Tag Archives: brands

Did Leonardo Da Vinci have a Macbook Pro?

7 Oct

McKinsey Quarterly recently published an article about the rising importance of creativity in the digital world … and it’s good news!

The creative economy

As we labour away in a frenetic 4th Industrial Revolution where WORK is being transformed by algorithms and bots … some of us wondering where we will fit, the one shining star is digital creativity.

Screen Shot 2018-10-07 at 10.35.49 am

See machine learning is great for programmed processes but not so great for human creativity. That’s where Leonardo fits in. I know for sure he didn’t have a Macbook Pro but his fecund mind and total genius produced art and engineering and product design.

leonardo-da-vinci-fa2252

Who cares if you are marketing on Instagram, Facebook or Youtube – it’s still all about great content and that has to start with big ideas.

Screen Shot 2018-10-07 at 10.36.54 am

This has to start with an existential approach to business thinking and that will come from the top.

source: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/five-fifty-Creating-Creatives

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

What’s Peking Duck got to do with great brands

8 Sep

Image

Many big cities have Chinatowns. City districts built around Chinese immigrants. It’s probably a huge generalisation to say that China and its people are traders. That business is hot wired somehow into the Chinese persona. I think there is some truth in it though.

As Eric Idle sings, “I like Chinese.” Take for example my favourite restaurant, here in Sydney’s Chinatown, BBQ King. It’s been operating ever since I was a kid and it’s hardly changed. It’s very successful with it’s steamy window display of ducks and pork and other things I’m not sure of.

BBQ King is also a late night haunt for chefs all across Sydney. It’s where the best go to eat.

But one thing … it’s never updated it’s look. It has the same vintage Chinese cafe feel with laminex tables and non-descript chairs. The owners haven’t put in any blonde wood (Danish modern) or anything at all chic. Why? It’s an original.

The food is amazing. The service swift (if a little unsmiling at times.) But the food is why I go there. It’s unfailingly good.

Refreshing brands when they need it can be valuable, but be cautious here!

We don’t want to alienate our good customers and we don’t want to lose the tradition and flavour a business has built up over the years just for the sake of change.

By the way, that’s sake not sake (japanese rice wine.)

Tags: , ,