Initial Chapter Plan for Implementation

1. Introduction
2. Recommendations from stage 1: what did we takeaway?
3. Where do we go from here? (interim pres feedback)
4. Extended research:
- Consumer Confidence (survey)
- The new role of the interior designer
- Sharing and being hyper-connected
- What does fashion do that interiors doesn't?
- Where fashion meets interiors?
5. Key findings: gap in the market, where's the need, emerging touch point
6. The Big Idea
7. The Big Creative idea: what are we doing and why?
8. Executions:
-Website
-Look book
-Pattern book prototype
-Branding
-Press Release
-Comms strategy (integrated approach)
9. Testing the water
- SWOT
- send out press release
10. Final adjustments: how can we refine our idea?
11. The future of the pattern book: where it will be long term in relation to our idea

iPatch lets homeowners test a new colour on their wall without ruining it!

 iPatch is a simple sticker that can be added and removed from any surface without damage.

Created by the UK’s Colour & Paint, the service enables customers can choose the shades they’d like to try on the company’s website. Rather than send them a tester pot, which uses up more paint and often comes in a tin or plastic container, the company simply brushes a flat layer of the paint onto a square card that mimics the texture of plaster. The card is flexible and includes a slightly adhesive back that allows it to be attached to any surface in the home. Redecorators can easily see what the color will look like in various parts of the house without making it permanent, and the tester can even be carried from house to house.

http://www.springwise.com/patch-lets-homeowners-test-color-ruining-wall/

Quotes on hyperconnectivity

1. Power of our data

Robert Kirkpatrick is the Director of the United Nation’s Global Pulse initiative and is an expert in mining social media, the open web and massive passive data to detect the early impacts of crises on vulnerable communities. His work has explored how to foster innovation in large organizations and ways that techno-social initiatives can enhance trust-building, information sharing, and decision making across boundaries. Robert is aware however, of the challenges of our connected modern world:

In a fast-moving, hyperconnected, and volatile world, public policy must be agile and continuously adaptive if it is to protect vulnerable populations from shocks, keep global development on track, and meet the changing needs of citizens.

http://www.psfk.com/2012/03/robert-kirkpatrick-powerful-dat-psfk-nyc-2012.html#!xJvBQ

2. Futurist Mark Pesce Keynote speech 2008

Mark Pesce recently delivered a rousing keynote speech at Web Directions South. It was charged full of powerful thoughts about the pitfalls and opportunities of the hyperconnected world. He talks about the differences in how giant collectives self-organize to behave either like a functional community, or an angry crowd. This is definitely a must read, full of valuable insights.

Pesce begins:

That’s the way it is, these days. Nothing is small, nothing discrete, nothing bite-sized. Instead, we get the fire hose, 24 x 7, a world in which connection and community have become so colonized by intensity and amplification that nearly nothing feels average anymore.

Is this what we wanted? It’s become difficult to remember the before-time, how it was prior to an era of hyperconnectivity. We’ve spent the last fifteen years working out the most excellent ways to establish, strengthen and multiply the connections between ourselves. The job is nearly done, but now, as we put down our tools and pause to catch our breath, here comes the question we’ve dreaded all along…

Why. Why this?

http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/mark-pesce-hyperconnectivity-community-the-crowd.html#!xJvIK

Hyperconnectivity= hyperintelligence- shared knowledge increasing the intelligence of all participants
http://www.psfk.com/2009/08/video-mark-pesce-the-dangerous-power-of-sharing-power.html#!xJvGY

Trends in Sharing and the Hyper-Connected

1. Shrtwv - anonymous sharing app

By logging onto the app, posts, or ‘waves’, can be uploaded by users in the form of pictures or text and read in real-time by those nearby. Waves can be liked, flagged and commented on by people around you, creating a sort of anonymous diary of things happening in your immediate vicinity.  

The app taps into a growing trend of more anonymous or private sharing, but its point of difference - and appeal - lies in the fact that each message is tied to a physical location. Everything from thoughts to confessions and restaurant reviews are now easier than ever to share with the knowledge that they’re safeguarded by anonymity. Rather than focusing on the self-serving element of online sharing and profile building, Shrtwv focuses on creating a sense of community and non-judgemental experience within small, physical spaces.  

https://www.prote.in/en/feed/2014/02/shrtwv

2. Facebook life events expanded (showing off trait)

The life events section on the Facebook timeline chronicles important moments in a user’s life- the day they got married, started a new job, or bought a new house.

And today, Facebook announced a new section that will chronicle another momentous life event- when, where, and why a user became an organ donor.

http://www.psfk.com/2012/05/facebook-organ-donors.html#!xMpss

3. ideapod

For the Internet user in search of a good discussion, there are few options outside of topic-specific message boards and forums. Soon, these online thinkers could find a new place to express their views.

Ideapod is a new online platform for sharing and debating important ideas and topics, ranging from climate change to your first kiss. The interface, set up much like Pinterest, showcases a board filled with images and video, and each post offers 1,000 characters for users to express their opinions. Each post is also tagged, so that other users can easily find content about the things that matter to them. Ideapod will also be hosting

One on One, an online video series dedicated to discussing ideas that
address the common challenges of the 21st century...

Ideapod is dedicated to trying to elevate real discussion and inspiration for positive change on the Internet. 

http://www.psfk.com/2014/02/visual-idea-sharing-platform-connects-people-with-mutual-passions.html#!xJsTT

4. Futurist Mark Pesce Keynote speech 2008

Mark Pesce recently delivered a rousing keynote speech at Web Directions South. It was charged full of powerful thoughts about the pitfalls and opportunities of the hyperconnected world. He talks about the differences in how giant collectives self-organize to behave either like a functional community, or an angry crowd. This is definitely a must read, full of valuable insights.

Pesce begins:

That’s the way it is, these days. Nothing is small, nothing discrete, nothing bite-sized. Instead, we get the fire hose, 24 x 7, a world in which connection and community have become so colonized by intensity and amplification that nearly nothing feels average anymore.

Is this what we wanted? It’s become difficult to remember the before-time, how it was prior to an era of hyperconnectivity. We’ve spent the last fifteen years working out the most excellent ways to establish, strengthen and multiply the connections between ourselves. The job is nearly done, but now, as we put down our tools and pause to catch our breath, here comes the question we’ve dreaded all along…

Why. Why this?

http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/mark-pesce-hyperconnectivity-community-the-crowd.html#!xJvIK

5. Living Pinterest Board

For yet another example of the abstracts of the digital world being reproduced for real life, you need look no further than Colle + McVoy's latest marketing stunt for their client Caribou Coffee. To introduce of a new coffee blend, the acclaimed advertising agency created a five-story Pinterest board in the Mall of America in Minnesota. Passersby can bring the board to life with their own posts from the phone: By tagging images with #caribouinspires, the picture will appear on one of the mega screens incorporated in the board. 
https://www.prote.in/en/feed/2014/02/living-pinterest-board

6. Google+ Helpouts: giving people real help in real time

Desperately in need of a large competitor to Facebook, the industry is hopeful that 2014 will be a breakout year for Google+. Two new offerings, Helpouts and +Post ads, could make this wish a reality. Helpouts (see the charming intro ad) offer “real help from real people in real time.” And +Post ads, which are currently in Beta testing, promise to push Google+ posts to a vast new audience of potential G+ users.(http://www.psfk.com/2014/01/social-media-challenges-2014.html#!xMrlt)

The advert below is called 'even santa needs google hangouts'.


http://creativity-online.com/work/google-hangouts-santa/33478

6. Google Hangouts and the Fashion Council

Always happy to experiment with new ideas, Google is teaming up with the Council of Fashion Designers of America to create a new social shopping experience. The idea pairs fashion designers and customers using an app designed exclusively for Google+ Hangouts.

“On Air” allows retailers to discuss trends or specific products in a publicly broadcasted multi-person video chat while customers can simultaneously browse or buy a curated selection of products available for purchase online.

Diane von Furstenberg will be the first designer to get involved, sharing top trends for the coming Fall. The online hangout is happening on October 3rd, at 8pm EST, and you can get involved by visitingShop The Hangout. Other designers planned for October include Rebecca Minkoff, Rachel Zoe, as well as Marcus Wainwright and David Neville of rag & bone. (http://www.psfk.com/2013/09/fashion-designers-hangouts.html#!xMujs)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_GtCQ3exlC4

7. (Not specifically hyperconnective/sharing but tagging/ filtering example of sharing)
Steam has introduced a new tags system, where users can input custom tags on any Steam product page. Steam Tags not only helps with organization, it's also a good tool for discovering new games and apps on Steam.

http://www.joystiq.com/2014/02/12/steam-tags-help-you-find-games-based-on-custom-criteria/?ncid=rss_truncated

8. Everything is connected- even our toothbrushes!
Oral-B will launch a smartphone-connected toothbrush that will offer "personalized advice" to help improve users' brushing technique. The toothbrush will use Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to a smartphone app that can be "programmed with the help of a dentist,"Reuters reports, citing a company director.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/20/5429206/oral-b-bluetooth-smartphone-toothbrush

Fashion Research

What is fashion doing that interiors aren’t? Include information about textures (needs to be tactile) and how it sells via landmarks.

1. Reacting to environmental issues: 'Climate Change Couture'

Designer Catherine Sarah Young has taken things a step further with her faux clothing line Climate Change Couture: Haute Fashion for a Hotter Planet. At first glance Young’s ideas could seem a little facetious, but by fusing art and science through design, she has used research collected by the Singapore-ETH Future Cities Laboratory to create pieces focused on a future affected by climate change. Her collection includes The Thermoreflector, a silver dress that reflects heat to avoid a roasting in soaring temperatures. The Aquatutu that can be inflated repeatedly to use as floatation device. And then there is The Bubble, an oxygen pumped personal chamber that comes equipped with its very own WIFI. It's interesting to see environmental concerns making their way into an (admittedly tongue-in-cheek) fashion collection.

https://www.prote.in/en/feed/2014/02/climate-change-couture

2. Reacting to latest technology - Scannable Images

Louis Vuitton Pass - In its latest print campaign, luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton has eschewed largely unpopular QR codes for an interactive technology that is more becoming of the brand’s elegant nature; scannable images. Utilising familiar scanning technology, Louis Vuitton Pass scans complete images rather than codes, creating a more aesthetically pleasing experience for the brand’s discerning customer base. Scannable images in the campaign are indicated by a subtle icon, alongside a prompt to download the app, which then connects the user with behind-the-scenes access to further content, including information about the image, product depicted and a store locator.

https://www.prote.in/en/feed/2013/11/louis-vuitton-pass

3. Ebay invests in 3D virtual changing room technology

Ebay has acquired PhiSix Fashion Labs, a computer graphics startup that makes 3D models of clothing, in a bid to offer customers a virtual fitting room...

PhiSix’s technology can be used both online and offline to allow consumers to see how clothes fit, look and move in different environments without actually having to try them on, the e-commerce company said in a blog post.

Virtual fitting rooms in some forms have been tried before and did not meet the preference of many users to physically try the clothes.

The 3D models will offer shoppers a virtual fitting room where they can view the clothes in a variety of scenarios ranging from walking down the street to hitting a golf club, eBay said Wednesday.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2099600/ebay-buys-phisix-to-offer-clothes-buyers-a-virtual-fitting-room.html#tk.rss_all

4. Mallzee - 

Mallzee is a new personalised shopping app that won’t let you buy an item unless your Facebook friends approve it first. If they agree, a user can move ahead and complete the purchase (and Mallzee receives a commission). If the answer is no, the app blocks the sale, but learns about a user’s taste through the opinions of their social graph and recommends products that may be a better fit from a library of over 750,000 clothing and accessories items. Thus far, over 200 brands have signed up to the network, including Asos, Reiss and Urban Outfitters.

http://www.businessoffashion.com/2014/01/bits-bytes-euclid-express-pradux-mallzee.html
http://mallzee.com/#/

5. Choo 24:7 Stylemakers
Jimmy Choo previewed its own community-oriented street-style site, Choo 24:7 Stylemakers, at a breakfast at London’s chi-chi Arts Club. Taking its cues from Art of the Trench, which engaged Scott “The Sartorialist” Schuman to shoot many of the images that populate the site, Jimmy Choo hired street-style photographer Eddie Newton, as well as street-style darling Caroline Issa, who is acting as London brand ambassador.

BoF: What is Choo 24:7 Stylemakers?

Choo 24:7 Stylemakers is an interactive microsite that brings to life the personality of Choo 24:7 which launched in 2010. Mirroring the creative concept for the brand’s advertising campaign, the site celebrates street-style photographic reportage with an image gallery showcasing fans wearing Jimmy Choo across time zones, day to evening, 24:7.

The site invites fans and photographers to participate by submitting their own street-style images illustrating their personal style. A selection of the best images are uploaded onto the site and shared with fans internationally, reflecting the global personality of Jimmy Choo.

Fans can upload their own street-style photos to our online gallery from either their personal digital photo albums or from Facebook. Photos tagged on Instagram with #choo247 will also feed to the site, as will comments from Twitter with the same hashtag. It is that simple.

http://www.businessoffashion.com/2012/05/digital-scorecard-jimmy-choo-247-stylemakers.html

http://www.choo247.com/

6. Style Puzzle App helps anyone get dressed with outfit recommendations from their own wardrobe

The app first requires users to create an inventory of the items in their wardrobe, either by snapping a picture or looking the product up online. They can then group those items into typical outfits they might wear, detailing whether they’re casual or formal attire, and what day of the week they might wear it. When users are stuck for something to wear, they can use the app to discover the clothes they’ve forgotten about. After selecting the type of outfit they’re looking for, the app then pulls together items into suggested outfits based on their previous preferences. Additionally, the app takes into account the weather and the events in users’ calendars to further tailor its recommendations.

http://www.springwise.com/app-helps-dressed-outfit-recommendations-wardrobe/

7. Stylepassport-boutique that offers travel wardrobe solutions

Style-passport.com aims to fill a niche in online retail by providing pre-edited collections for the holiday-destination shopper. The buy is based around contemporary to luxury labels.

Founder Sarah Walter told WGSN: "The brand mix is built around the shopping reality of today's women. They are savvy shoppers who shop across the brand spectrum. They are looking for great quality fashion classics as well as up-to-the-minute trends and they will not just buy into a brand because it is of the moment -they want to see the value in the garment.

"I think that the site very much reflects the British high-low style aesthetic where a woman will mix a pair of Havaianas with a Missoni dress. Our buying strategy was very much based around what will she need for her trip and who does that best, rather than going out to market with a rigid brand wish list."

Walter says the business is about a simple edited approach to buying for travelling and holiday destinations. Travel as a theme is integrated into the site's design,with the shopping bag/basket called My Suitcase and graphic icons representing different types of holiday destination, such as the city break or the staycation with friends, used as navigation tools. Customers can navigate either by using these icons or via the more traditional routes of brand name, or item. There is also a separate area on what to buy to wear and use during your journey in beauty and apparel as well as advice on how to pack....

http://www.wgsn.com/content/report/Retail_and_VM/Online/2011/February/stylepassport_onlinelaunch.html

8. Imagine Fashion

Imagine Fashion is a digital style magazine, which uses e-commerce technology to enable shoppers to buy straight from its film-based content.

The Imagine Fashion site has set itself up as an online creative marketplace producing bespoke fashion films, by established and up and coming video directors, which are shoppable.

http://www.wgsn.com/content/report/Retail_and_VM/Online/2011/March/imagine_fashion.html

9.Annual shoe subscription service- Shoescribe

• Each month on Shoescribe, a guest editor will select their favourite shoes. Oscar-nominated costume designer Arianne Phillips is the first to be featured

The site is divided into four main sections - Collections, Stars, Spotlight and Newsreel. In Collections, footwear is listed by type, designer, occasion and heel height, with the occasion section including categories such as bridal & special occasion, easy & cosy and formal & office. Each day a different shoe is showcased in Stars, while Spotlight concentrates on the latest footwear trends. The Newsreel category includes interviews, shoes featured in films, behind the scenes on film sets, street style shots of footwear from around the world, shoe maintenance tips, cobblers listings and advice on shoe-related dilemmas from Ms Suzie Scribe, the site's resident footwear guru.

http://www.wgsn.com/content/report/Retail_and_VM/Online/2012/March/shoescribe_onlinelaunch.html

Victoria Beckham and Skype collaboration

Where Fashion meets Interiors

People are starting to realise that collaborations can strengthen their brand, so thought it would be good to have some examples of this too.

1. Tata Naka Autumn/Winter 14 collection inspired by interiors

Press release:
AUTUMN/WINTER 2014
Tata Naka’s inspiration for the AW14 collection comes from the highly decorative world of interior design and the concept of home which definitely resonates with the Tata Naka aesthetic of prints, appliqué and conceptual shapes. Drawing from research the designers have created a line of prints inspired by Persian rugs, Aubusson carpets, hand-painted Chinoiserie wall papers, ceramic tiles and porcelain china.
The collection features the designers’ trademark shapes and prints throughout in a combination of rich colours and muted tones. This season sees a range of fabrics such as georgette, silk crepe de chine along with a luxurious wool crepe to anchor the designs . By taking the idea of dressing for home as a starting point for the silhouette, the designers have modernised the originals by creating a line of lightly padded silk and wool dresses to echo the concept of layering. Re-creating casual shapes like a t shirt over a long sleeved shirt but in wool crepe brings structure to a the collection. By adding volume to bodices and skirts with peplums and longer length skirts, Tata Naka are introducing new shapes to their established designs and colour palette.
Footwear has the unmistakable stamp of Tata Naka; updated as metallic flats and heels with reinterpreted trims as found in interior design – tassels and graphic appliqué.
An inspired collection of textures, colour and luxurious finishing which bring to mind the beauty and comfort of home.
PRESS ENQUIRIES: SPRING London
Bert Bagnall – bert.bagnall@Spring-london.com 020 7629 4633
Florence Storey – florence.storey@spring-london.com 020 7629 4633
SALES ENQUIRIES: Ahlya Fateh at Tata Naka 02077369871 sales@tatanaka.com

Pictures from the presentation on the dropbox:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p5t1kmahnxsgyup/TataNaka%20AW14-15.zip

2. Fashion designer Raf Simons has collaborated with a Dani furnishing textile company  Kvadrat http://www.stylus.com/xvldyg

3. Arts Thread: Fashion Students design interior of high end hotel

The students were asked to 'dress' each room as a fashion designer would dress a model.

Eight students and alumni from the AMFI Amsterdam Fashion Institute have been given the unique opportunity to design the interiors of the conceptual Hotel The Exchange. Situated in a narrow alleyway running from Amsterdam’s Central Station through to Dam Square, the unique fashion hotel will open on the 3rd of December.

The visionaries behind The Exchange – Otto Nan and Suzanne Ozenaar – are no strangers to hospitality, with previous projects including the Lloyd Hotel and Cultural Embassy and the Llove Hotel in Tokyo. For The Exchange, the two came up with the concept of a ‘hotel with rooms dressed as models’ where each room is treated in the same way a designer would treat a human model.

http://www.psfk.com/2011/11/arts-thread-fashion-students-design-interior-of-high-end-hotel.html#!xMvr5

4. Maison Martin Margela S/S 14 Collection 

The spring/summer 2014 Artisanal collection by Maison Martin Margiela continues the designer's avant-garde approach to fashion design, bridging the gap once more between fashion and interiors. Margiela's garments are all made from the most luxurious of found objects, reclaimed interiors and upholstery fabrics once elevated to art pieces. 

http://wgsn-hbl.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/maison-martin-margiela-ss-14-arthouse.html

5. Steven Alan Stripes for West Elm

West Elm has announced an exclusive collaboration with fashion designer Steven Alan. The retailer introduced Alan to artisans in Indian, Haiti and Nicaragua, where he developed products that reference the country’s heritage.

After designing the collection Alan and the president of West Elm travelled to India to produce the collection using entirely handcrafted and traditional techniques. The collection includes furniture, vases, bedding and rugs

http://wgsn-hbl.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/steven-alan-stripes-for-west-elm.html

From website:

Known for his subversive take on shirting, New York fashion designer Steven Alan brings the style + ease of his mens and womenswear designs to a handcrafted home collection, just for west elm. We introduced Steven to artisans in India, Nicaragua and Haiti, where he re-envisioned his signature style as bedding, vases and rugs for every room. "I wanted the collection to feel organic and modern at the same time, so I combined a color palette of earth tones with a clean design."

http://www.westelm.com/shop/collaborations/steven-alan/?cm_type=gnav

6. Karl Lagerfeld Candles by Welton London

Luxury candle brand Welton London has created a range of scented candles within the Karl Lagerfeld brand. Perfumier John-Paul Welton has developed three scents for the collection, each inspired by the iconic fashion house.

Packaged in a matt black votive, Oud & Bois de Santal contains top notes of hazelnut, tobacco and wood fire, heart notes of sandalwood and Fleur de Sel and base notes of golden honey and vanilla.

http://wgsn-hbl.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/karl-lagerfeld-candles-by-welton-london.html

7. Colour and Material Samples by Darono

Portugese homewares company Darono blends functional design with ethical practice, influences from fashion and traditional techniques. This collection of strings shows the various colours the company's products can be manufactured in, as well as creating an intriguing, fashion-forward wall hanging or necklace.

http://wgsn-hbl.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/colour-and-material-samples-by-darono.html

More on Cord design here: 

http://www.wgsn.com/content/report/HBL/Trend_Analysis/2013/July/cord_designtrendanalysis.html

8. Creative Philosophie

After graduating from her Masters degree in London, designer Bibiana Farenzena launched Creative Philosophie, a home and fashion accessories brand focused on illustration and pattern.

"As a graphic designer and illustrator I always wanted to see my drawings out of the computer, in clothing, accessories and decorating my house. Prints have always been a great passion in my life so I decided to study and work with this fascinating topic. So then at my Masters at University of Westminster I used the modules of the course to design the visual identity of the brand, the business plan, the illustrations, the website and the collection itself," explains Farenzena.

http://wgsn-hbl.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/creative-philosophie.html

http://creativephilosophie.com/

PantoneLive and Asda

Slightly off topic but interesting concept...http://www.packagingnews.co.uk/news/asda-to-roll-out-cloud-based-pantonelive-service/

PantoneLive is a cloud-based solution that enables the universal Pantone Colour language to be accurately communicated across the packaging workflow – from design concept to retail store shelves.

It allows Asda to standardise on a single platform and manage digital access rights to facilitate colour communication across packaging materials and suppliers, improving operational efficiencies.

More info on Pantone Live here: http://www.printmag.com/featured/pantonelive-hitting-a-cloud-near-you/

Bottom Line- Radio 4- 19 Feb 2011- "Hyperconnectivity"

Summarised the main points and highlighted the most useful for pike in bold


http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/bottomline/all

Looks at too much technology and too little time to think.

Host- Stephanie Flanders (SF)
Panel- Dominic Taylor CEO Paypoint (DT)
           Rita Clifton chairman Interbrand (RC)
           Sir Michael Rake chairman of BT Group (MR)

SF: There seems like too many devices for the number of people that use them. This is the hyperconnectivity- more devices in use than people using them

RC: Brands matter more than people... People and buildings become obsolete but the thing that lives on is the brand if you look after them properly... Sustainable assets

MR: Broadband has gone from a luxury to a necessity to a utility... the UK is the most competitive broadband environment in the world... 98% coverage... the demand is exponential... there are plans for higher speeds which will dramatically change the way in which people operate.

SF: there are more mobile phones in the world than there are toothbrushes!

MR: We (BT) facilitate vast amounts of data... the future of communication is in wireless and fibre... we are seeing a convergence towards simple platforms that we will use much more easily (e.g. tablets linking with phones)... they are getting simpler to use

RC: It is all about staying in touch

SF: We get all the data but we do not have the time to turn it into information.

RC: It is a danger for all of us... sometimes you listen to people in research and what they say is we need more information. But, to be honest, the last thing they want is more information. What they want is to know, know the answers to things... it is trying to find time to think, as technology drives out the important in favour for the urgent.

DT: As consumers we are totally spoilt for choice. We have devices, networks and more on the move... the opportunity with technology is that it gives people an enormous amount of choice but people need to choose. If it is not working just switch it off. Create your silence.

RC: There is also the need... to edit stuff out otherwise you generally cannot cope... we need to filter out the drivel. We do not have the time to absorb all the info on your website!

DT: We need to communicate face to face (personal)... The real advantage with connectivity is providing services that consumers want... there is a challenge ensuring all this technology is available to everyone.

MR: It is all about access... (fibre optics cover 2/3 of the UK by 2015) Copper access just does not provide what people need.

RC: The human condition remains the same. People have the same emotions, same drives, same fears, they just get realised on a great scale through different channel. If you want to persuade someone it either means being with them personally, getting to know them, and starting a conversation as opposed to yelling at them through a mega phone (personal and bespoke). Human nature has not changed but our ability to realise it and make it show up, has changed enormously.

DT: Know is the time to make a fortune out of simpler things. This is the challenge... The real issue here is data and how you deal with data and how much time you spend on the data and how you make decisions and how you can be overwhelmed by it, even the security of it. Do you have a private life anymore? Everything you do is accessible. There is the how issue over cloud computing- how can you be sure your data is...safe or will be used against you or in a criminal way.

Google Chrome and Lego collaboration

http://popsop.com/2014/01/google-chrome-offers-lego-fans-to-play-digitally/

Leveraging the success of its 2012’s Australian Chrome experiment, Google how launches a full-scale platform allowing people to construct Lego buildings in any spot of the planet. The Build with Chrome simulator now lets Lego fans create original 3D-graphic buildings in the digital space on any space captured by Google Maps.

Really clever - watch the video on the link above!

Understanding Consumer Confidence - Dulux Case Study

Good quote from this book :

Milton, H., 1991. Packaging Design. London: The Design Council.

"Wall paint is a good example of a fashion product. It is relatively cheap, easy to use, and can dramatically change the mood or feel of a home. But people are terrified of it. Colour is one of the most difficult areas of 'lifestyle' to exploit. Despite the ability to choose ties, socks, curtains and carpets, most people lose confidence when faces with decisions about what colour to paint a bare wall." p.30

Dulux are a good example of a brand that has realised the changing confidence in consumers:

"Dulux launched a Natural Whites collection which satisfied the needs of both the white paint users, as well as the 'nervous but would be adventurous if they could guarantee a safe result' audience." p.31

"The Dulux success was the result of the company understanding the insecurities of its target customer, whilst remaining aware that the brand image represented quality, reassurance and safe adventure." p.31

Rgb sensor pen

Bit off point but thought it was interesting. There are now pens that you can point at an object and it picks up the colour via a sensor so you can draw using that colour! Amazing. Link here: http://designtaxi.com/news/354177/Color-Sensing-Pen-Reproduces-Any-Color-That-It-Detects/

Link for Survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7MLLGQV

Plan until Easter

24/02/14- 2/03/14	03/03/14- 09/03/14	10/03/14-16/03/14	17/03/14-23/03/14	24/03/14-30/03/14
Research · Write questions for interior designers/retailers; how has their role changed, have consumers become more confident (know what they want) DONE · Write questions for consumers: do they need interior designers now? Has there been a shift in consumer confidence? Also about the need to touch. DONE · Case studies highlighting trends in sharing and being hyper connected. · Ask consumers about sharing. DONE · Fashion: what is this doing that interiors aren’t? Include information about textures (needs to be tactile) and how it sells via landmarks. ·  Set up Pinterest board Chapter Plan BETH AND GEORGINA VISITING NEC FOR SD ON 26th	The Big/ Creative Idea ·      Work on the big/creative idea ·      Write the ideas out concisely and clearly for Tim. ·      Sum ideas up in 1 sentence. ·      Initial drawings for website and book. ·      Contact product designers; how can we make our prototype Come back to survey results; further analysis Send out new survey! Friday 7th: Tutorial	The Branding ·      Act on tutorial feedback; if we need to revaluate big idea. ·      Start coming up with ideas for branding; colours, fonts, brand essence, logo etc. ·      Brainstorm name ideas ·      Storyboard of the website; what pages link together, consumer journey.	The Presentation ·      Prepare for the presentation ·       Include mock ups and storyboards Friday 21st: Pike Interim Presentation	Tie up loose ends ·      Look over all of research; is there anything we have missed? ·      Final push to get responses from consumers and interior designers. ·      Be confident with branding ·      Create press release and send to contacts to get opinion and feedback. ·      Create new critical path for after Easter; include SWOT, implementations and presentation preparation. BETH AND GEORGINA VISITING NEC FOR SD ON 26TH