Branding Research ::: TELL ME IS IT ALL JUST SPIN?

There seems to be a sudden glut of branding specialists and businesses. It's not just for businesses and corporations anymore either, individuals are now being encouraged to be their own brand: Footballers, industry experts and employees!

Eight to ten years ago it was all about the personal or company Mission Statement. Now its about the Unique Positioning Statement attached to your personal or company brand. 

There are some beautiful brands and logos around - some lovely websites and marketing pitches being bandied around. I encourage all of that I in fact love that side of branding myself its an area I have specialised in and continue to thoroughly enjoy.

But with this proliferation of BRANDING and the recent focus on its perceived importance what I find myself asking is...

Does it work?

Who uses it?

Who benefits from its implementation?

What businesses if any thrive without ever truly have engaged it?

When does it work?

What is its value?

Now no one wants to do a survey.
Usually they are time consuming and a little irritating like a pap smear or prostate examination.

BUT!

What if the results are highly relevant to you? What if they clarify some underlying questions and business/branding queries you may have? In this instance I do hope its relevant and applicable information I can share with you the will be beneficial and at least interesting to examine.

WHO

The people I need to complete the survey will be from all walks of business and 'monetising' large and small, local and global. Please I implore you to pass this invitation on.

WHAT

What am I hoping to achieve? To gather the findings and deliver clear and distinct information that can help your bottom line.

WHERE

See the survey below and if you feel compelled subscribe as I will posting the results in a blog with anonymity assured.

WHEN

Now

HOW

By asking clear and basic questions then by compiling the results and deliver them back to you here free of charge.

All I need is a little of your time and help, I am not gathering a data base this is solely to satisfy my own queries and curiosity. All information will be strictly confidential and not used for profit on my behalf or any other party.

So get on board and lets find out what really happening.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

MONA, LISA and the SEXUALLY STIMULATING BUILDINGS OF TASMANIA!

I have been away. A long over due short respite.

Never had the inking to go there before but the news of the 'new' and incredible gallery had me convinced I should see this back water that feels like a a backyard (over some water) to Melbourne. I would have previously typified it as a quaint and humble country style get away.

Reluctantly I booked flights to Tasmania and back - Hobart to be precise. Destination MONA Museum of Old and New Art. While I was going to be in the Apple Isle I had heard Cradle Mountain was quite good to, so I booked two nights at the Cradle Mountain Lodge. I had no expectation and am usually up for a bit of the unknown.

Well %$#@ me!

I was totally surprised by the Architecture in Hobart - they have keep everything that most cities have torn down. Such a conglomeration beautifully kept, the streets are clean and the air so crisp it snap froze my checks - all four of them to a beautiful pink glow!

There were a few stand outs for me, one of which was this amazing orange monolith. 

Exquisite Tangerine Excellence!

I  am guessing this glass beauty is anywhere from '63 to '68. 

I was pleased to see great examples of Brutalist Architecture around the harbor, this is the Hobart Hospital. 

Brilliant glass and textured cement towers.

This too caught my eye, had I had more time I would have delved more into the history and use of these buildings, my snap shots for now must suffice. Love the sweeping curvaceousness of this and the dynamism of the lines as your eyes cast across those very sensuous lines.

Now this is just chunky waffle goodness, magnificent in its hollow exterior and the step effect interplay of the planes this seriously impresses me.

As I headed to see the reason for my Tassie Visit I was able to spy this inter-fold facade of cleverness with tight bold exacting boxes jutting out - as someone who thoroughly enjoys form these buildings delighted me. Some women love shoes, some are stimulated by precious stones and meaningless jewelry not me this stuff does it for me tenfold it sets of all kinds off buttons and triggers...

So then I headed on to...
MONA

I understand why people don't say much about their visits there it really must be experienced. Here are some images to incite you to simply go. These images are pretty much just the walls...its as sexy as hell in there!

 Oh the textures most of this place is subterranean literally...

 Aquatic Instillation Art!

Ok so I do like these shoes and they were surprisingly comfortable...give yourself at least 4 hours at Mona. I am itching to return, there are some sexual pieces but it is not grotesque nor is it overly confronting. The amazing this is the diversity of the museum and it is simply one mans collection of art, it is not thematic nor is it curatorially edited, it is diverse impressive and compelling. Hats of to Mr David Walsh the owner and founder. It houses a crypt and you can be entombed after cremation and be there in spirit for eternity. It certainly brings a new meaning to the expression 'Art to Die For'.

Stay tuned for Tassie part 2...I had an outdoor adventure! 

Meanwhile get your toush to tassie. 

Air kisses and love babies!

:::What Was the Question?::: Desire to Attire!:::

The question I am going to pose may seem trite but it is actually very telling and can be surprisingly revealing.

A not often asked question provides a plethora of open information and most people have the answer at the ready despite being pretty unaware of the potent answer.

I have tried asking people I have known for a long time and thought I knew well and am often bewildered by their response.

I am a trained Fashion Designer with over 20 years experience in the business and have made many a bespoke item for clients.

So now I ask - if what would be your dream outfit? 'Dream' being the operative word - anything!

I have been knocked over by answers provided with much enthusiasm and detail and the answers were rarely standard. One short stout aging woman resembling a barrel wanted a tight red mini with a plunging neckline. One man wanted to be a knight, another young guy wanted to sport a top hat and tails and yet another guy to be sprayed silver and wear evening gloves and a sequin tube dress and yes he is straight.

Usually designer names never ever enter into it. The feel of the fabric the colour and shoes might.

So what might you wear to your own delight?

I have been lucky enough to be able to design and make myself pretty much anything I have wanted over the years which included some retrospectively 'daring' looks...ahem can we move on and never mentions the quasi Jeanie outfit I wore in 1987 to the Fashion Design Council event at the Palais Theater...yeah I rocked the full pony tail hair piece to the waist and all - oh well I was creative and it was the 80's so its all very much ok. Although I am kind of relieved I don't have photos.

Some people dig uniforms! I would be happy to rock this look any day of the week I mean these are power trippin' foxy ladies.

Now we all like uniforms... these are super supremo!

As a little girl this film and to some point now this film titillated and inspired me no end as did anything about trapese . I mean come on who doesn't want to be in on this action? Sequined corset sailing bravely through the air - God Yeah! Tony Curtis, Gina Lollobrigida and Burt Lancaster I mean look at these people - wow!
So go ahead ask your friends, ask some men, ask your Mum -  I assure you you will be surprised!

It all links to different things its not just about the Attire.  What do you desire as your definitive attire?

::: CROSS PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES :::

I am a natural promoter.

I don't where it stems from but if I like something I will share the information and literally promote it. There is no reciprocal agreement its not about gain the motivation is in the sharing of the joy I have found in the product, person, service. item or company.

Feels like a altruistic gesture when I can genuinely share the appreciation I have with others. Genuine is the key factor it has to grab me / impress me. Once that's happened I shamelessly sing the praises of...

My belief is that great work or service should be recognized great character too.

Integrity.

I think I have an affinity for neatly tying in people, needs, making connections, remembering requirements and have that kind of focus, its an inbuilt radar I have. Sometimes it works with the exclusion of myself, I can simply introduce the two needs and they ride off into the sunset with a happy alliance in place.

Hopefully the outward happy ripple creeps back in.

Giving praise is contagious...

and I think it feels great.

Below is a short list of just some of the things, people, companies that impress me.

LETHBRIDGE GALLERY

Brilliant artists in their own right Joel and Brett promote talent as seen above.

DESIRE TO INSPIRE

Many an hour spent swooning at divine homes that inspire. Two clever women Kim and Jo bring you this incredible site.

MODERNIST AUSTRALIA

From the ridiculous to the sublime. Fibro shacks and real estate divine. Our young country doesn't have a lot of mid century to start with but these lovelies manage to track down whats left for us.

:::SUBURBAN CHIC ::: SHITTY CHIC (C):::

Ok so as we have established I was a child of the 70's. So many images and icons are burnt into my consciousness. My penchant for the bad taste of the era comes in a close second to the love I have for mid century design - but its an entirely new sub category with a name I have coined myself...'Shitty Chic'. Items so ultimately vulgar and repulsive they are magnificent in all their glory. We are talking hash, trash, so bad its good.

To understand this new love affair lets just say it was always going to be fashion or art for me but I did seriously consider becoming an Industrial Designer - I am still not over perspex yet. Most fashion fads and fashions follow through to decor then food, the 90's Spanish thing, 80's Tex Mex...well things that occurred in the 70's food and kitchen wise are kind of inexplicable and there was a serious lag with some 50's cuisine being dragged along and 'updated' along the way.
Lately I have been indulging in this specific fetish and it has me so on! No place is sacred especially the kitchen. I have been collecting bad taste or 'Shitty Chic' tablecloths and ugly plastic plates and all - they are hideously lovely. May post pic's of Shitty Chic BBQ I am planning to torture my friends with at a later date, I am still busy collecting. Meanwhile here are some ideas for the menu of the Shitty Chic Book of Cuisine.

 Fancy a Terrine or some slab of Pate?

Cookbooks contained savory jelly's using Brine. Faux french food a plenty! Beef Burgundy, Steak Diane, Chocolate Mousse and a drum roll for the suburban fav' of the day....Apricot chicken - what delight a sachet of French Onion Soup & a can of Apricot nectar poured over chicken pieces in the oven could create - I must confess it was a childhood favorite.

Anyone else remember Aussie Chinese food? Kai se mein? Cool = Cabbage, another packet of another kind of soup Chicken Noodle and Mince and Viola you could feed 30 people for like $3.00....a lot of nosh for not a lot of dosh! Get me my poncho...

There were salad plates a plenty - very spesh.

Gherkins Pickles and Condiments had a special place.

T- Bones were the 'it' meat cut of the day.

Cabana was the exotic meat always paired with Coon aged cheese, the plastic film like flack jacket to cut through. You used your electric can opener to open the Beetroot and Electric Knife to carve any meat. We did a lot of meat in those days, there was no issue with fat that was the best part mmmm.....'nice and fatty'.

Check the 'Dolly' hair cut on this Mum.

The clothes and the decor was vulgar it was such an assault visually...in its own ' you need new pupils' it was bad taste heaven.

Lets toast with a Shandie to bad taste heaven...or would rather some Fruit Punch? We had this exact same bowl and cups! I wonder if I can find one?

Inspired Interiors

So lately I am very inspired by the refreshing take on embellished interior design....goodbye bland and amen! Creating interest and warmth without clutter is a fine art and these images while loud and full of detail maintain a dignified and clean air. Bring on the loud!

Here are some of my favorite rooms and details...

Want windows with these views imagine the sunset and the dawn....ahhh

and some of my art work might look ok on the walls Pina Colada love by Lisa Defazio
 So In Love by Lisa Defazio 
available as postcards, canvas prints and all other kinds of lovely.