Story of the Crate, Little Blue box & Cellphones

Goes to show that some objects are designed to inspire simplicity. They are as they seem to be.

So why has The Crate become the most controversial object in design?

The story began when Established & Sons commissioned a piece from Morrison, one
of Britain's most influential product designers. Setting out to design a bedside
table, he played with various ideas only to conclude that he could not improve
upon the old wooden wine crate in which he stored books beside his bed. "Nothing
else seemed to do the job as well," said Morrison, who decided to produce a
replica of that crate.

The Crate is almost identical to the original. It
is made from higher quality wood - Douglas fir, rather than splintery pine - and
the joints are stronger. Otherwise it is the same, except for its price tag of
£90, or $170.

Just like the way diamonds don't carry the same meaning if it isn't delicately, reverently unveiled by that little blue box of Tiffany's.

...

Some Brands/ Manufacturers can be so silly in their neverending churn of new gadgets, pulling out any new, shiny toy that they think may appeal. M wannabe badboy 1 (who has been getting constant requests for slimmer, sleeker cellphones for the Asian market), commented that almost everyone in China hangs ling-longs (cellphone accessories) to personalize & adorn their precious. Is slimmer, sleeker, more gadgety or fashionable cellphone an oxymoron? Maybe Nokia's range of fashion phones comes close. It's a phone which teeters with a nice balance of what is termed 'basic'/ 'expected' features with emphasis on intricate designs and lush materials that arouses one's fingers to caress - adds on more comfort to security blanket phones.

For me, working with companies that spend time to understand consumer needs and use their own research and creativity to come up with products that are real solutions is a fantastic experience. It is pure laziness to rely literally on consumer speak or ingredients/ created technology for differentiation; without explicity and specifically relevant to consumers. Just saying a product will give you moisturization for dry skin is not sufficient. Any product can say that! And no, having fancy packaging will only last you that long. Local China brands are producing Me too's faster than we can sms. Therefore your product needs to have benefits specific and relevant to the way the consumer uses it. Companies generalise Chinese consumers thinking they are all seeking more with its capitalistic tendencies. On the contrary, I find that in some categories where the product is an individual experience or when consumers are not sophisticated, they tend to have a 'favourite' product/ flavour.

Do we always want more?