Just returned from the Cannes Lions festival in France. While this 61 year old program has historically been focused on advertising, this year marks the first time they have included a “product design” category in the program. My thoughts on why this makes sense – because big companies no longer own the media. We don’t buy things according to what companies tell us. It’s not the ads or marketing campaigns that represent the brand, the best that can do is boast their intent. But it’s the actual products and services that define the brand. And since we (as in “we the people”) now control the media, it’s our own messages that we refer to when making a purchase, buy-in decision, decision to join or to donate.
The turnout for the product design program was pretty good – approximately 200 entries in many different categories. And interesting selection for the jurors – talking cat collars to flying cars. Of the 200 entries, we were encouraged by the organizers to limit to awards to around seven. That included seven “Lions” and one Grand Prix.” Final selections involved some triage.
