Adam’s Daily Post

Design is there to make what we want to do, easier to achieve. It’s about creating answers. It’s a means to an end.

Art is there to make us stop, and think, and feel. It’s about creating questions. It’s an end in itself.

Looking at good design, you can feel a mix of the solution being posed, the designer’s personality, and the experience you might have using it in your own projects.

Looking at good art, you can feel a mix of emotions from your own life, arranged by the artist’s feelings, and the experience reveals something to you, about you.

Sometimes, we can mix the two.

But it’s always worth knowing the answer to this question: Am I being a designer, or an artist, in this work?

There’s a huge difference between being hard-working, and being a disciplined worker.

The hard workers among us show up on time, fill the day with as much work as they can possibly do, and maybe even clock out late.

The disciplined worker also shows up on time, but relentlessly culls the to-do list so they can focus deeply on the few tasks that truly matter.

Which, of the two, gets more done?

My iPod Hi-fi gave up the ghost.

We had a power surge in the house following a flurry of power cuts, and since then it’s rested in peace.

My first thought was: Ahh that’s a shame, I’ve had this with me since 2006, maybe I’ll get a chance to fix it sometime. My second thought was: That’s 19 years I’ve had the same speaker. It’s rare for any technology to last 19 years anymore. And it’s just the power supply that’s bad, the rest of the entire unit is still in great working condition.

Not to mention, my iPod from 2005 is still going (despite two battery replacements).

Most brands don’t make things that last anymore.

Yet here I am, writing about Apple, precisely because they do.

Make products that last. Make services where the positive effects last. Let people remain thankful for your contribution for many years to come.

It’s not “bad for business because they won’t buy again anytime soon”.

It’s good for business because they’ll know exactly where to go when it breaks.

And they’ll have sent countless other buyers to you in the meantime.

Follow-up doesn’t work.

They say it’s where sales happen, but in reality:

More of what you don’t want, doesn’t make you want it.

We don’t want you to ‘check in’ or ‘circle back’ with us.

What we DO want, is ‘draw-in’.

I recorded a cartoon video where I explore ‘draw-in’ and how it’s a superior, drop-in replacement for ‘follow-up’: https://mredutainment.com/otherworldly/resources

Enjoy!

Good sales isn’t:

1. Convincing people to buy,
2. Chasing leads forever,
3. Optimising for closes

Good sales is:

1. Giving them what they want,
2. Giving it how they want it,
3. Optimising for delight

Which would you rather buy?

Why do brands limit creativity to April Fools?

They’re missing out on:

• Delighting buyers year-round
• Shipping share-worthy experiences
• Building a personality to be known for

Take FigPals for instance, a little pet that follows designers around while they work in Figma. Designers loved it, and took to social to beg for it to stay, after they revealed it would only be available for one week.

It took the spotlight off recent questionable AI decisions, and focused on what they’re about: multiplayer creativity.

They established lots of new brand equity.

The question is… Why wait for April Fools?

Why not make great experiences that delight your user base year-round?

Isn’t that better?

The Algorithm is our Ally.

Here’s why.

If the algo shows people…

• What they want to see
• How they want to see it

And if you want to make…

• What they want to learn
• How they enjoy consuming

…It’s a perfect alignment!

Doesn’t mean it’ll reach a zillion people.
A zillion people aren’t in-market.

And many of them are lurkers.But it doesn’t mean the algo’s on your side.

That’s reassuring, isn’t it?

Sending cold emails?

Remember this one thing:

Good pitches get you blocked.
Good gifts get you thanked.

Not getting the outcome you’re looking for?

Learn to give better presents.

(What could be better than that?)

Brand loyal?

To a phone brand, auto brand, or something else?

Spend time reading reviews, watching videos, checking forums?

What if you were to replace ALL of that time… with loyalty toward your own brand?

You can still read what people think… research and engage conversations…

…Except they make your work better, your brand better, and your ROTI greater.

Isn’t that better?

You’re selling tickets for a swimming pool.

Which of these 2 marketing techniques do you choose?

Option 1:

• Be billed before entering (no value up-front)
• Enter via the top diving board (uncomfortable start)

Option 2:

• Get to try the pool for free (value up-front)
• Get to play with the floaties free (enjoyable start)
• Pay to access diving boards & slides (upgrade)

Which do you think:

• Gets more people in?
• Spreads the word more?
• Makes swimmers happier?
• People will enjoy paying for?