Branding. Not just applicable to consumer products. But also very significant to humans. When we step out of the house in the morning, the way we present ourselves leaves a lasting impression on our friends and even strangers. Clothing, hair, shoes, accessories; they all help to create a self image. Branding adds value, and the way we package ourselves can help us win over an interviewer, or even get kicked out of a bar. So today, I have decided to analyze my friends (with their hesitant permission of course), how they present themselves in different settings and what attracts me to them.
S C MANIFOLD: CONVEYS HAPPINESS. COLOUR. EASILY IDENTIFIABLE. CONVENIENT PACKAGING (clothing is appropriate, and fits well)
K J ABEL: EASY GOING. CARE FREE. ECO-FRIENDLY. OUTDOORSY. PROMOTES FUN.
D M CHATFIELD: PROFESSIONALISM. MATURITY. BOLD COLOUR SCHEME. CONFIDENCE.
C E MANIFOLD: ATHLETICISM. ATTRACTIVE COLORS. TALENT. EXERCISE. COMFORT.
A B CATALANO: ELEGANCE. MATURITY. BRIGHT COLOR. EYE-CATCHING. LEGS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY GO ON FOREVER!!! (kinda jealous of this one)
After analyzing these photos with the best third person perspective that I could given the circumstances, I noticed something very interesting. The describing attributes used for these photos are almost completely opposite from my friends’ actual personalities. For example, my sister, described as “carefree, fun and easygoing” does not illustrate her AT ALL. It’s compelling how facial expression, background, and a few articles of clothing can affect how an observer translates a message, even though the actual product may be extremely mismatched. This reminds me of the baby carrots products we studied in class. The marketers were trying to promote baby carrots as junk food with the way they were packaged, even though this couldn’t be further from what the product actually is. The way marketers can captivate a consumer, and the way individuals can fascinate strangers just by what they throw on in the morning will continue to dazzle for a long time to come.