Insights
what i've been thinking about lately - design, innovation, patent litigation & more
I spend a good deal of time at the intersection of product design and patent litigation, and often find myself digging into trends and recent events regarding innovation, technology, and culture. These interconnected themes impact both design and the IP landscape. I enjoy sharing my take on design, innovation, patent litigation, and more... Below are stories that have recently caught my attention. If you’d like to chat about anything you see, feel free to reach out or connect with me on LinkedIn.
At least when it comes to ecommerce, a study published in the Journal of Interactive Marketing in 2022 found that handwritten thank-you notes have the potential to double future sales.
In the two years since generative AI went mainstream with the arrival of ChatGPT, the design industry has shifted from a stance of revulsion and litigation, to something more along the lines of reluctant acceptance or, in some cases, eager adoption.
Underpinned by our desire for every day pleasures, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence
It can feel like the brand is turning its back on everything that it stood for — and therefore it feels like its turning its back on us, the people who subscribe to that idea or ideology
While many are not ready (or able) to sell their Tesla, owners increasingly want to publicly distance themselves from its CEO
Logo design is not easy. At all. You have to distill the entire essence of an organization down into something instantly identifiable, easily reproducible, appealing, eye-catching.
He brought lightweight packs to millions of students, and transformed the way they carried their textbooks to school
As we head into August, it seems like a good time to learn the fascinating design- and trademark litigation - history of America's most powerful frozen treat
To produce golf’s premier ball, Loper and his team spent countless hours working with players and iterating through hundreds of different designs.
Upending decades of continuity in the world of design patents, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“CAFC”), sitting en banc in LKQ Corporation v. GM Global Technology Operations LLC, overturned the Rosen/Durling standard for obviousness of design patents.
After an accidental omission on the design model and a stroke of brilliance, the reborn Mini got inspiration from an unexpected source.
Another huge loss in the world of design... Iris was a fascinating woman, with more style in her pinky than most of us muster head to toe. Just pure class.
Have suspected for a while that Boeing's engineering and design teams were getting an unfairly bad rap... Great article discusses why (as so often the case) it's probably Wall Street's fault. I have friends in private equity, but I try to ignore what they do...
Great slideshow about two of my favorite things, old cars and branding... Highly recommended Friday read!
My annual holiday reminder that there is only one right way to install a toilet paper roll, as protected by a US patent issued just before Christmas 1891
Excellent overview of legal issues related to the use of fonts in graphic and industrial design... Many designers are too casual about this (I was once guilty myself, unintentionally)
Great follow up to last week's post about interior design trade dress... Here's an interesting case which just addressed trade dress functionality for candy shaped like the fruit flavor it represents
I've always believed there are significant costs to wearing noise-canceling devices, some more obvious than others... Great to see an article that lays it all out
Polaroid's success in the digital era is a testament to its brand's proposition: The value of a Polaroid camera is authenticity. Life isn’t perfect, neither is a Polaroid picture. I'm a huge fan of modern instant cameras, highly recommend Fuji's Evo Mini for anyone thinking of dipping a toe.
Best user interface news of the year... IMO, that more people want to shift for themselves reflects a sea change in the most fundamental man / machine interface humans have ever created.
Love the way they used researched to prioritize drivers' needs in the design... Most used control? Hazard lights for frequent stops, so it has a dedicated mechanical switch (everything else is touchscreen-based.)
Brilliant idea… “Disposable Digital” camera brings old school film experience to modern picture taking (full disclosure, I enthusiastically backed this Kickstarter)
For my auto design colleagues and fellow car people… I think Dieter Rams is credited with saying “good design is just enough design”, and it’s so refreshing to see the comeback of simple, purposeful wheels. Other manufacturers take a lesson, and yes I’m looking at you Audi…