Image Courtesy of Freefoto.com

Soft Drink. Pop. Soda. What do you call that sweet, fizzy drink that comes in cans, out of fountains, and sometimes in bottles? I call it coke.

In Southern Indiana where I grew up, a Sprite is a coke, a Dr. Pepper is a coke, and a Pepsi is also a coke. The Coca Cola brand has resonated so much in my hometown that it has become the generic term for the entire category of product. Coke is in good company. Kleenex, Xerox, Google, and even Q-Tip have all created such strong brand identities that their trademarked names are now nouns. (Definition of brand identity.)

Brands like Coca Cola appear to be every marketer’s dream. They seem to need very little advertising and messaging. However, the truth of the matter is that Coca Cola still spends millions of dollars every year on tv and print campaigns for Coke Classic. So what’s up with that? Read the rest of this entry »

Everyone who knows me knows that I love to shop at Target. After all, it addresses all my ‘Consciousnesses’: Budget-conscious, Green-conscious…Design-conscious. I’m weak in the knees for good design (even more so for good, cheap design) and Target’s Design For All collaborations draw me in every time.

Everyone needs a little everyday design, and Target has got the right idea by teaming up with design super-stars like Michael Graves and Isaac Mizrahi on everything from fashion and beauty to decor and dishes. My favorite collab has to be the rock ‘n roll infused line by Alexander McQueen, inspired by my all time favorite front woman, Leila Moss of The Duke Spirit.

McQueen's muse, Leila Moss modeling the Target line

And these days at the IMA, it’s all about design, design, design. The European Design exhibit is drawing to a close (hurry if you haven’t seen it!) but the Design Center will stay open with great pieces you can take home. Already have a lot of design in your life (or living room)? Take some photos of your everyday design objects and upload them to our Flickr group.

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