Morning

Last week in Lyme Regis the CID team (whilst generally group hugging, fire walking and naked sweat lodging), talked a lot about range when discussing facilitation styles. The point being that everyone has their own and you need to work out what you need to dial up and dial down.

I think we all need to think about our planning in the same way.

Which reminded me of this collection of genius from various advertising and planning luminaries. Take a look and have a think.

So today’s idea of the day is to think about what your planning style is?. Then start thinking about what your range is and what to dial up and what to dial down?

In case you were wondering, i would describe mine as ‘simple and sweary’

Have a great weekend

Walshy

The answer is branded gold.

Not a comms idea, but very interesting from a brand value perspective. The ever-surprising John-Paul Gaultier has released a limited edition of branded one ounce gold ingots, capitalising on the extremely bullish market for the precious metal as the recession continues to outstay its welcome.

The bars carry his distinctive branding, and are on the market for just over $1,800 each. The genius of this is that this price is 10% more than the market value of the metal itself.

The three things I love/hate about this are:

1) It turns investors into consumers – increasing both his target market and his brand reach
2) And the reverse: it turns a luxury item into a (vaguely) sensible investment, turning a flagging market for fripperies on its head
3) It is literally a solid-gold indication of his brand value – if people will pay $100 for a $2 t-shirt with your name on, why not see how far you can stretch?

yes, yes, yes – phil “no jacket required” collins (see inspiration can come from anywhere)

a lot of you are going to find this un-nerving

i’m publicly stitch myself up about groovy love – whenever i have a meaningful work related interaction with you i will be giving groovy love back – data / interpretation / feeling . . .

love out for more cultish behaviour when my other co-horts get back from lyme vegas

in the meantime have a scrabulous weekend

so, you’ll have seen the converse design and sell your own converse thing from anomaly (well maybe, if not its here )

or here if you fancy a little old school cut and paste

http://apps.facebook.com/conversemadeby/

I suppose this raises a couple of interesting questions –

1) do people really want to interact, do they really want to make stuff for you Mr.Brand

2) if they do for a handful of brands who have danced round the distraction factory and delivered some cultural traction via the lens of the layercake and subliminal proxy or something slightly less pretentious than what @jembojembo and I have been spouting about – is it really really likely that they’ll be into it for an fmcg product, or a finance brand, or a car – me, i want an expert making those not a nutter on the street

important because the crowd-sourcing thing has gone a little quiet recently but is starting to bubble under again a little in the world via the likes of victor and spoils, talent house etc

for me beyond a handful of brands it just feels a little like outsourcing of the interesting stuff and at worst being plain lazy

now i like converse as much as the next late 30-something planner who doesnt want to wear a suit but am i capable of designing a pair ? only dan whitmarsh and the LA Woof Woof really know . . .