Comments on: Have we failed?

By: miles

miles — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:29:05 +0000

I see the short term future of branding particularly bleak. ‘Branding’ has become shameful, and that’s because it has become a tool for dishonesty. To use the old hairdressing metaphor, businesses want a haircut that will make them look like who they think ther clients will fall for, not a hair cut that suits their face, and so they look stupid most of the time. This mismatch has put the industry (it’s not a profession Larry) into bad repute. we know it, we must face it, and it is not attractive to the best creative talent entering the market. Thus the short term future will be designed by the mediocre. No amount of customer centric or ethical posturing will correct this, these aspects are part of the problem.

By: Gregg Palazzolo

Gregg Palazzolo — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:59:21 +0000

Can Left brainers EVER be educated in the Art of Branding in respect to ‘visual aspects’? All can say what they like, yet fail to convey why they like it. I believe the profession will continue in somewhat obscure, edgelike fashion for years until the continuing wave of Creatiive CEO’s takes firm root.
Next year (May 2010) marks our 30th year in pursuit of perfecting the underworld of brand building and are still hopeful for a mass exodus from convention.

By: Henry Kaye

Henry Kaye — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:31:15 +0000

Since Design Coordination and Corporate Image - FHK Henrion + Alan Parkin (1967). In looking at the timeline of major contributions and milestones, it’s very difficult to ignore that aside from obvious improvements in efficiency and the internet (which is of relative competitive advantage for no one), most progress has been semantic. The door to the c-suite was opened in the late 60’s… yet most designers continue as solution providers rather than effective problem solvers, heralding the same popes and gurus, subscribing to a linear worldview that’s remained static in education, subjugated by award ceremonies and the design press, and confined to the narrow straightjacket of industry expectation. Our assumptions firmly rooted in the past… once this changes, we’ll then be able to think about the future.