Entertainment that drives conversation and culture
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From its start in 1971, Viacom has been defined by its ability to reinvent itself. To stay relevant, the multimedia titan has merged and purged networks, content libraries, entertainment venues and distribution pipelines to reach its latest incarnation, CBS and Paramount Global.
When your product is pop-culture, change is the whole game. Like most teenagers, I grew up watching these changes in real-time on MTV and VH1. From "Max Headroom" to a Beastie Boys video to "MTV News"; from "Beavis and Butt-Head" to "I love the 80s" and "Fabulous Life", it always felt like Viacom was perpetually talking about next thing– like a teenager in brand form.
This fast-paced mindset was pervasive on the corporate brand side. Working as a designer, editor and producer on a range of network rebranding efforts for MTV and VH1, I learned firsthand how quickly you must pivot to keep audience share. Spoiler alert: it's always. The answer is always.
I've come to learn that reinvention is also a critical survival tactic for many brands. Whether it's through a complete brand redesign or a earned media program, staying relevant means meeting your customers where they are and finding the right balance between the permanent and impermanent parts of your brand. In the end, trends and culture drive engagement, but they are a like a river: you never step into the same one twice.
Project
MTV + VH1
Brand
Category
Entertainment
Released
Recognition
Context
From its start in 1971, Viacom has been defined by its ability to reinvent itself. To stay relevant, the multimedia titan has merged and purged networks, content libraries, entertainment venues and distribution pipelines to reach its latest incarnation, CBS and Paramount Global.
When your product is pop-culture, change is the whole game. Like most teenagers, I grew up watching these changes in real-time on MTV and VH1. From "Max Headroom" to a Beastie Boys video to "MTV News"; from "Beavis and Butt-Head" to "I love the 80s" and "Fabulous Life", it always felt like Viacom was perpetually talking about next thing– like a teenager in brand form.
This fast-paced mindset was pervasive on the corporate brand side. Working as a designer, editor and producer on a range of network rebranding efforts for MTV and VH1, I learned firsthand how quickly you must pivot to keep audience share. Spoiler alert: it's always. The answer is always.
I've come to learn that reinvention is also a critical survival tactic for many brands. Whether it's through a complete brand redesign or a earned media program, staying relevant means meeting your customers where they are and finding the right balance between the permanent and impermanent parts of your brand. In the end, trends and culture drive engagement, but they are a like a river: you never step into the same one twice.
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Viacom
MTV + VH1
I want my...
Highlights
VH1
Brand Promos
Close Modal
VH1
Brand Promos
“The ability to recover from stress is better in natural settings, because that’s where we are meant to be. Just the idea of getting out, being in nature, looking at a tree—the theory is that this helps you to recover from stress, improves your mental health, and improves cognition. It’s just a direct pathway.”
Peter James, PhD
Quantifying Nature
"Nature experience boosts memory, attention and creativity as well as happiness, social engagement and a sense of meaning in life. It might not surprise us that nature stimulates physical activity, but the associated health benefits – from reducing cancer risks to promoting metabolic and other functioning – are really quite astonishing.”
Gretchen Daily, Bing Professor of Environmental Science
National Academy of Sciences
"Allowing children time for unstructured activities in nature seemed beneficial for children's positive affect, attitudes towards nature, and pro-sociality. These findings seem especially relevant given that free play outdoors in nature is declining.”
John Zelenski, PhD
Journal of Environmental Psychology
“Experiencing awe in nature is a powerful way to impact people’s psychology, even as they’re doing something they really like to do. Our findings suggest that you don’t have to do extravagant, extraordinary experiences in nature to feel awe or to get benefits. By taking a few minutes to enjoy flowers that are blooming or a sunset in your day-to-day life, you also improve your well-being.”
Craig Anderson, PhD
Awe in Nature Heals
"There is ample data to suggest that having good social relationships is helpful for our psychological and physical health. Having a ‘good relationship’ with nature, or rather, a sense of close connection to it, may be helpful in a similar way or for similar reasons. We evolved to want to connect—with people, but also with places and other living things."
Cynthia Frantz, PhD
Why is Nature Beneficial? The Role of Connectedness to Nature
"Nature therapy as a health-promotion method and potential universal health model is implicated for the reduction of reported modern-day “stress-state” and “technostress.”"
Harumi Ikei, PhD, Chuba University
Psychological Effects of Nature Therapy
MTV
Brand Promos
Close Modal
MTV
Brand Promos
“The ability to recover from stress is better in natural settings, because that’s where we are meant to be. Just the idea of getting out, being in nature, looking at a tree—the theory is that this helps you to recover from stress, improves your mental health, and improves cognition. It’s just a direct pathway.”
Peter James, PhD
Quantifying Nature
"Nature experience boosts memory, attention and creativity as well as happiness, social engagement and a sense of meaning in life. It might not surprise us that nature stimulates physical activity, but the associated health benefits – from reducing cancer risks to promoting metabolic and other functioning – are really quite astonishing.”
Gretchen Daily, Bing Professor of Environmental Science
National Academy of Sciences
"Allowing children time for unstructured activities in nature seemed beneficial for children's positive affect, attitudes towards nature, and pro-sociality. These findings seem especially relevant given that free play outdoors in nature is declining.”
John Zelenski, PhD
Journal of Environmental Psychology
“Experiencing awe in nature is a powerful way to impact people’s psychology, even as they’re doing something they really like to do. Our findings suggest that you don’t have to do extravagant, extraordinary experiences in nature to feel awe or to get benefits. By taking a few minutes to enjoy flowers that are blooming or a sunset in your day-to-day life, you also improve your well-being.”
Craig Anderson, PhD
Awe in Nature Heals
"There is ample data to suggest that having good social relationships is helpful for our psychological and physical health. Having a ‘good relationship’ with nature, or rather, a sense of close connection to it, may be helpful in a similar way or for similar reasons. We evolved to want to connect—with people, but also with places and other living things."
Cynthia Frantz, PhD
Why is Nature Beneficial? The Role of Connectedness to Nature
"Nature therapy as a health-promotion method and potential universal health model is implicated for the reduction of reported modern-day “stress-state” and “technostress.”"
Harumi Ikei, PhD, Chuba University
Psychological Effects of Nature Therapy
VH1
I ❤️ 80s
Close Modal
VH1
I ❤️ 80s
“The ability to recover from stress is better in natural settings, because that’s where we are meant to be. Just the idea of getting out, being in nature, looking at a tree—the theory is that this helps you to recover from stress, improves your mental health, and improves cognition. It’s just a direct pathway.”
Peter James, PhD
Quantifying Nature
"Nature experience boosts memory, attention and creativity as well as happiness, social engagement and a sense of meaning in life. It might not surprise us that nature stimulates physical activity, but the associated health benefits – from reducing cancer risks to promoting metabolic and other functioning – are really quite astonishing.”
Gretchen Daily, Bing Professor of Environmental Science
National Academy of Sciences
"Allowing children time for unstructured activities in nature seemed beneficial for children's positive affect, attitudes towards nature, and pro-sociality. These findings seem especially relevant given that free play outdoors in nature is declining.”
John Zelenski, PhD
Journal of Environmental Psychology
“Experiencing awe in nature is a powerful way to impact people’s psychology, even as they’re doing something they really like to do. Our findings suggest that you don’t have to do extravagant, extraordinary experiences in nature to feel awe or to get benefits. By taking a few minutes to enjoy flowers that are blooming or a sunset in your day-to-day life, you also improve your well-being.”
Craig Anderson, PhD
Awe in Nature Heals
"There is ample data to suggest that having good social relationships is helpful for our psychological and physical health. Having a ‘good relationship’ with nature, or rather, a sense of close connection to it, may be helpful in a similar way or for similar reasons. We evolved to want to connect—with people, but also with places and other living things."
Cynthia Frantz, PhD
Why is Nature Beneficial? The Role of Connectedness to Nature
"Nature therapy as a health-promotion method and potential universal health model is implicated for the reduction of reported modern-day “stress-state” and “technostress.”"
Harumi Ikei, PhD, Chuba University
Psychological Effects of Nature Therapy
VH1
Save The Music
Close Modal
VH1
Save The Music
“The ability to recover from stress is better in natural settings, because that’s where we are meant to be. Just the idea of getting out, being in nature, looking at a tree—the theory is that this helps you to recover from stress, improves your mental health, and improves cognition. It’s just a direct pathway.”
Peter James, PhD
Quantifying Nature
"Nature experience boosts memory, attention and creativity as well as happiness, social engagement and a sense of meaning in life. It might not surprise us that nature stimulates physical activity, but the associated health benefits – from reducing cancer risks to promoting metabolic and other functioning – are really quite astonishing.”
Gretchen Daily, Bing Professor of Environmental Science
National Academy of Sciences
"Allowing children time for unstructured activities in nature seemed beneficial for children's positive affect, attitudes towards nature, and pro-sociality. These findings seem especially relevant given that free play outdoors in nature is declining.”
John Zelenski, PhD
Journal of Environmental Psychology
“Experiencing awe in nature is a powerful way to impact people’s psychology, even as they’re doing something they really like to do. Our findings suggest that you don’t have to do extravagant, extraordinary experiences in nature to feel awe or to get benefits. By taking a few minutes to enjoy flowers that are blooming or a sunset in your day-to-day life, you also improve your well-being.”
Craig Anderson, PhD
Awe in Nature Heals
"There is ample data to suggest that having good social relationships is helpful for our psychological and physical health. Having a ‘good relationship’ with nature, or rather, a sense of close connection to it, may be helpful in a similar way or for similar reasons. We evolved to want to connect—with people, but also with places and other living things."
Cynthia Frantz, PhD
Why is Nature Beneficial? The Role of Connectedness to Nature
"Nature therapy as a health-promotion method and potential universal health model is implicated for the reduction of reported modern-day “stress-state” and “technostress.”"
Harumi Ikei, PhD, Chuba University
Psychological Effects of Nature Therapy
VH1
Brand Promos
“The ability to recover from stress is better in natural settings, because that’s where we are meant to be. Just the idea of getting out, being in nature, looking at a tree—the theory is that this helps you to recover from stress, improves your mental health, and improves cognition. It’s just a direct pathway.”
Peter James, PhD
Quantifying Nature
"Nature experience boosts memory, attention and creativity as well as happiness, social engagement and a sense of meaning in life. It might not surprise us that nature stimulates physical activity, but the associated health benefits – from reducing cancer risks to promoting metabolic and other functioning – are really quite astonishing.”
Gretchen Daily, Bing Professor of Environmental Science
National Academy of Sciences
"Allowing children time for unstructured activities in nature seemed beneficial for children's positive affect, attitudes towards nature, and pro-sociality. These findings seem especially relevant given that free play outdoors in nature is declining.”
John Zelenski, PhD
Journal of Environmental Psychology
“Experiencing awe in nature is a powerful way to impact people’s psychology, even as they’re doing something they really like to do. Our findings suggest that you don’t have to do extravagant, extraordinary experiences in nature to feel awe or to get benefits. By taking a few minutes to enjoy flowers that are blooming or a sunset in your day-to-day life, you also improve your well-being.”
Craig Anderson, PhD
Awe in Nature Heals
"There is ample data to suggest that having good social relationships is helpful for our psychological and physical health. Having a ‘good relationship’ with nature, or rather, a sense of close connection to it, may be helpful in a similar way or for similar reasons. We evolved to want to connect—with people, but also with places and other living things."
Cynthia Frantz, PhD
Why is Nature Beneficial? The Role of Connectedness to Nature
"Nature therapy as a health-promotion method and potential universal health model is implicated for the reduction of reported modern-day “stress-state” and “technostress.”"
Harumi Ikei, PhD, Chuba University
Psychological Effects of Nature Therapy
MTV
Brand Promos
“The ability to recover from stress is better in natural settings, because that’s where we are meant to be. Just the idea of getting out, being in nature, looking at a tree—the theory is that this helps you to recover from stress, improves your mental health, and improves cognition. It’s just a direct pathway.”
Peter James, PhD
Quantifying Nature
"Nature experience boosts memory, attention and creativity as well as happiness, social engagement and a sense of meaning in life. It might not surprise us that nature stimulates physical activity, but the associated health benefits – from reducing cancer risks to promoting metabolic and other functioning – are really quite astonishing.”
Gretchen Daily, Bing Professor of Environmental Science
National Academy of Sciences
"Allowing children time for unstructured activities in nature seemed beneficial for children's positive affect, attitudes towards nature, and pro-sociality. These findings seem especially relevant given that free play outdoors in nature is declining.”
John Zelenski, PhD
Journal of Environmental Psychology
“Experiencing awe in nature is a powerful way to impact people’s psychology, even as they’re doing something they really like to do. Our findings suggest that you don’t have to do extravagant, extraordinary experiences in nature to feel awe or to get benefits. By taking a few minutes to enjoy flowers that are blooming or a sunset in your day-to-day life, you also improve your well-being.”
Craig Anderson, PhD
Awe in Nature Heals
"There is ample data to suggest that having good social relationships is helpful for our psychological and physical health. Having a ‘good relationship’ with nature, or rather, a sense of close connection to it, may be helpful in a similar way or for similar reasons. We evolved to want to connect—with people, but also with places and other living things."
Cynthia Frantz, PhD
Why is Nature Beneficial? The Role of Connectedness to Nature
"Nature therapy as a health-promotion method and potential universal health model is implicated for the reduction of reported modern-day “stress-state” and “technostress.”"
Harumi Ikei, PhD, Chuba University
Psychological Effects of Nature Therapy
VH1
I ❤️ 80s
“The ability to recover from stress is better in natural settings, because that’s where we are meant to be. Just the idea of getting out, being in nature, looking at a tree—the theory is that this helps you to recover from stress, improves your mental health, and improves cognition. It’s just a direct pathway.”
Peter James, PhD
Quantifying Nature
"Nature experience boosts memory, attention and creativity as well as happiness, social engagement and a sense of meaning in life. It might not surprise us that nature stimulates physical activity, but the associated health benefits – from reducing cancer risks to promoting metabolic and other functioning – are really quite astonishing.”
Gretchen Daily, Bing Professor of Environmental Science
National Academy of Sciences
"Allowing children time for unstructured activities in nature seemed beneficial for children's positive affect, attitudes towards nature, and pro-sociality. These findings seem especially relevant given that free play outdoors in nature is declining.”
John Zelenski, PhD
Journal of Environmental Psychology
“Experiencing awe in nature is a powerful way to impact people’s psychology, even as they’re doing something they really like to do. Our findings suggest that you don’t have to do extravagant, extraordinary experiences in nature to feel awe or to get benefits. By taking a few minutes to enjoy flowers that are blooming or a sunset in your day-to-day life, you also improve your well-being.”
Craig Anderson, PhD
Awe in Nature Heals
"There is ample data to suggest that having good social relationships is helpful for our psychological and physical health. Having a ‘good relationship’ with nature, or rather, a sense of close connection to it, may be helpful in a similar way or for similar reasons. We evolved to want to connect—with people, but also with places and other living things."
Cynthia Frantz, PhD
Why is Nature Beneficial? The Role of Connectedness to Nature
"Nature therapy as a health-promotion method and potential universal health model is implicated for the reduction of reported modern-day “stress-state” and “technostress.”"
Harumi Ikei, PhD, Chuba University
Psychological Effects of Nature Therapy
VH1
Save The Music
“The ability to recover from stress is better in natural settings, because that’s where we are meant to be. Just the idea of getting out, being in nature, looking at a tree—the theory is that this helps you to recover from stress, improves your mental health, and improves cognition. It’s just a direct pathway.”
Peter James, PhD
Quantifying Nature
"Nature experience boosts memory, attention and creativity as well as happiness, social engagement and a sense of meaning in life. It might not surprise us that nature stimulates physical activity, but the associated health benefits – from reducing cancer risks to promoting metabolic and other functioning – are really quite astonishing.”
Gretchen Daily, Bing Professor of Environmental Science
National Academy of Sciences
"Allowing children time for unstructured activities in nature seemed beneficial for children's positive affect, attitudes towards nature, and pro-sociality. These findings seem especially relevant given that free play outdoors in nature is declining.”
John Zelenski, PhD
Journal of Environmental Psychology
“Experiencing awe in nature is a powerful way to impact people’s psychology, even as they’re doing something they really like to do. Our findings suggest that you don’t have to do extravagant, extraordinary experiences in nature to feel awe or to get benefits. By taking a few minutes to enjoy flowers that are blooming or a sunset in your day-to-day life, you also improve your well-being.”
Craig Anderson, PhD
Awe in Nature Heals
"There is ample data to suggest that having good social relationships is helpful for our psychological and physical health. Having a ‘good relationship’ with nature, or rather, a sense of close connection to it, may be helpful in a similar way or for similar reasons. We evolved to want to connect—with people, but also with places and other living things."
Cynthia Frantz, PhD
Why is Nature Beneficial? The Role of Connectedness to Nature
"Nature therapy as a health-promotion method and potential universal health model is implicated for the reduction of reported modern-day “stress-state” and “technostress.”"
Harumi Ikei, PhD, Chuba University
Psychological Effects of Nature Therapy
