Casual Fridays

In our last article, we discussed the longevity of a product affecting how that product is promoted and sold. Art Kleiner wrote an interesting article for Strategy&Business concerning a product’s death cycle. Kleiner laments the decline of product quality since the 1980s. As quality declined, so did durability, and so did expectations. [...]

We don’t mind subscribing to services (phone services, Internet access, cable TV) or publications. These have become traditional subscription items. So, an even greater obstacle than the aversion to subscriptions is the established traditions. And as Seth Godin states, traditions rarely change quickly just because the alternatives are better. This is the hurdle that Napster-like services have to overcome.

I enjoyed the article quite a bit, but felt it was too myopic. The focus was consistently placed on logos and graphic design. I don’t mind that since I began my career in design. The problem is the implication that your brand is encapsulated in your logo, stationery, literature, and packaging.