To stand out, to shock, to radically stand out from the mainstream. This seems to be the order of the day for many people and brands in order to still get the attention of the target group in our stimulus-flooded world.

And so it's hardly surprising that the U.S. presidential candidates with the fastest-growing followings are Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. The two opponents represent their radically opposing stances in a blunt manner. In Great Britain, the liberal outsider Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour Party.

Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber have adopted a bold new image and are becoming more radical in their musical partnerships with the likes of The Flaming Lips. Entertainment celebrities like Amy Schumer and Tig Notaro, as well as Abbi Jacobson, are celebrated for their sassy demeanor and anti-Hollywood star looks.

The brave seem to own the world. And brands are following suit. Campaigns that push forward with cheeky humor and offbeat design cause a stir. Vintage handbag maker Ethel + Frank uses the website slogan "Give No Fucks in Style" and features octogenarians in neon fashion. While Rebel Yell Bourbon was founded back in 1849, last year they chanted the slogan, "Risk Takers, Rule Breakers & Noise Makers, UNITE!" as part of a rebranding effort. Even Bank of America is defiant, hiring Billy Idol as a spokesman in commercials directed by comic book writer Christopher Guest. The Grabbartz & Partner agency caused quite a stir with its guerrilla campaign "Right against Right - the most involuntary fundraising run" and won numerous prizes (see video).

In the spotlight are also absolute eccentrics. A recent campaign for the real estate website Trulia showed people in their homes indulging in strange preferences, such as playing naked Scrabble and making forest noises. The whole thing was themed "Find A Home Where You Can Be You." David Lynch's whimsical series "Twin Peaks" is being brought back to life 25 years after its finale.

For the coming year, we expect a significant increase in images that confront us, shake us up and make us look.

 

Get the Gettyimages trend report here.

Source: Trend Report 2016 by Getty Images