Blog 2 - Ron C.

How has consumer behavior has shifted in the past, and will shift because of this recession?

Consumer behavior is influenced by many factors. Technology is always progressing and causing changes to the interaction between customer and product/service. For instance, the revolution in the film world when VHS became popular and people no longer relied on movie theaters to see movies. Economic changes can affect how much consumers spend versus how much they save as well as what they spend money on. Recession usually causes people to save more. When consumers spend during a recession they are more likely to seek out the best deal or buy lower quality products that are less expensive than their favorite brands.

www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/05/recession-tales-saving-vs-spending-a-tough-battle

I would argue that consumer behavior has already been affected by this recession. With such a high unemployment level and costs that continue to rise, most people have already changed the way they buy.

http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/consumer/new-rules-the-crisis-has-changed-consumer-behavior/

How does design develop brand truth?

I think design develops whatever the client would like to suggest to the customer is the truth about the product. Design can obscure the truth by focusing attention on the brand’s message, while downplaying any possible negative truths about the product. For example, many new drugs on the market like Lunesta, which is disguised as a helpful drug that helps you fall asleep...never mind the fact that it has been shown to cause suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, amnesia, depression, anxiety, headaches, nausea, constipation, and severe allergic reactions. The design focuses on the possible beneficial effects, and only mentions the other things because the company legally has to.

http://www.drugs.com/lunesta.html

Is there a difference between producing happiness and producing brand loyalty?

Sometimes happiness and brand loyalty can be fused into one, like maybe Apple, but I would argue that the two are different. A product or service may increase my happiness, but it’s not necessarily the brand that gets the credit. The brand is one of many vendors who offer the product I desire. If one outshines the rest I may stick with it, but it’s not the brand that makes me happy...it’s the product/service. For instance, roller coasters make me super happy, and the one at Six Flags may be my favorite because it’s closest and consistently fun, but the roller coasters at Knott’s Berry Farm will provide the same thrill when I’m there.

http://scottjeffrey.com/2009/11/source-of-happiness/