In the Parking Lot
I was at VML in Kansas City yesterday for a meeting. Visitors are greeted in the parking lot by these signs not only representing the new VML brand identity, but also setting the stage for strategy and innovation!
In the Bathroom
In the midst of our conversations with VML on branding, there was a product in the men's restroom that I hadn't seen before. It's rather off-putting brand name? The Dyson Airblade (say it aloud for the full effect).
While it promises to be "the fastest, most hygenic hand dryer," it was obviously named by engineers. Who really wants to stick their wet hands into a contraption whose first name sounds like a threat and whose second seems to tell you exactly how the threat will be carried out? Just in time for Halloween!
At the Polls
Voting the other day, there were signs displayed outside warning against campaigning too close to the polling place. While most candidates' supporters were at the nearest main intersection, this supporter for candidate Steve Roberts seems to say, "I'll operate inside your lines, but I'll damn well get right up next to them."
I vote for this guy's chutzpah!
EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE! You can vote in the blog poll to suggest upcoming posts. You can also vote to request a copy of the new Brainzooming book, "Taking the NO Out of InNOvation" by emailing me early and often at mike@mikebrownspeaks.com.
2 comments:
Mike,
Couldn't get into your strong objection to the dyson airblade.
The first thing that intrigued me about the device was that it does a great job of drying my hands!
Second thing: it's a Dyson. Dyson is the fellow who reinvented the vacuum cleaner and about whom countless articles have been written touting him as a master innovator.
I have a feeling that not too many folk actually read the name of the device and then recoil before trying it. I think that they, like me, try it and them determine who made it.
Chuck
Chuck -
Thanks for the counterpoint!
I wasn't arguing against the product; I was challenging the name as one that doesn't speak to benefits and when spoken aloud (or even verbalized in your mind) doesn't do the product justice.
Granted, I was highly attuned to the issue because I'd just ducked out of a meeting after being challenged on poor naming. I certainly used it to dry my hands, but did so with quite a bit of amusement.
Mike
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