Contempo is an Italian furniture designer confirming its style – one capable to combine heterogeneous elements and to re-create the living room philosophy. Our company is young and trendy and we’re always looking for fresh and innovative lines – for this purpose we’re often collaborating with international and innovative designers.
WHAT IS IT ?
In this step you will find information about the Brand Builder, who is asking you to propose a Solution for the challenge. He introduces himself (as a Brand of course :) The more you understand about the Brand, the more chances you have to create what is wanted.
IMPORTANT: There is a possibility that the Brand Builder prefers not to disclose who he is, usually for confidentiality reasons. Such Briefs will be published in an anonymous way. In this case the Brand Builder will say as much as he feels comfortable saying.
Here are two EXAMPLES
In case there is no problem with disclosing the identity (VISIBLE):
“NMN -No More Nicotine- is a Brand that promises to counteract the damages to the skin that can be caused by smoking. NMN is distributed in pharmacies and drugstores and its price positioning is middle-high; it is mainly promoted through professional endorsement and is not massively advertised.”
In case the Brand doesn’t want to disclose his identity (ANONYMOUS):
“Brand counteracting the damages to skin caused by smoking. Its products are distributed in pharmacies and drugstores with a middle-high price positioning; they are mainly promoted through professional endorsement and are not massively advertised.”
In summary: Who is your client (in a visible or “anonymous” way :)
This is a challenge for Industrial Designers. Our goal is to develop a mini-collection of 3 sofas capable to re-invent the sofa category, able to combine the characteristics of a “very comfortable” sofa (for example a high back) with those of a “very stylish” but less comfortable sofa with a clean and "minimal" design.
The maximum seat depth of each sofa is 90-95 cm.
The series should have a modern taste embedding the latest trends, design and innovation oriented.
!!!Update as of May 18!!!
Each and every Creator participating to our Pitch has showed great creative skills. Therefore, before anything I would like to thank all of you participating. We were impressed to see how most of you have “contextualized” and tried to adjust the product to the needs of our nowadays society, always looking for functionality and new materials when it comes to sofas.
However we must now correct a bit the creative direction in order to turn your proposals more commercial and salable. To be more clear and transparent , the company N.E.W.S is looking for a product with the following characteristics:
∞ Low armrest
∞ High back
∞ Good comfort
∞ Fresh design but respecting the previously mentioned characteristics
∞ Salability at a convenient price targeting an average to low budget consumer
Having said, we are expecting from the new proposals:
∞ NOT to have a very expensive and less functional structure like steel frames connectable to the heaters (e.g. Solutions no 23, 12, 8)
∞ NOT to be extravagant, in rigid shapes with right uncomfortable angles (e.g. Solutions no 53, 36, 22, 11, 47, 39)
We did appreciate Solutions like no 19 (Menhir model), 33, 44 (third Solutions) and 10. All of them should be smoothened and made more commercial, salable.
Good luck to everybody!
The end of update!!!WHAT IS IT ?
This is the task the Brand Builder asks you to accomplish. If you don’t understand it, you are completely out of luck !
EXAMPLE
“We ask the Creators to develop a print advertising campaign in order to increase Brand’s visibility. It will be used in national magazines this spring.”
In summary: It’s the objective of the client, therefore your objective too !
We target people with a medium / low purchasing power – our product is accessible to everybody and it is suitable for both young and older people. We are speaking to those people who keep an eye on the latest trends and like stylish furniture but have comfort in mind as well when buying furniture. Our product answers to those who appreciate the style with no frills and pay attention to the practical aspect in order to turn easier their everyday life.
WHAT IS IT?
People that the Brand Builder wants you to entertain and persuade to think, feel or do something using your creation. Usually you will read about their age, sex, social level and behaviors. You should always keep that information in mind while creating, as the target audience is the final recipient of what you create.
EXAMPLE
“Smoking girls and women who would like to quit smoking but can’t. Usually health-conscious adults who care about their looks. They feel guilty about smoking because they know it is harmful. They read books about it. This is a real problem for them: it’s like “My brain wants something, but my body acts of its own accord”. They don’t relate to my brand, they are just waiting for a trustworthy “helping hand”.
In summary: Get under their skin !
Target should understand that they don’t have to give up the comfort if they’re looking to buy a design sofa. With this mini-collection, Contempo wants to change this rule and find the right balance between comfort and style.
WHAT IS IT?
The thing that the Brand Builder wants to make the target audience think/feel/do because of your creation.
Here are some very concrete examples:
∞ Some things people can think/feel:
- There is a new Brand (or product or idea or...) out there
- This Brand is better than the alternatives or than it used to be
- This Brand is worth paying more for
∞ Some things people can do:
- Start buying the Brand’s products
- Buy the Brand more often
- Stock more products of the Brand in their outlets
The above written examples are very concrete whilst often the proposition of the Brief is emotional. That’s even better as it can be more inspiring!
EXAMPLE
“We’d like to encourage smokers to use NMN in order to minimize the damage to their health while they are keeping giving up smoking (especially if they’ve already tried and failed before).”
In summary: Get inside their brain !
Because our product offers a great price – comfort parity and it is the right choice for those looking for a "fresh" and innovative product. Because a high design product should not only look good but it should feel good as well.
WHAT IS IT?
This is the key to achieving the objective. It is what supports the proposition and makes it believable. Usually it is a rational statement.
EXAMPLE
“Every cigarette you smoke is causing damage to your appearance. A recent study took several pairs of identical twins where one twin was a lifelong smoker and the other had never smoked. The smokers’ skin was a quarter thinner than that of non-smokers, and in some cases there were differences of up to 40%. NMN contains thinning-blocking anti-oxidants which counteract the effect of nicotine on the skin.”
In summary: You are looking for arguments? You’ll find them here!
Young, beautiful, comfortable, minimal, smart.
WHAT IS IT?
It’s who the Brand is. Yes... who!
Treat the Brand as a human being, as it has its own personality. To know the personality of the “client” is fundamental in order to provide a tailor-made job. So, read carefully the listed adjectives...
EXAMPLE
“Scientific, trustworthy, result-oriented, ‘a party’ to achieve your goals.”
In summary: Imagine the live person !
This product will be sold in the mid – low category shops in Asia and Europe.
WHAT IS IT?
A list of places (or media, or things) where the target audience will see the outcome of your creation. In this step sometimes the Brand will also acknowledge you how much he plans to invest into production. This information will give you an insight whether to create a BIG project or make it small... :)
EXAMPLE
“This campaign is going to appear in lifestyle- and health-focused women magazines of New Zealand, during the spring of 2009. We plan to invest 500,000 USD, which means approximately buying 100 single pages.”
In summary: Consider the medium !
Specifications:
1. It is compulsory to have a smaller armrest and a higher back. While these two requirements are respected, any shape or form is welcome. The sole purpose of the attached image is will help you better understand what we mean by “classic harmony” when we’re referring to the sofa proportions – please do not consider it as a reference for the design - attachment: Proporzioni_Spalliera
2. Sitting depth of each sofa must be 90-95 cm at the maximum. (same as initially)
If the Brand has preferences or technical requirements that your Solution has to match, you will find them here.
Here are some items that you may find in this section:
∞ Guidelines or mandatory inclusions (do’s and/or don’ts)
∞ Business objectives
∞ Market and competitors overview
∞ Good and bad samples
Depending on the Brief, you may also find some files attached with a logo, pictures of product(s), a template that you should use in order to submit your ideas, or any other file that the Brand wants to share with you. So, study the attachments before starting creating.
In summary: Anything else you need to know (not written in the 7 steps before) !
