Yes, another airline is doing it. Using fun, personality, design to differentiate themselves from others.

Image from . The inflight safety demo is worth watching too; also from One Large Prawn.

Thanks to Martin for the initial heads up!

As with Virgin, consistency and integrity (to the stated brand values) are key. And some people won’t like it; but those who do will love it!

Most businesses and brands are boring. Doing social media is really an attempt at unboringfication.

Most businesses have spent most of their time not developing a rich, deep, authentic and approachable personality. Let alone one that behaves congruently with clearly stated values and beliefs. They tell themselves they are the expert in everything. They strive to be everyone’s BFF. They are fearful and paranoid. In some cases, they are …

It is interesting how Apple’s brand has become synonymous with the personality of Steve Jobs. Like it or hate it, this makes Apple as a brand very rich and real.

It is also interesting how it is often in times of difficulty that the true beliefs and values of a person/brand are revealed. And without a doubt Apple is in some difficulties at the moment around the iPhone …

Below is a particularly interesting comment on this article on Steve Job’s “every phone is just as bad” attack on competing phone manufacturers over the iPhone 4 antenna issue:

Posted Monday 19th July 2010 19:12 GMT

…

When you’re paying £100 for a phone and £400 for a logo that logo better not represent incompetence, arrogance, denial and greed.

I steer well clear of any product for which the brand …

The interior fit-out of the Alessi shop at the ION shopping centre on Orchard Road, Singapore, has always struck me as odd and at-odds with the brand.

The colours are unsophisticated and rather kindergartenish. The display shelves are oddly detailed and feel unconsidered. The lighting is Seven Eleven cancer fluorescent. Maybe my impression of Alessi is completely off key all along?

An expensive glass ornaments shop …

This excellent Rob Cottingham cartoon reminded me of a similar personal experience a few years ago.

Someone I had a … let’s say disagreement … with years ago used to send me pompous letters printed up using Comic Sans. The laughably absurd, self righteous content of those letters, tripped up in pseudo-legalese, was matched perfectly with the frivolous irreverence of Comic Sans. …

When you become known to the world for one overwhelming thing, the world can stop seeing the other stuff you offer. A strong brand, a powerful unique value proposition, can be disadvantageous if you have other things to offer.

Hiroshima is way more than the site of the first atomic bomb used in war. It is actually a lovely, lively and living city.

Kraft Foods Australia has recently named their latest Vegemite product the “iSnack 2.0″

When I first saw this I thought it was a prank. But sadly no, it is for real.

The following thoughts came to mind: wrong, lame, does not conjure about anything to do with food, trying too hard to be hip and cool (and completely missing the mark), a shallow …

The name of a Russian-Nigerian gas joint venture: Nigaz. In Africa, but of course. Very appropriate. Not to mention sensitive.

The latest to join the queue:
Chevrolet Nova = “doesn’t go” in South America.
Ford Pinto = “small penis” in Brazil.
“Come alive with the Pepsi generation” = “Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead” in Taiwan.
Rabobank = “ass bank” in Portuguese (thanks Sandro!!!)

Read more over at The …

Saw this book by Jonathan Salem Baskin in a bookshop recently.

Another proponent of actions speaking louder than words – or fancy logos, or fake marketing. Yay.

Buy now from Amazon:
Branding Only Works on Cattle: The New Way to Get Known (and drive your competitors crazy)