fresh ideas from the outside?

a while back i mentioned how a few firms were involving their customers, in some form or other, in the development of new products, marketing, etc.

here's another blip on the topic thanks to our friends at influx.

it's more proof that the consumer is very well informed and that we need to tap into their heads for new and innovative ideas.

open source innovation

world album

check out this amazing 3d world album. the navigation is similiar to visual thesaurus but with photos from around the world instead words.

via josh rubin cool hunting

ipod phenomenon

apple has become a lifestyle brand thanks to the ipod. in my opinion, the ipod has created a new lifestyle. the one where the ipod becomes an extension of one's self. the white earbuds, the slick design, the nods from other ipod users....you buy it all when you enter the ipod lifestyle. apple has worked it's magic with the ipod because it sells a part of their culture, not just an mp3 player. apple fanatics have always had that bit of apple culture but now they are able to take it with them as a tangible object. i mean, how many people do you see with a powerbook g4 in their pocket?


professor ipod goes into in more detail with a study he is conducting

is your brand a lifestyle brand?

as consumers become more savvy, they tend to shun the marketers that shove advertising and products down their throats. marketers must identify what their customers really need and what the brand means to them, and then apply this insight in a manner in which they can evolve into becoming an integral part of the customers' lifestyle.

think about it. when you become a lifestyle brand, your customer doesn't even have to choose between you and the competitor because you have become so intertwined in their way of living...you become their only choice. it's well beyond being top of mind.

an example is the ipod. ipod fanantics wouldn't even consider another mp3 player. it's not the mp3 player that apple is selling, it's a lifestyle...a pass to the in crowd...the nods you get from other ipod owners....it's part of the purchase.

check out this article on the topic

design for living

many people out there don't understand the way good design can change your experience with a product. it can be a product as mundane as a coffee spoon or a toothbrush, but if it's designed to be different, to look and work just a bit better, it can make a world of difference. it allows your customer to be proud of what they buy. for example, i constantly leave out my bodum cream and sugar set because it looks so good. it makes me feel better that i own aesthetically pleasing products. i buy products based on design and function...



target just came out with a great commercial that embodies design for living. it's such a great commercial because it shows the happiness that comes with good design.

target commercial

anti consumerism or mass society rebellion

This Magazine: The Rebel Sell

hog it up america

hardee's comes out with a delicious looking, edible piece of carcass. while all the other big name fast food chains are offering healthy options, hardee's looks deep into it's brand and consumer and offers what people really want when they crave a burger. smart thinking.


via msnbc

long live branding

the guys over at psfk know what branding is all about. not the logos....it's the spirit...the ethos.

PSFK: Long Live Branding

more on ethnography

MarketingSherpa.com : Practical News & Case Studies on Internet Advertising, Marketing & PR

frontline: the persuaders

this pbs program looks very interesting. the program will go live online on friday 11/12

frontline: the persuaders | PBS

ethnography is gaining momentum

nice article on how firms like target are studying consumers in every day life in order to discover what they really need and then applying these insights to product design and marketing.

via cmo

analyzing your customer

very interesting article excerpt on how best buy segments and then fires it's unprofitable customers

best buy

are brands dying?

there are those who say that brands are dying and others who say that brands are more important than ever. take a look at these fairly opposing views on brands. in my opinion, branding is as powerful as ever when it's used to create customer loyalty. it is, however, the achilles heel when firms rely on them for protection when the product, the service and the organization are faltering.

great branding is rooted on strategy- via brandchannel

the decline of brands- via wired

online rubik's cube

aim for the brain

pop up store phenomenom

need a quick and effective way to create some buzz? the :pop up: store is the way to go.

Influx

color ipod

it's official


ipod

nike zvezdochka

check out these cool new cosmonaut shoes from nike. they were designed by marc newson.


via beinghunted

apple mini store sel f service check out

here's a picture of the neat self service check out at the mini store's

via cult of mac

photo by bryan chang

:customer made: trend in action

several days ago i mentioned the :customer made: trend from trendwatching and how it will revolutionize r&d. this is a perfect example of tapping into the knowledge of creative consumers in order to come up with future mobile phone designs. it's all wrapped up as a design competition but in reality it's the perfect way to find out what consumers really want in future devices.

sony


via engadget

insightful write-up on the core values of the emerging generation

marketing in 2005

via making ads work blog

scientific proof that brand perception affects taste preferences

samuel mcclure and colleagues performed brain scans while people drank the fizzy drinks in order to understand why some picked one over the other.



coke versus pepsi

apple announces mini concept retail store

apple is practicing brand harmony to the t. everything apple does reflects their brand culture. this new retail concept mirrors apple's product designs. stainless steel walls and white floors...very minimalistic...very cool.


apple insider

alas...a gorgeous mobile

take a peek at these beauties. with the right type of membership (customers) these can become the iPods of the telecom world.

via gizmodo

take a look at ::change this::

it's wonderful brain food

ChangeThis :: ChangeThis

hotel industry realizes that even the cost conscious need style

no frills chic: a trend where consumers prefer low cost, aesthetic pleasure and a positive experience over the traditional high priced status symbols.

you can read more about this :no frills chic: trend over at trendwatching


value chic