The Marketing Power of Emotional Timelines

This chart hits you in the gut. It shows how “time spent with children” peaks and then fades. That's emotional data at work, and marketers can learn a lot from it.

Why it works

• Visual storytelling: One simple graph tells a deep emotional story.
• Contrast & scarcity: You immediately see what’s lost over time.
• Universal truth: Everyone connects with time and family.
• Emotional hook: It makes you reflect, not just look.

Examples

• Nike’s “Play New” ads use emotional arcs instead of product shots.
• Google’s “Year in Search” videos show time passing to trigger nostalgia.
• Life insurance ads often use similar life-stage visuals to build urgency.

Creative Variations

Reimagine this as charts for: “Time spent learning,” “Time spent chasing dreams,” or “Time spent happy.”