So many exciting things to talk about this week! First, the red door is finished and welcoming visitors. So, next time you stop in, look for the red door. Also, be sure to watch our Facebook page next week — we’re having a photo contest for the month of October. It launches October 1 and the theme is Color and Light. The winning photo will be made into a poster-sized print. This week we looked at the process of deciding what to keep and what to leave out, lessons from the inspiring career of legendary newswoman Barbara Walters, the marketing strategies behind Christmas stuff being on sale now, and how technology changes connection.
When you make design choices, what factors influence your decision? Did you notice any oversights when you watched the Emmys?
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry famously said, "perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away." Creative work is most definitely all about choices regarding what to leave and what to take out. This process was put in the spotlight this week following the Emmy memorial tributes, when well-known and long-established actor Jack Klugman was left out in favor of the young fan favorite Cory Monteith and some others.
Barbara Walters’s birthday was this week, and she remains a force in media. Is reinvention the only route to relevance?
At 84, Barbara Walters is both legendary and relevant. In the 1950s, she started out in the secretarial pool and moved onto journalism, having a career breakthrough when she traveled with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to report on a trip to India and Pakistan. Over the years, she’s interviewed some of the world’s most fascinating people and had her share of history-making moments like the joint interview of Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin. Her approach is fascinating – not only does she research intensely before an interview, she seems to have an almost uncanny sense of timing as far as when it is time to change.
When is it too soon to start advertising Christmas?
This year it seems like it has happened sooner — on recent visits to both Macy’s and Costco —holiday merchandise was already out. At Target, peppermint stick ice cream sits alongside spicy pumpkin. Since I’ve still got my sandals on, it definitely seems to soon. But, according to The Drum, most retailers are thinking about the holiday sales season in August and launching before Halloween.
Presidential debates were first televised 53 years ago and America watched instead of just listening. How do the new technologies change the way you connect?
When Kennedy took on Nixon in the 1960 debate, 88 percent of households had televisions and most thought that it was purely for entertainment. So, using the TV to connect people with candidates changed people’s perceptions of the two candidates. And, some believe it changed the course of the world. Nixon was famously sickly and sweaty, while Kennedy looked calm and confident. Those watching thought Kennedy won, and radio listeners believed it was Nixon. It will be interesting to see how history is influenced by our use of iPads, smart phones, and other emerging technologies to share information and to connect.
An invitation: You can let us know your viewpoint — here, on Facebook, or on Twitter — Monday through Thursday, we pose questions ranging from lighter fare to industry-focused topics. Every Friday we look back at the week. If you are on Twitter, we are @ProLitho — please follow us, and join the discussion about this week’s #4Qs. We’d also love to have you check us out at Facebook and LinkedIn.