Monthly Archives: June 2008

KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid

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Here is a great article on web design and user interface.

It is ironic that in a high speed broadband world, the best properties have a dial-up simple look and feel. Think about it. Google, Wikipedia et al. have a look of an interface straight from 1995 - no graphics, no video, no Flash - just utility, grace and ease of use.

Utility always wins over style. Never try to trick a consumer to generate fake page views. Keep navigation simple. Everything should be easy to find and one click away. Live and learn. Good article here from BusinessWeek.

Starbucks Out of Music CD Sales Business

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Everyone else’s business always looks easier than your own business.

This strategic move doesn’t surprise me. Often times when a brand that is so focused expands outside its own industry, failure ensues and the brand is damaged.

I don’t go to Starbucks to purchasing CDs. I go to get a great cup of coffee in a clean environment in my neighborhood hopeful that I will run into some friends in the store.

Howard Schultz is so smart. He is getting his company refocused on its main deliverable. All his energies are in getting great coffee made and for an efficient manufacture of the product. I love that Caffe Macchiato too. :-)

George Carlin and Me

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I have a George Carlin story.

It was 1979. I was out of college and working for a computer company in Massachusetts called Wang Laboratories. Its founder was a wonderful man named Dr. An Wang.

I was working in the marketing department at the time and was called into a big “hush hush” meeting. The CFO of the company was named Harry Chow. His meeting mate was another executive named Chauncey Chu. In front of them, they had a tape recorder. The meeting conversation went like this:

Harry: “Ted, sit down. We need favor.”

Me: “OK. What can I do for you and the company?”

Chauncey: “Ted, do you know who George Carlin is?”

Me: ”Yes, of course. Why?”

Harry: “You think this man is funny?”

Me: ”Yes. Why?”

Harry: “Listen to this.” (Starts to play tape.)

George Carlin: ”Can you believe there is a company doing business today called Wang? It makes computers. What do they say in their ads? …And now for the biggest Wang you have ever seen? Or Hey! Look at that shiny new little Wang! What do they say on the stock market report? TODAY my Wang is up? Yesterday my Wang was down? What is this company thinking?” …and on and on and on…

Me (stifling laughter): “Oh, what do you want me to do?”

Harry: ”You make him stop.”

Needless to say, George Carlin didn’t stop. He went on to do 14 HBO specials. He was one funny man. He will be missed.