What’s wrong with this image? I wonder if this advertisement was designed for an upside down installation. Something found on the way to the studio!

Update: So, I just discovered this is a new Gatorade product, Shine On. And I don’t think the upside down installation was intentional. However it might be … Apparently this is a new product for Gatorade AM. I’m assuming a Gatorade product to jump start your morning. Therefore it would, in many ways, make sense to install this advertisement upside down.

Obviously, as a designer myself, I find a great deal of inherent value in design. But where is the value of design, or rather how strong can design be? Well, this depends on the target audience. From my experience managing a boutique design studio, our clients are our first audience. If approval is not attained, there is no other audience.

With this context in mind, how strong is design?

First let me state, that I see myself in two parts — as a refiner of problems, and a designer of strategic and holistic solutions. I did believe for a long time that the strength of design is only as strong as my ability to defend the designed solution. In the past few years, I have come to realize the designed solution does not need “defending.” Especially, from the likes of a designer. Or rather, in design terms. The strength of the designed solution lies in my ability to articulate its value as a holistic solution in terms that address the business objectives of the initially refined problem.

Explain why the design solution works, not why its pretty.

Gotta love this !!