So last week we hopped on a train to London town to visit the lovely people at GDR for the latest installment on their global trends work.

2 things stood out :

First, the Oxford Street Christmas lights are not so much a magical ‘aaah’ of festive loveliness but more of a ‘flinkin blip’ of over-branded, in your face product positioning. Which is sad because I still believe in Father Christmas (and the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy) and it would be nice if things could just be beautiful and innocent. I’d be more likely to enter into the cavalry charge towards Christmas if I felt more of a warm fuzziness…..

Secondly though, the GDR presentation backed up what we, here at LOVE, feel about the state of the creative industry against a ‘challenging’ economic environment. Namely, that when the going gets tough, the truly creative shine through and great ideas and mad but strangely compelling concepts work their way out of the minds of creative people everywhere and into the public domain. It doesn’t matter if you love ‘em, hate ‘em or don’t even understand them, at least you’re not ambivalent about them. “Nice’ is such a dull word.  We believe creative work should ignite conversations and not just among the Soho Set. Afterall, it’s people in general that we’re interested in connecting with. And what connects all the ideas GDR showed us was the strain of ‘humanity’ running through it all. How people’s lives, interests and habits could inspire art and creativity and so generate whole new genres of connection, interaction or even just consumption.  And most of all generate debate.

Which brings me to the Augmented Reality ideas for trying on jewellery and watches. And you’re standing there wearing a coded paper band on your finger. In a shop. When the real thing is sitting in a glass case infront of you. I’m an old fashioned girl really….and there is no feeling in the world like trying on a diamond ring. For real. On your real finger. And watching the real sparkliness of it all. And getting all jumping up and down excited about it all. Just like I USED to do when I saw the Oxford Street Christmas lights when I was a kid.

(The more observant of you will have noticed that today’s post contains 0 references to genitalia and lots of references to design. that is because it is written by someone who knows what they’re talking about: the brilliant Ru Ashworth. More, please Ru.)