is it a mistake? Obviously, says Mark Ritson. And many, many others. Here are 12 reasons why Twitter's rebrand is a bad move. 
Read more
 
 
  #WeirdElonShit  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Word up
 
 
  Reed Words lay out the language trends of the summer, with real life examples of the brands getting it right. And the brands that must try harder. 
Read more
 
 
  #GetYourWordOn  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  AI art free for all
 
 
  Turns out, scripts won't write themselves after a US judge ruled that art created by AI can't be copyrighted. So Hollywood studios will need to look elsewhere for an answer to the writers' strikes. 
Read more
 
 
  #ThePenpireStrikesBack  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Bags of style
 
 
  Who says scaffolding has to be an eyesore? The famously stylish Swedish home brand, IKEA, have transformed their under-construction Oxford Street store into a 128-foot-wide bag instead. 
Read more
 
 
  #TheWonderfulEverydayIndeed  
 
 
 
 
   
 
    Thunking helps our clients' marketing work harder. If you're not already working with us, give us a shout to see if we can do the same for you.    
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
    Friend us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Connect with us on Linkedin Follow us on Instagram Watch us on YouTube Pin us on Pinterest    
 
 
    Union House, 18 Inverleith Terrace, Edinburgh, EH3 5NS, +44 131 625 6000.
All content © 2023 The Union Advertising Agency Ltd. All rights reserved.