Author Archive

Grey is the new black

With ‘hundreds’ of brand briefs landing on my desk, iPad seems one of the few brands daring to target the grey generation.

Take a seat in my brand

In line with the earlier blog post on Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum, it does actually feel like I am entering a modern art gallery each morning with the temporary Feelosophy exhibition in Design Bridge London’s reception. For me it is the sound that has the greatest impact. You know that particular ‘installation’ sound. Or maybe the [...]

Can you feel it? Hel Yes!

I need to find an excuse to visit the ‘Finnish’ HEL YES! pop-up restaurant that’s opening in London next month. Described as a magical forest with a hefty dose of Nordic cool, I guess there is my excuse. We have the privilege to work with brands in Finland and there is something magical about that [...]

Can ingredient brands work across categories?

Can ketchup equal good teeth? I am confused by the following launch: Xylitol Ketchup’ by Xyltiol UK. We are used to xylitol as an ingredient brand, the “Intel inside” of the chewing gums and toothpastes. Now we are exposed to it as a main brand for a ketchup. First of all it feels a bit [...]

Checking in/out the Levi’s hotel

There is something about staying in a truly great hotel. (Well, there is something about staying in a truly bad hotel, but let’s not go there now.) The next brand to be used to lure in more hotel guests is iconic Levi’s, following other recent fashion hotel additions as Missoni, Armani and LVMH (see earlier [...]

Posted on Jul 14th 2010 by · Permalink · One Comment
In: Brand Experience, Fashion, Viewpoints · Tags: ,

The mother of all vodkas

It’s early in the morning and I’m on a plane to Copenhagen. If not preparing for my meeting, I probably ought to devote myself to the latest “The 4-hour Workweek” book et al. Especially if time is the currency that counts. Instead I am reaching for the inflight magazine, escaping into the world of advertising: [...]

Posted on Jun 30th 2010 by · Permalink · 2 Comments
In: Food and Drink, Naming, Viewpoints · Tags: , , ,

Green On My Sleeve

Did you cycle to work this morning? Sorted out your recycling last night? As brand designers sustainability is another box on the wish list we need – and want – to tick off. The interesting thing is that the whole subject has shifted from I-think-green-and-I-don’t-care-about-status to Green-is-the-new-status. The Stylist magazine is reporting that researcher now say [...]

Posted on Jun 23rd 2010 by · Permalink · One Comment
In: Innovation, Retail, Sustainability, Viewpoints · Tags: ,

One tent too many

It’s festival season. It’s camping season. In a world where everything can be bought, the search seems to be for the unique and the intimate, the marginal and the magical. Come on, let’s go camping!

Posted on Jun 21st 2010 by · Permalink · One Comment
In: Fashion, Luxury, Retail, Viewpoints · Tags: ,

Two in one branded products: can we design time?

Should we think about the future as designing time, rather than selling products and services? There are in essence two briefs: 1) Enrich time, 2) Save time. Branded experiences are meeting the first brief, and convenience solutions are naturally aiming for the second one. Multi-tasking is a subject that fascinates me or rather the idea [...]

Posted on May 28th 2010 by · Permalink · One Comment
In: Brand Experience, Digital, Fashion, Product design, Viewpoints · Tags: ,

Return to the Hotel Chocolat

Would I ever trade my salary for some liquorice? Well, it is financially tougher times for businesses and I do like my sweets. But no. Not even for chocolate. Apparently, however, there are brand lovers out there who are considering such a financial trade-off. The Times has reported that Hotel Chocolat, the luxury confectioner, wants [...]