This was a post on Jenna's blog. It was so cool, I'm stealing it to share here with anyone who hasn't seen it because 1) you just should, and 2) I'm too busy to post anything worthwhile today. Thanks, Jenna. Sorry people.
March 26, 2007
February 09, 2006
February 03, 2006
a little personality
Personality is everywhere. Exhibited by people. Representative of places. In animals, and Inanimate objects. A recent article in the New York Times Magazine explored the rising field (and somewhat humorously the source of academic debate) of animal personality. I think there's no question that animals have personality. The specifics, and to what level scientists will argue, I'm not going to get into, but on the whole, I think that it's true.
And I noticed the other day that fire hydrants have a ton of individual personality. Of course, not personality that is manifested by an inner psyche or something like that. But it brings up a good point: inanimate objects have personality because we do. Our own experiences and environments and histories shape how we view and compartmentalize and rationalize the world, so it's not surprising that we can easily ascribe personalities to so many things. Even brands.
Here are some pics of the hydrants on my walk to work. What personalities do you see?
a little stand-offish, curious?
affectionate, friendly, closet-sexy?
steadfast, confident, in construction?
seasoned, wise, weary?
open, happy-go-lucky, hedonist?
And as I mentioned above. It's no surprise we perform this same exercise with brands. If we can ascribe personality to a fire hydrant, everyone must have an informed and fermented personality for the brands they come across and interact with. Some brands will be relatively unknown, and therefore their personality indescribable. I think this should be prevented at all costs by any brand. Sure, if Mt. Dew's personality can't be described to me by a 82 year-old man, that's okay. But any aspiring brand should be thinking and acting and laboring to help shape it's identity, and therein -- personality, with the people/consumers who come across it.
What personalities do you ascribe to these brands? I'll think you'll find one brand in a category is easier than another.
February 02, 2006
democratizing design
I really like the fact that there is a little movement going on to help
people surround themselves with good, modern design at real-life
prices. Some call it grassroots modern, some shabby chic. But it's just cool. Too often "the new" or "the different" comes with some sort of
outrageous pricetag. Fashion. Design. Cars. In actuality, though, the really savvy & inventive ones among us are inventing what's next before it ever becomes expensive or couture.
I've read about it, heard about it, and seen it doing work on all sorts of brands. Sprite. Kodak. Rhapsody. Planners know about the fringe, or the leading-edge influencers who are questioning, creating, and inventing. All on a budget. Mainstream always thinks these folks are weird. It's inevitable, because the mainstream doesn't have their vision. The leading-edge do just that: lead. While the rest follow.
So I like that the rise of blogs, online communities, etc. is helping to democratize much of what used to be obscure new design and ideas so that we can learn, sample, and find what we like before it gets expensive or couture. Especially in the world of modern design.
Keep it up grassroots modern. And Target, I guess.
Modernize and minimalize your life here: moma design store, grassrootsmodern, cribcandy, three by three, dwell
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