Looking around: Address the audience

- Saw this advertisement on a countertop, this is actually a mousepad, kind of an old mousepad. It caught my eye, and the first thing I thought of was, what is being presented here, all I see is Scott Harris, the name, on a signboard, I see a black bicycle, and I see two models. And it's like, what is the ad about? At first I thought it was about the bicycle, like Scott Harris bikes, similar to Gary Fisher mountain bikes, famous brand. But then I realized Scott Harris doesn't sell bicycles, and so what's being shown.

Here's Scott Harris on the signboard, here are two models, here's the bicycle, none of these are the point of this presentation. What's being advertised here are these. Two tiny pairs of eyeglasses. I am a big fan of understatement, there is a quiet dignity about it, and it's fun to do glamour shots like this one, but when everything in the picture overpowers the product you're trying to show, you're a little bit too understated.

And so I suggest only that you keep an eye out for that, pay attention to what's being shown, it doesn't have to be big and in-your-face, but it does have to be a little bit more prominent than this. Okay, let's take a look at this sign. Every time I walk through my local airport, I see this, this three-part sign, please seat yourself, on a metal frame that is the same metal as the fencing, and there's something about it that I kind of like, and I've been trying to think of what it is I like about it.

One, it looks kind of like an old country road sign, but I think what I like is that it is intentional. This could have been just done the quick, cheap way, you know, a little paper sign that said, please seat yourself, it's nothing important. But because it's been done like this, I pay attention to it, I am drawn into it, it looks like somebody cared, somebody took the time to do a little bit extra to invite me into this wine bar in the restaurant.

Please seat yourself, and I think it's the care that stands out to me, I like the textures, I like the fact that it's real wood. Design really is voice, it's heart, it's intent, it's putting yourself out there in the real world, making yourself visible, making yourself known, and I think something as simple, and small, and modest as this is just a really nice way to go about that.

And that's your design for today, see you next time.