Richard Huntington posts a timely reminder that good ideas don’t age with the soon-to-be-published collection of Stephen King’s writings (the god father of strategic planning). If you need a primer on planning or just want to understand the link between brands, strategy and execution, then download King’s JWT Planning Guide from 1974 (courtesy of the generous Staufenburgers). Goes to show that for all we have learned about planning and its impact on advertising and brands, there is still much to (re)learn. This is a great starting point for all DIGITAL strategists — remember the media may have changed, but the concepts remain true.
Also on the reading agenda today is Stephen Fry’s blog. And wouldn’t you know it, he is arguing for an iPhone killer. Not only that, he colourfully writes about the importance of design:
I accept that price is an issue here; if budget is a consideration then you’ll have to forgive me, I’m writing from the privileged position of being able to indulge my taste for these objects. But who can deny that design really matters? Or that good design need not be more expensive? We spend our lives inside the virtual environment of digital platforms – why should a faceless, graceless, styleless nerd or a greedy hog of a corporate twat deny us simplicity, beauty, grace, fun, sexiness, delight, imagination and creative energy in our digital lives? And why should Apple be the only company that sees that? Why don’t the other bastards GET IT??
Wish I had said that!