Graham D Brown » Archive

Art is not Communication

gbrown — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:27:27 +0000

Looks great when it’s made out of food doesn’t it? How clever these people are! What art! This should win an award. Artistic excellence is just that. This work inspires me as a viewer and this is what art should do. Art, however, is not communication. Communicating with customers is very different. Spending dollars on agency art may look great and create a buzz in the trade press but what use beyond the satisfaction of the corporate ego? Winning awards or winning customers?

Wasp Sucking Machine

gbrown — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 02:47:17 +0000

Gone are the days when we expected companies to produce genius. Yes, we still idolize the “design” myth that gave us the Ipod, Ideo etc. That’s only part of the story. Here’s one enthusiast who spent a Summer inventing a wasp-sucking machine. Not for glory nor money but because he had a problem. It’s difficult to compete with this ingenuity when you have 1 billion customers all dedicating their Summers to either finding ways to overcome the barriers you build around your products or create new products and usage scenarios for your existing ones.

This machine was the fulfillment of a childhood fantasy! Growing up in the country, wasps nests and the possibility of getting stung were a frequent nuisance. I have no sympathy for yellow jackets that sting and don't even make honey!

This is why you’re fat

gbrown — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:38:55 +0000

This is why you’re fat does a great job of profiling the most inedible “delicacies” (many of which were invented in the US). When you’re out of shape it’s easier to search for a quick fix – a diet du jour, slimming pills or, failing these, blame it on the genes.

It contains chili fries on a pork burrito with pierogies and hard boiled eggs. Melt a little cheddar cheese on top for an instant classic. Wash it down with a big fat glass of whiskey and go to bed.

When businesses get out of shape, we act no differently – we seek out “killer apps” and agency “big ideas” as silver bullets that will take the pain away. Just like staying in shape, the answer is often not what people want to hear – eat healthy, exercise regularly. You can’t buy the solution from an agency nor can you google it – it comes from getting out of your chair, face time with customers and building dialogue. Staying healthy requires work.

Are you Connecting Them?

gbrown — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 06:55:34 +0000

Are you selling to your customers or finding new ways to connect them?

Try playing these videos together. Then check out the InBFlat site for full impact.

http://wwww.inbflat.net/