SXSW party and panel

At Noah Kagan’s SXSW content creation panel, the crowd was packed, the energy was high, and one attendee stole attention — not with words, but with a shirt. A big, loud Kim Jong Un print on his back. Yep, it got laughs, photos, and probably new followers.

Marketing analysis

That wild shirt is a perfect example of creating instant memorability. In a room full of creators and marketers, the one person who stood out visually made people talk. He wasn’t pitching anything, but he successfully marketed himself.

Why it works

• Visual contrast grabs attention fast
• Humor triggers emotional connection
• Novelty fuels word-of-mouth
• Unexpected details make social content shareable

Examples

• Duolingo uses its chaotic green owl to dominate TikTok (7M+ followers)
• Liquid Death’s skull cans made “water” cool, selling $263M in 2023
• Mint Mobile’s cheeky Ryan Reynolds ads earned millions in buzz with minimal spend