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.

Please take note of the top four search terms on Google today … December 31st. Looks like there’s some Christmas gift gloom here … Seems that a lot of those Microsoft Zune mp3 players purchased as Christmas gifts aren’t working out so well. Just another reason to not purchase Microsoft products.

Seriously? Someone wrote a book about this subject? People read this? Its sad really.

A great sculpture installed on Wall St in NYC early this morning. The ECONOMY is melting away today in Manhattan!

There is simply nothing else to say … I couldn’t agree more!

So, a few months back Jenny and I were heading into the Garden State (New Jersey) to see Radiohead play in Liberty State Park, just off the island of Manhattan. While waiting for the NJ Path train, I noticed this phone on the platform. And what struck my attention was the simple fact that the same message needed to be communicated three different ways. I can only imagine how those three or more meetings went at the corporate office. “It just isn’t clear what the phone is for … How can we simplify the message?” And at some point there had to be some sort of approval process from a “higher-up.”

Personally, I believe the original message is clear enough … “Passenger Assistance Telephone.” What else needs to be said? Well apparently, plenty! I just love “Lift for Aid.” That’s great! What kind of “Aid” are we talking about here? The arrow really tops it off. As if there is anything else anywhere nearby that one might possibly be able to lift.

Do you want to purchase a bottle of mad Luchador wine? I wouldn’t know. I’m no wine expert. As a designer, I was instantly drawn to this bottle. No contest … It stood out among the adjacent competitors.

Many consumers make decisions at the point of purchase. Many unconscious. Trust me, it’s true. Big-box retailers have paid a pretty penny, many times over for market study after market study. We are an impressionable consumer.

In a time of financial crisis, consumers are using much less credit to make purchases. Therefore much less purchases across the board. What drives our collective unconscious during these times? And why doesn’t this drive stick with us in times of prosperity? We quickly forget our suffering.

What? What is this? This is an advertisement from Career Builder. Apparently, Career Builder seems to think that we (the workforce) should not try and achieve our dreams, because dreams apparently have a very low return on their investment. Funny. It seems to me that dreams cost nothing. Zero. Nada. So, there’s no investment. And, if one is fortunate enough to achieve their dreams, then the return is beyond measure. Priceless.

So, Career Builder’s advertising campaign is saying that we (the workforce) should just give up on our dreams. Visit their website. And just find some job.

Now, I realize I might be reading a bit much into this poster, but still. Now, if the headline started with “Daydreaming” … then maybe.

Sometimes, I just love the enthusiasm of tourists. I’m a tourist myself a lot. But I just can’t envision Jen and I wearing matching Hawaiian shirts. Now, we have some hideous Hawaiian shirts that we do wear on occasion. Ones that would make my mother shudder in disgust !!

However, I just can’t imagine how that conversation would go. First thing in the morning. Getting our coffee together in the hotel room. Digging through the suitcase looking for the right outfit. And then for Jen to look up and say, “Hey, we should both wear these !!”

We were in Cambridge and Boston for the Resolute photoshoot. There wasn’t much time for exploring the area, however we got around a little.

So, from the photo below, why do the Harvard Seniors need to be cautious?

I love the stenciled graphic in the following photo. Living the pedestrian life of NYC, I feel that the term “sidewalk” is often misunderstood by those who traverse it. A sidewalk is not for loitering. It is not for riding your bike. It’s not for parking your motorcycle. It’s a sidewalk. Its specifically designed to be walked. Obviously, pedestrians of Harvard’s campus feel the same.