Sunday, November 25, 2007

The Disney Store. First and foremost, the store markets itself to any Disney fan anywhere. The store markets to children 3-12, as well as they're parents.

The store entrance in one person: Mickey Mouse. The entrance to the store is divided by black mickey ears. So, there is no question what is inside. Disney merchandise. To little ones, the famous mouse is as recognizable as the McDonald's arches.



The soundtrack inside the store is a mixture of classic and new Disney song staples, like from "High School Musical" and "Cinderella," as well as ad's for the current Disney film, " Enchanted.



The majority of the merchandise is at eye level for people under 5 ft. Making everything at an arms reach for kids, the store's target audience. Merchandise is divided by type (toys, clothing, flatware, collectibles, and dolls), then by gender, and finally by movie. For example, the Disney Store sells hats, gloves, and scarfs. One one side of a unit there are princess themed merchandise, and the other heroes like Buzz and Power Rangers.

The flooring is either blue carpet, or white sparkle tile depending on what are of the store you are standing in.

All signs state the price of the product below it, not what the product is. Due to the nature of Black Friday, the normal black and white signs were joined by big, red signs.

Similar to the signs below:




The cash wrap is a long line of registers in front of a massive display of classic Disney characters. Also, there are bins with impulse buys lined up on and behind the registers. Finally, Disney is currently promoting the pre-order of "High School Musical 2," so, there is a ton of sign-age for the musical.

The business tries to project the image of American idealism that Disney embodies. It tries to project a family friendly environment. It does this by promoting items for little ones to both kids and their elders. And it sells adult merchandise like clothing and coffee cups to older ones. Creating a store for the whole family. Bright colors equal family.

Customers interact with how the store's merchandise is placed. Again, at low levels, toys are easily accessible for kids while clothing is higher up for their parents or guardians. The music that plays promotes the product, and some customers sang along.

It was interesting that they had the same types of products throughout the store. Like clothing in several places. The store used elements of Disney life, like Cinderella's castle, as fixtures.


Sunday, November 18, 2007

Answers to Questions

Kelsey's: According to the article, shoppers are influenced by the positioning of merchandise. How influential do you feel this is on the shopper’s willingness to buy? Can positioning really change the success of a business?

Positioning of merchandise is key to the success of a business. Placing trends together, at a prominent position in the shop, draws a customers eye. A style of tops hidden among racks of jeans will not sell itself to a customer. But, if the same top was highlighted at an end cap of the same denim rack, it will fly off the shelves.Jeans sell best folded on tables. Hanging jeans rarely does justice.

Customers flock to attractive denim tables paired with sleek racks full of clothing. Merchandising is a hard art, a balance between organization and visual appeal for the customer.

Last August, the "Free People" shop at Macy's Southdale Store 31 was horrendous. The beautiful clothes were mismatched by color, texture, length, and price. We needed to make room for new merchandise by selling what was on the floor to make room. My manager, Sushma, knew i was up to the task. I re-vamped the department. The next couple of days, we sold out of many sizes, colors, and products. All because of merchandise placement.

Brandon's: This article states, "since the chances that shoppers will buy something are directly related to how long they spend shopping, and how long they spend shopping is directly related to how deep they get pulled into the store." Drawing a person into a store is obviously a very important part of generating sales. So, what draws you into a store? What keeps you browsing in that store?

What draws me in to a store? Where to begin... Stores that usually catch my attention are that more of a boutique/high end scale. Organized stores without the chaos that usually goes along with the Mall of America's Forever 21. I love department stores with the feel of Bloomingdales or Nordstroms. The music of Abercombie can be enticing, but often an intimidating turn off. I like attention from assoicates when I need/ask for it, however a pushy sales associate often is a humongous turn off, but as is the associates that are too busy gossiping to help a customer.

I keep browsing in a store when I find products that have a good balance between product and price point. If I feel like I am getting a good deal, I will stay in a store longer. I will leave if i feel claustrophobic by either the staff or racks or other customers.

A Shopping Question

Do you believe that the mapping of a store has influence on your shopping habits? Or do you, the consumer, know what you are looking for and it is a mere matter of finding the item within the store? Is it moral to manipulate consumers by product placement, or effective marketing?

Paco's "butt-brush" theory is that a women's product that requires extensive examination should not be placed in a narrow aisle. Does this make sense? Clearance racks are often the most shopped region of the store. they are also usually crammed next to each other and often in shambles. But this goes against Paco's theory. Why do women still shop in clearance racks?

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Packaging is extremely useful in drawing consumers' attention to a product. Nevertheless, packaging does have other purposes, surprise? First of all, it acts as a handy way of portion control. It makes shopping easy. Just pick up a pack of half a dozen pairs of socks instead of matching socks from a bin. It would be quite difficult to purchase, lets say the famous Cocoa Cola Classic if it was not in a package, it would just be a sticky mess! Packaging also helps keep a product in new condition. Eggs would break, TV's would scratch, and Kleenex would get wet. Finally, packaging can prevent theft. It is a lot easier to steal an iPod sitting on a shelf than a bulky, yet well designed package.


Al mismo tiempo, packaging creates a lot of waste. The production of the packaging wastes scarce resources of labor, materials, energy, and time. Once a consumer removes the last layer of packaging, what ever that may be, he has left behind a trail of plastics, Styrofoams, and paper.

The following articles, "Continent-size toxic stew of plastic trash fouling swath of Pacific Ocean" by Justin Berton and "Germany, Garbage, and the Green Dot: Challenging the Throwaway Society" discuss environmental concerns about packaging. Both articles suggest that current package design is excessive and creates excess waste that negativity effects the environment through pollution, litter, and wasted resources.

To produce a more environmentally friendly packaging, there are several modifications that could easily be put into practice. first and foremost, use recycled products in packaging and make all packages recyclable. Simplify the process of recycling, and aid the world, by using less material for packaging. Do not make things bulkier than need be. Less "stuff" surrounding the package would encourage consumers to recycle what is there and it would create less waste.

Listen to what Captain Planet tells little ones...

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Packaging is hugely important in marketing a product. Let's pretend that I have never bought laundry detergent before, completely clueless to brand preferences. At target, method brand detergents are the most visually appealing, except for maybe the bright, simple Tide logo. I would purchase the method detergent because of it's unique, ergonomic shape as well as captivating, simple text.



There are a good deal of products that have iconic packaging, including, but not limited to: McDonald's. Think about it. The golden arches. You've already driven 349 miles, and are really craving a cheeseburger happy meal with no meat. A glimmer ahead of classic red and yellow, is that a mirage? But wait, the arches............ it's McDonald's.

I guess McDonald's isn't really iconic packaging. But one will always recognize dem golden arches.


There are, as with life itself, many usability issues for packaging. one of the most frustrating examples is but of course the hard plastic type with sealed edges. It is possible that one needs a PhD from MIT to open it.


Like, I don't want to talk about how many times I've cut myself with scissors while trying to open packages like above.

The excitement of a child when she, or he, gets a brand new Barbie is like no other. The window to see Barbie and her stylish new outfit and accessories. The Mattel pink that is like crack to 7 year olds.



But beneath the glowing exterior, a minefield of usability problems exist. Barbie's hair is sewn to the back of her cardboard home with some sort of plastic. Every appendage is twistietied in place. Even the cool accessories are locked into place with plastic. So the beautiful outside is tarnished by the ugly interior.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Biggest Mistakes in Web Design 1995-2015

The reading, Biggest Mistakes in Web Design 1995-2015, relates to the concepts of user-focused design that we discussed in class. The entire reading is a list of mistakes web designers make that cause web pages to be confusing slash really really bad. The author discusses the negative effects of unnecessary flash design..... no one really needs to view a 30 second piece on microwaves. He talks about making everything visible, a key point in Don Norman's book.

The most important points on the site are "nobody cares about you or your site," and "heroine content." No one is looking at a web page for you and you alone. They are on your website to accomplish something from historical facts to buying a mini fridge. Sites that have heroine content are enticing and obsess the user. Neopets are crack, or heroine, for young kids. A site dedicated to games, colorful creatures, and shopping. An American child's dream.

Laura's import list of important design factors for a web page.....

if there is music, is it necessary/annoying?
can i easily search the site to find something meaningful?
are the pages complete yet concise?
do i know where i am?
does the site make sense?
what am i looking for?
do i have to hit the back arrow, or can the site navigate me simply back to where i was?
is it attractive? contrasting colors? readable fonts?

no flash intros.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Other Classes

Kelsey's Blog was similar to my own. Making a far off link between design and real world applications. Marketing seems to be a mixture of economics and design. Good merchandising requires proper design and marketing....

Robert wrote about how he never thought about negative design aspects, especially usability. Before reading Don Norman's epic novel, I too never really thought about usability. Like Robert I was more concerned with where i was going and whats going on for dinner. Its interesting that after being in seminar for a couple of weeks, Robert has payed more attention to the world around him.

I enjoyed reading Spencer's blog about Mac OS Leopard. It is essentially a increasing the "supply" of the operating system without giving anything up. It is efficient. The features of Leopard are both easy to use and visible, making them user friendly.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Retail Merchandising

Merchandising is a broad desgin term. According to the internet legend, wikipedia:

"Merchandising refers to the methods, practices and operations conducted to promote and sustain certain categories of commercial activity. The term is understood to have different specific meanings depending on the context."

Merchandising can be the use of a brand in order to sell another. Ranging from Superman to the legendary Boston Red Sox. It is also used for promotion and trade. But to me, the , well at least, most entertaining aspect of merchandising is..... retail merchandising.

Often in department stores, the merchandising once done by in store employees is now dictated by vendors, brands, corporate, regional visual teams, store visual teams, mangers, vendor specialists, and associates. It seems that everybody has their fingers in the pot. The higher powers decide what products are to be sold, where they go in the store, and the visual team that will decide the look of the floor for the moment. once clothing is on the floor, vendor reps and specialist produce an image that the brand is trying to achieve.

Working in the Juniors department at Macy*s Southdale, and the former Marshall Fields, for over two years, I have a pretty good grasp of merchandising my product. I merchandised, re designed, the entire "Free People" shop last September. Within days, pieces that were not selling, began flying off the shelves.

Retail merchandising is the design of a shop to make it most visually appealing for the consumer and most profitable for the retailer.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

blog reviews

I read an interesting article on Kelsey's blog. The selection of the article within Kelsey’s blog attracted me to the link. It was both eye catching in writing style as well as content. Common, everyday items that we take for granted as design mistakes. Well push my buttons and call me a monkey’s uncle, I’m intrigued.

The article discussed major players and ideas in innovative design. Using technology, like computers and video games, to make difficult tasks user friendly. The thought of using a video game as a training device for medical students is outstanding.

It relates to my freshman seminar, Design Intelligence, because both the class and the article are about creating a product that is user friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and forward thinking.




Kelsey's blog
is just a click away.





i will write about it before class on fri



The second blog I found interesting
was Mr. Naufal Waffle's.



The comical idea of pulling a tab from the “tail” of a toy grasped my attention. Nevertheless, it made sense. Often one has no idea how to make something work due to a design flaw.

The website was interesting because it was a slide presentation of different design mistakes and possible solutions.

The link relates to class because it about how to make things work, and how to design something that feels right.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Design Website

'Béhar's ability to anticipate--and incarnate--consumer lust routinely brings executives to his door, saying, "We want to be the Apple of our industry." And Béhar has an impertinent question for them, too: "Do you have the guts?"'

The above passage is extremely relevant to class. We discuss about design innovations and making products user friendly. Apple is a standard of innovation and forward thinking. Behar is the Apple of designers. He revolutionizes society with his improvements in design. The article quotes, "His holistic view of design is rare in the business world." More should have this view, then everything would be usable.


This is a link to the "Fast Company" website.




This text
is a link to the "Fast Company" website.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

"What if we stopped making the docs we give away for free SO much nicer than the ones the user paid for? What if instead of seducing potential users to buy, we seduced existing users to learn?"-- Kathy Sierra

To me, this is on the same page as customer service. If I already have your product, make me like it even more through manuals and service, so that I will become a life long customer and refer all my friends and family. The newest, trendiest car may have free, flashy brochures, but they often die young. Why are classics classic?

A lot of it has to do with how happy the consumer is. I love the notion of keeping current customers happy.

Its kind of like college. Sure the shiny, propaganda, mailings make any institution seem fabulous. But, if the college is not what it looks like to be on paper, then potential students will not enroll or transfer. if the same energy of enticing a student to a school was put into making the student happy, a lot less negative actions would take place on campus.



This text
is a link Kathy Sierra's blog.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

A well designed product

There are a lot of well designed products. Other than the obvious Apple creations, several objects are outstanding. "Seven for all mankind" jeans are well designed. They are cut perfectly to my body type, they are made of a rich looking, yet soft feeling fabric, and they are easy to use. No belts required.

http://www.7forallmankind.com/pl/c/3.html

Love it.

But pertaining to Norman's "The Design of Everyday Things," pointe shoes are the perfectly designed product. It is impossible to make an error putting on the shoes, because they are interchangeable right and left. They take advantage of natural mapping because they simply cover the shoes. There are many different types of pointe shoes, able to fit any foot, anywhere. Knowledge that one must keep in the head is how to tie the ribbons around the foot, but wait! Using the foot, there are only a couple of ways to tie the ribbons correctly! The knot of the ribbons must be tucked away in the inner ankle, or a forcing function will give you a blister!

Monday, October 8, 2007

A flawed product

Everyday we encounter things with design flaws. It is hard to pinpoint a single item with a flaw because after the multitude of bad design, we use knowledge in our head to simply learn how to cope, so poor design does not stand out horribly. Nevertheless, a product that has design flaws is my desk lamp. The lamp was designed by a designer, not a common person. conceptually, it is thoughtful, and organized. A desk lamp with a tape despenser, pencil holders, and other goodies.



But in the real world, many frustrations exist.

The most important aspect of a lamp is to provide light. But the round knob at the top of the light makes it unclear whether the user should push it in, or turn it, to produce a sunny glow. The knob does depress, and turn both to the right and left. The lamp only works when one turns the on swich to the left (if one is staring dead on at the object), but do not forget it clicks no matter which way you manipulate the knob.

Secondly, it is impossible to put tape in the tape holder. The round, plastic holder that a spool of tape sits on does not come out of the lamp no matter how the angle, pressure, or what have you, while trying to extract it.

Three other compartments do not really old anything except post-its. They're too small for writing utensils, rulers, pretty much anything bigger than post-it size. And they're too shallow for paper clips or rubber bands.

I have a big desk lamp that can hold 3 pencils, a pen, and a pair of scissors that can be turned on some of the time.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

The egg drop.

We were told that we needed to create something for an egg to survive a three story drop. After much brainstorming, Kelsey and I decided that we must build something with many layers to protect the egg. With limited time and resources, we went digging in the recycling bins by Hoben Hall. We came up with a seven, count them, seven layer contraption to hold our egg. The egg was surrounded by cotton balls, in a cup, surrounded by plastic bags in a Kleenex box. The box was centered inside of a large box filled with balled up newspaper and plastic bags. The egg, little Robert, was not going anywhere. In the design we wanted to include a large surface area so all the impact of crashing would be less intense on the delicate egg, and layers of loose padding to allow for movement within the box.

The building of our super structures was simple, easy, and efficient. All of our supplies were free, thanks again to the recycling bins, and simple. It was a matter of putting the layers in the correct order, and poof, we have an invincible egg container!


I was not worried about testing our egg container. There was no doubt in my mind that it would not succeed with flying colors. After several successful tests, as a class we minimized our contraptions to see if we over designed our projects. Little Robert lived. We took the Kleenex box out of the big box, tossed it down three flights with no causalities. But just the cup and cotton balls proved to be too much for lil’ Bobby…

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Chapter Two: The Design of Everyday Things

"In the absence of external information, people are free to let their imaginations run free as long as the mental models they develop account for the facts as they perceive them" (39).

I have never thought about the process in which people form theories. Norman puts the process simply into words. Keeping to cliches, up until the 19th century people believed that the world was flat. Well, it makes sense, sure there are mountains and valleys, but since one cannot tell that the world is round, why would it be anything but flat? And for that matter, the sun might as well travel around the earth, because one cannot tell that the earth is moving, I mean, I can see the sun moving around the world I live in....

Norman, Donald A. The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic Books, 1988.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Opening Blog Post

hey guys whats up.

The more time I have spent away from work, the more I miss retail. I never thought I would miss a place where there is always something to do. Ranging from crabby customers, trying to please management, and picking up fitting room disasters..... retail is hard, but I love it.

It all began with my first microeconomics class, essentially the seven steps of microeconomics fit in beautifully with the retail world. AAnnnnnnnnnd, of course a class on the intelligence of design coincides with the fashion/retail/whathaveyou world. I am really digging the fuctionality and visibility of design. I never really thought about why I like the utter simplicity of a Mac compared to a sloppy PC. And of course it all fits in to fashion as well.

I love jeans. love love love denim. It really is a bad obsession. At work, for example, I cannot just leave a pile of poor jeans all alone. They must be maticulisly merchendised into the scheme of the floor lay out. Oh, and they must all be sized, buttoned, folded, tages tucked, and of couse seperated by brand and fit.