Design makes the difference between a purely functional product and one that is truly successful. From the iPod™ to method™ cleaning products, some brands stand above others because of their successful balancing of Function, Cost and Design.
Marianne Cusato, designer and author of Get Your House Right and The Value of Design, offers homeowners a checklist of considerations when determining the value of a new home or a remodeling project of an existing home:
Function:
1. Will the materials be easy to maintain over time and continue to look good? Will the materials stand up to weather, fire, insects? 2. Are you purchasing this house or choosing this remodeling project because it is what you want or because it is what you have been told you need to resell?
Cost:
3. Is this home or project a good investment? Will it hold its value? 4. Are you wasting money with continual repairs? 5. Have you been missing out on energy savings or lower insurance rates?
Design:
6. Are you proud of this home? A truly green house is one that people love and therefore, want to maintain over time. Is this a house and a neighborhood you WANT to take care of?
You're driving the movement from "more" to "better"
This TED presentation by John Gerzema paints a hopeful picture for 2010. He says consumers (we) are moving from a state of anxiety to action. We are far from retreating, given all of the uncertainty we've had to face we are now empowering a movement from mindless to mindful consumption.
Gerzema says we became savvy about marketing in the 90's. In the 00's we embraced our amazing ability to gather research and establish social networks online.
The next decade, faced with having to restrict our spending, we will drive capitalism to not just be about more, but about better. Like all TED presentations, Gerzema was given a short amount of time to present his ideas. It's an insightful 16 minutes.
