> CONNECTION OR DISCONNECTION??

world is now very very and very digital. efficient, yes, it's great.
however, MSN, myspace, facebook, E commerces, virtual game, NDS, that human interaction is decreasing at a exponential speed. we demand efficiency, being in control, being isolated, being connected but an indirect connections with delay (replying with sms instead of calling - phenomenon in Asia.) We lost the channels for real human connection at a physical spots.. or let's say we sooner will loose the ability to connect in a very basic, traditional way.

can design bring back to our basic, our root that we can engaged in, we all desire to go back to ourselves, our touches, our senses and a real humane experience?

> PRADA - THE NEW H&M

Today , in the alienation of the globalization, everything becomes heavily homogenizing in a lot of ways, that, identities has been slowly disintegrating. We loose the sense of ourself, our own definition, sense of life, sense of being. Luxurious store are like Starbucks, H&M, Mcdonald, experience of engaging into the product experience became homogeneous as well as digital.

Again, can we deliever an experience personal, where you can touch, chat, feel and acquiring such experience by being there, where no one other than such person whom experienced it can take home with it? this is luxury and can we manage it? if a store concept becomes a 1 to 1 experience, is it too costly to operate ? is this a fantasy that men has been looking for?

> DIALOGUE WTH PAUL SMITH

went to "Sir Paul Smith in conversation with Dylan" tonight (NOTE: Dylan chief ed. from ID magazine)
quite interesting and reinforcing some of my thoughts as well. HIGHLIGHTS:

HAVE TO HAVE POINT OF VIEW
THINGS WITH LITTLE SECRETS
THINGS WHERE EVERYDAY MEN CAN IDENTIFY
EVERY SHOP, EVERY CORNER HAS THEIR OWN IDENTITY, BIG BRANDS SHOP IS LIKE STARBUCKS THESE DAYS - PATHETIC! THERE MUST BE REASON TO GO PARIS, BUT NOT ANYMORE
BIG BRANDS - BUILD IDEAS, ROLL OUT IDEAS LIKE PUSHING BUTTONS
UNIQUENESS
PASSION, ENERGY
I EMBRASS YOU, YOU EMBRASS ME
CARE ABOUT HUMAN BEING, THERE ARE PPL NOT VERY WELL
REAL PERSON
LARGER THAN LIFE
HUMOR, TOUCH AND GENTLE GESTURE (IN JPN)
PAUL'S DNA: LOVE OF LIFE/CURIOUS/OBSERVANT/YOU WEAR THE CLOTHES

finally, "IT'S ABOUT TODAY & TOMORROW, NO ONE CARES HOW GOOD YOU USED TO BE"

> PACKAGING - IDEAS

went to Harrolds, Liberty, Harvey N, and premium store to visit packaging designs. from jewelry, to cigar products. Here are some draft idea of possible design for the necklaces.

> BRANDING

The function of branding is to create preference by managing consumer’s perceptions and expectations of the brand. This is accomplished by developing a brand strategy that outlines rules and guidelines to ensure that the brand owner’s goals and objectives are met. The role of branding has become an integral part of business strategy as it defines a realistic and manageable brand promise, detailing what the brand owner must deliver and what consumers expect of the brand.

Branding preconditions consumers to consider and purchase a brand offering by managing the associations between that brand and its audience. This increases consumer confidence in both the functional and emotional benefits that the brand promises to deliver. As brands reside within the hearts and minds of consumers, branding is not about getting your target market to choose your offering over the competition, it is about preconditioning consumers to see your offering as the only way to satisfy a specific need, want, or desire.

> MET WITH ANOTHER LUXURY BRAND

Met with armrevolution. a cuff links company that selling each pair made of stainless steel at around 500 pounds. targeting a very niche market group.

very similar to my idea indeed.

summary of meeting:
I met the designer as a potential customer as their web e-commerce is not launched yet.
location: liberty cafe 2nd floor
person: designer herself, Scottish, dress semi formal, mid 20.
product - packaging: very nice and more expensive / luxurious packaging than any other cuff links company I've seen.
product - cuff links: big, masculine, architectural
future - launching of e - commerce
event - may have exclusive event (but do express because of low budget, have to keep it small)
warranty - 2 yrs
trick - serial numbers for each pair, but not limited
marketing - as a new movement
office - london and nyc
duration of our meeting - 30 mins
bill - 6 pounds paid by designer

> WEB DESIGNING

DIRECTION before launching:

AT 1ST - would like to do a video of life and style however, change of style
2nd thoughts - building up tension for awaiting. and ended up a very quick flash of product.
SO, PRELUDE: bang bang then slowly evolves into a "waiting" slogan"
got a CSM web designer "VAS" committed to the development but never showed up during the week.
need to find another person - may have to pay.
as can't invest much time learning flash / dreamweaver from now.

> FINAL REFINING OF NAME CARDS / DIRECTION

> CULT OF ASIAN LUXURY

attended at the London Business School's seminar by a strategy consultant - from HK actually. - Thanks to Paul C. my tutor forwarding me such info.

got my space at the live video feed room. obviously, many interested (and found out at the end as well) in asia's opportunities - 1 room can't fit all.

interesting, however, to me, it's quite stating the obvious (which I have knowledge of) - all she stressed is Asian culture buy into big brand names, and they are pretty superficial. Asian are under COLLECTIVISM rather than INDIVIDUALISM. threw some statistics but nothing really in depth nor forward looking.

however, it did raised some good point - small luxury brands properly won't succeed in Asia as they don't operate the way Asians (Chinese esp.) prefer. good note, level of truth - may not be absolute.

good finger food and wine at the end though. yum!~

> NAME CARD CARRIER?

> TESTING MATCHUP COLOR TONE

> TIMELINE - THIS WEEK

TO DO LIST..

name card confirmation and printing (mon/tue)
packaging design (tue)
brochure layout and confirmation (tue)
postcard? (tue)
press release (wed)
domain name, hosting reg (mon)
website to be done (thur)
creating idea of feedbacks (fri)

> PRÊT-À-PORTEA

went to Berkerley Hotel the Camerel Room for "high" tea with 2 girl friends.
such a very girly thing to do - "cakes and pastries inspired by the latest fashion season’s catwalk designs for the style conscious and with savouries in miniature mouthfuls for the figure conscious" SUPPOSIVELY

looking over my shoulder, 5 men in well fitted suits, all look like alpha male, quite massive sitting at a table (one guy with ear phone were their body guard) ordered the same PRÊT-À-PORTEA as we did!!! blinked my eyes few time to make believe, but yes! they were there, sat, and ate, chatted away. and left with "feel good" smiles.

THATS A WOW. Since when some men gone to such extreme even me, found it amazingly surreal!

cost for such little luxury : £49 per person including a glass of couture champagne, sweet~

> THE OTHERS - MEN'S LUXURY BRAND

ARMREVOLUTION
WINTLE
Duckie Brown
Band of Outsiders
Martin Andersson
Thom Browne

> LET'S MATCH 'EM UP

above is the options of name card for CAROLE FORET with the back colors (right) go with the front art work (left)
test, and pls comment, I need feedback

> SOME ADD ONS

> 5 OTHER DESIGNS OF NAME CARDS