Emil Wilk is a young think-doer within social innovation, advertising and television. He believes that We is the new Me, and that you can build profit while building a better world, both as a business and as a person.
The concept of FreeBikes is simple, but the impact great: Ad-funded bikes are lent to students in Denmark. After one year serving as sustainable advertising channels, the bikes are shipped to Ghana for students in rural areas, who have a long way to school.
http://www.freebikes.dk/
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.*
(*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
){kind=link}
flaw 1. There is only so many ways and ad can be shown before we get bored and move on. Your bike might be cool now, and many people will look at it, but eventually it will be just another bike. There is no sustainable medium for advertising.
Flaw 2. "we is the new me" related to ads sound like conformism plus consumerism all wrapped up in one. I don't know how any free thinking person would buy into that.
Flaw 3. Are you actually trying to tell me that advertisers care about that kid with the 50 km journey? No! They care about that year BEFORE he gets the bike. Something like advertising is not sustainable in a "we is the new me" world based solely on the fact that ads are self-centered and uncaring. unless everything gets monopolized and there is only one giant, all-powerful entity. Which is only possible WAY into the future.
and when i say ads i mean large companies who make those ads.
i could go on and on about what's wrong with this plan, but i don't have the time. basically, the future of advertising is not good. Neither is hive mindedness concealed in a catchy phrase based on a popular TV show. People value two things as a whole of a species. Their time, and their freedom. You're trying to take both of those things away with one idea.
a good idea, though, if it's not mainstream adopted. it relies on it staying an underground movement. in that context its a wonderful plan. My advice is to not get too ambitious, as it will fall apart the bigger you get.
This is true, I would have troubles if I saw someone riding a Monsanto bike :/
Its a nice concept….however, still if the advertiser is a terrible company who exploits and plunders in other countries then we can just say that they are taking advantage of a smart advertising medium….. not as you suggest being socialy concious. So all though many benefit, I would argue for example that If Coca Cola or Mcdonalds advertise on your bikes, More suffer than gain. I Hope this kind of adverstising comes along with a little discretion about who can take part.
social marketing responsability
Great idea. Im looking for an african child that needs a yacht.
ahhh, I remember onetime in the small town where I live in north America, they tried to set up a free bike program. The problem was that some of the young high school kids destroyed the all bikes and drew graffiti all over them with sharpie pens. The program didn't last very long because punk kids destroyed all the bikes. This may not be an issue in more civilized countries.
did anyone else just click to see his epic fro?
hmmm… My car does need a new paint job.