November 25, 2009

1. What seminar readings, exercises, or assignments were most challenging, interesting, or rewarding for you? Why?

Personally, I believe the discussions were the most rewarding part of the class for me. I found it really interesting and enjoyable to meet everyone and have civil discussions about scholarly topics. I feel really fortunate to have been able to experience this seminar with this group of people. I learned a lot about them as well as myself. :)

2. What are the most important things you learned in this seminar?

Writing techniques, how to have scholarly discussions, putting together work that is acceptable for college expectations.

3. How might you use this learning in the future?

I hope I will use what I learned in seminar with all of my future college work, and hopefully it will translate positively and my work will turn out better than what it would have been without seminar.

November 18, 2009

1) Select a brief passage from the reading and post it on your blog. Explain why you thought it was interesting.

"At one point in time advertisers were afraid of humor. Now they realize that humor sells, and many commercials are extremely funny. This humor generates what might be called a "halo-effect," a feeling of well-being that becomes attached to the products being advertised."

I think it's fascinating that people were afraid to make people laugh. To me it seems like the best way to break the ice is to say something funny, or make something funny and get a laugh out of people. Advertisers now realize that distracting people by humor really hides the fact that they are being manipulated.

2) What do you think were the authors key points?

- Economic influence
-Targeted groups, and who targets them
-Visceral and Behavioral components.
-Social and Cultural impact

3) Why is it important to have psychological understanding when it comes to advertising?

If the advertising agencies don't think about the consumers, then their products won't sell. It's crucial to think about the audience and how they will react to the ad. If they don't like it, chances are the product will flop. If you want to influence and manipulate people, you are going to have to think how they think, and furthermore make a plan attuned to their thoughts and reactions.

November 16, 2009

1) Fashion is reflective whether you want it to be or not. No matter what you wear you give off an "element of style". For example, when you want to be wearing comfortable clothes on a sunday while doing homework, you emit that "style" even when you are going for a purely behavioral element, the reflective qualities are still there. Fashion has always been a way for people to make a statement about themselves, especially during first impressions. It's natural for people to want to say something about themselves without actually having to say it... because how annoying would that get?

2) Fashion evolves simply because people do. Pop-culture plays a huge role in the change of what's "in-style". There are always people who want to have the latest and greatest, therefore supply meets demand. If a large population of people want something, chances are they will get it.

3) When you make a garment consider:

-who will wear it

-price

-when will it be worn, and for what purpose?

- quality

- style

-comfort and fit

Thesis Statement

Enhancements are equally important as innovative technology.

November 6, 2009

I think that Downtown Kalamazoo gets a thumbs up for overall appearance and structure. It has an old historic feeling yet, still maintains a feel of "new". The brick also gives an old time feel' There are some things I would change with accessibility. Although downtown remains very pedestrian-friendly... the one way streets, angled streets, and limited access to downtown do not allow automobile traffic to flow easily. I would change some of the landscaping and picnic tables... the tables didn't really match the rest of the area and seemed strange to have round tables in the area. I would also make sure that all the stores were clearly labled, or at least opened (or had lights on) at a designated opening-time.

November 2, 2009

1) List the criteria Robert Gibbs uses to evaluate a Main Street.

-aesthetic appeal/beauty, yet not too distracting

-generators: places (like parks) that draw consumers and businesses to the area, and into the vacant stores

-successful stores, that convey a message of importance and status

-color scheme/palette and enhancements: simplicity is key, less is more

-flow of traffic: the way streets are set up needs to easy for cars and pedestrians and to avoid confusion, but keep people in the area

-recognizable stores, big names: people enjoy smaller, unique stores but shop more at well-known, department stores

2) Think critically of Gibbs' argument. Do you think "Main Street" should be a mall?

I dont think that Main Street will ever be seen as a mall to consumers. Although, there are many similarities between the two, most of the people who shop in both environments do not relate the two besides the fact that they both allow a place for retailers to sell their products. If you overlook the fact that Main Street is "outside" and has some smaller store names, the mall and Main Street try to convey the same message. It's a matter of location and environment, they both have the same concept and qualities. They are almost identical in classification, but simply are different species.

3) Make your own checklist to judge a Main Street. What things do you think are important?

I agree with Gibbs....

-aesthetic appeal/beauty, yet not too distracting

-generators: places (like parks) that draw consumers and businesses to the area, and into the vacant stores

-successful stores, that convey a message of importance and status

-color scheme/palette and enhancements: simplicity is key, less is more

-flow of traffic: the way streets are set up needs to easy for cars and pedestrians and to avoid confusion, but keep people in the area

-recognizable stores, big names: people enjoy smaller, unique stores but shop more at well-known, department stores

but I think that having a concept or theme to build a shopping environment around, is crucial and needs to be executed perfectly in order to be truly successful. The architect needs to make sure that everyone is on the same page when developing the complex, and paying attention to the finer details as well as the larger ones.

October 30, 2009

1) To what extent is packaging important in marketing a product? Give an example of how a package influenced your decision to buy (or not to buy) something.

Packaging is a crucial factor in triggering an initial response in a consumer and general concept of a product. Whether it be recognizing a particular brand, color scheme, or unique shapes, there is something that catches our eye. Generally when I go shopping in a grocery store I compare prices between products, if the two products have the same qualities and are similar in price, typically I will choose the brand I recognize as being trustworthy and has a reputation of satisfaction. Marketing a product with a logo and a slogan reinforces the general idea the company wants you to see when you look at their product on the shelves. For example, I have seen the progresso vs. campbell's harvest select commercials on tv (produced my cambpell's), during the advertismement there are people holding the can's so you can see the labels talking about MSG in the progresso and the fact that campbell's contains no MSG (which it says it on the label). To this day I refuse to buy pregresso or eat it, and when I see those blue progresso cans on the shelves sometimes I can feel myself almost scoffing at the sheer idea of purchasing them.

2) What other products have iconic packaging?

The first thing that popped into my mind was a tiny, teal/aquamarine box with a white ribbon tied around it. Most women (and men with excellent taste) will recognize this as little box as Tiffany's, a jeweler who has perfected the concept of iconic packaging. So well in fact, that most women have a general idea of what's in the box and squeal in delight at the sheer sight of them.

3) What usability issues exist for packaging? Give examples of particularly good or bad packaging from a usability perspective.

Packaging is clearly important in marketing a product, otherwise there wouldn't be so many jobs and professions in packaging and so much money, time, and effort put in to the exterior elements of a product. Although, the true professionals recognize that there has to be a balance between form and funtion. If a product projects the function or purpose of something and is aethestically contradicting then the user will be confused, or turned-off. For example, if a carpenter went into a hardware store looking for a some g]Gorilla Glue and a salesperson directed them to an area with shiny,pink boxes the carpenter would definitely have to take a closer look and read what was inside the boxes. There are certain products that should look glamorous and others that should look plain dependent upon the purpose and image the product is trying to relay.