According to Wikipedia ‘Why’s an interrogative pro-abverb used mostly in questions that are concerned with causality. Somebody asking “Why is the sky blue?” would want to know what circumstances have transpired to create the situation to make the sky appear blue.

Recently I read Brooke Capps article in Ad Age “Want to Build a Powerful Brand? Don’t Forget Core Values” Published April 24, 2007. In her article Capps suggests that asking the question “why?’ is one of the fundamental ways to help one different their brand to make it innovative and substantial.

‘Ever wondered why?’
Allen Adamson, managing director, Landors Associates, maintained that “strong brands start off with a crisp idea of what’s different and why that difference is relevant.” In presenting the points contained in his book, “Brand Simple,” he raised the Jerry Seinfeld query: “Have you ever wondered why…?” This, Mr. Adamson said, is the question that generates true innovation. Timberland, he said, came from the shoe maker’s founder stepping in a puddle and asking himself why it’s so hard to find a truly waterproof shoe. Baby Einstein was born when a mom wondered why there was no educational programming for the 9- to 14-month-old set.

While this question proves to be essential in many scenarios of the industry it has been my primary tool in sanely communicating with clients about design work. Sometimes a client insists on you executing a project in a manor that contradicts every fiber of your being. Perhaps they require you to put a drop shadow on the entire body copy or feel that pepto pink emotionally communicates their software company.

The truth is that every parameter should be a conversation. A question up for discussion. Jaded designers often accept ridiculous requests and work around them. Writing off the outcome of the project as “Just a piece I won’t include in my portfolio”. We all are guilty of taking the easy route a few times.

Peeling back all the layers of color theory and design principals we get to the heart of what a truly innovative designer is. The core responsibility of a Creative is to be the one who asks “why”. Not only when it is appropriate, but when it is completely unprecedented and unexpected. When eyebrows are raised and eyes dart, someone has to be the one to question the status quo. Thats how the best solutions are found.

[tags]wonder why, ask why, Brooke Capps [/tags]

At night before I tuck myself into bed I pray to a higher being and request things like world peace, ending poverty, and someone to invent a more viable option to PowerPoint. There is a distinct possibility that some headway is being made with one of those requests. As previously established, I am extremely averse to the Microsoft application. Flashing that sparkly smile boasting that confident stride, Google has once again landed on a Monopoly property with a whole handful of tricks up its sleeve. Man, am I excited to see if this investment is going to have a high return.

No Whammies, No Whammies.. Big Bucks!

I am aware that there are a lot of people out there who don’t feel the same as I on the PowerPoint argument. A colleague of mine named Brian King actually loves PowerPoint so much that he bought the domain “http://www.IlovePowerPoint.com”. When I asked Brian why he is such a fan he replied “I don’t think it’s too bad. It is the lowest common denominator, everyone in the business world has it. Rather than hating it, I embrace it.” However, he does admit that if Google came up with an application that fixes the flaws of PowerPoint, his feelings could be reconsidered. Ironically, if you go to http://www.IlovePowerPoint.com you will see that Brian adorns the page with Google adwords.

According to http://www.tonicsystems.com Google acquired “the San Francisco-based company that provides Java presentation automation products and solutions for document management”. I have never used tonic systems but get the impression it does not have the full functionality that PowerPoint currently posses. In an AP press article Google Chairman and Chief Executive Eric Schmidt stated ‘It does not have all the functionality nor is it intended to have all functionality of Microsoft Office, It seems to be a better fit to how people use the Web.’

Eric says this now, but in my fantasies he is saying…
“It doesn’t Woop PowerPoint ass now, but oh… it will… it will. Mu ha ha ha!”

[tags] Google, PowerPoint, Microsoft, tonicsystems, presentation, Eric Schmidt[/tags]

One of my family’s favorite activities when I was a kid was playing the board game Monopoly. Like an episode of Gilligan’s Island, we always began to play optimistically in complete denial of how the tale was scripted to end. By the end of the game my father usually bought up half the board, loaded it with hotels, and my younger sister then naively landed on his property unable to pay the consequences discouragingly exited the dining room in a flood of tears.

Google plays board games similar to my dad. Yahoo and Microsoft sit in a smoky room with cigars and hash it out with Google and Rich Uncle Pennybags to see if who can roll doubles the most. Google at the helm of a tiny pewter battleship glides past Go and buys up the most properties nearly every round. With Yahoo and microsoft hot on the battleship’s wake it seems like they are always one roll behind some of the best real estate. Seeming to negotiate nearly ridiculous deals, Google doesn’t just make investments, it invests defensively.

Purchasing Double Click at nearly 10 times its revenue may seem like a reckless buy on Google’s part, but I believe its more of a statement than a venture. Google is in it to win it, and they are making no bones about it. My curiousity lies in Yahoo, what will happen to one who plays the game slowly but surely? With solid investments like UpComing.org, Del.licio.us. and Flickr they have a fairly valuable corner of the board. When the others land on their property they may not be getting hotel values, but they have a steady cash flow that prays on those who roll solid numbers.

During my childhood The possibility of embarking upon game of monopoly was daunting. The challenge to overtake a superpower was thrilling, but watching tiny Toni leave the room in shambles was heart-wrenching. Sometimes people get tired of never winning. They give up and go onto playing games like UNO and Jenga. Other times, it only toughens them up to win more. At the age of 23 my sister will mercilessly kick some ass in monopoly, but it took her getting wooped for years to make it happen. With Yahoos tough skin, I am interested to see if the outcome will be similar.