MAM
DY Works repackages Marico’s Parachute Advanced
MUMBAI: DY Works, a brand strategy and brand design firm, has created a new identity for Marico’s Parachute Advanced- Tender Coconut Hair Oil.
Over the years, the blue bottle has been synonymous with the Parachute brand. In view of the changing mindsets of the Indian consumer, and increasing competition, Parachute has changed. While reaffirming its strong trusted brand heritage, it sought to break away from the stigma of “stickiness” and “old fashioned” associated with coconut oil.
To address this concern and strengthen its hold in the market, Marico added Parachute Advanced to its product portfolio-modern hair oil based on the concept of ‘refreshing nourishment’. The aim was to introduce “Green Coconut” as a new ingredient in the category, and, at the same time, maintain and leverage the brand equity of the parent brand.
Speaking about the assignment, DY Works president Alpana Parida remarked, “Moving away from traditional paradigms of a protagonist posing in long thick hair to an ingredient led product that is non-sticky for the evolved consumer”
The brief stressed on crafting a delightful sensorial association to minimise the dissonance with oiling. It also sought design and imagery that would be differentiated, premium and modern. The reassurance of nourishment and efficacy was pivotal.
Based on this, DY Works researched through competitive analysis and a semiotic study to decode relevant and changing discourses for the category, thereby leading to the establishment of a unique shaped packaging.
The new, improved bottle structure was established to have a unisex appeal along with a shape that helps create a premium space by breaking clutter and separating it from other brands in the category. The structure allows enough space for the label to establish effective brand identity and an effective shelf throw.
MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
