Do women and men see design differently?
Is design gendered? Do women like different looks and styles to men?
Now, my “thing” is finding the right words and messaging to make your products more attractive to women. But how you present your brand visually is important too. I’ve just finished reading Why Men Like Straight Lines and Women Like Polka Dots by Gloria Moss and found a few takeaways that have made me think about how some websites and ads are put together and whether they’ve really thought through what their design and images are saying. Who are they really for?
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Word Warrior Series - because getting it right can be a bit of a battle.
“Actor” vs “Actress”, what’s going on there?
A man who acts is an “actor”. A woman who acts is also an “actor”. But some still say “actress”.
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Word Warrior Series - because getting it right is a bit of a battle
“Woman” vs “female”, what’s going on there?
Some people call women “females” socially, at work and on the telly. But lots of women don’t like it and say it’s wrong. Why?
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Case Study: How To Feminise Peeps...
Peeps is not an abbreviation of “people” here. I haven’t lost my mind. It’s a gadget that cleans glasses lenses. I had a look at the copy and what I could do to make it reach more women, see what you think?
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Case Study - Superfood of Africa
Products with multiple benefits...where to start? With a story.
BRINGING YOU THE ANCIENT SUPERFOODS OF AFRICA, STRAIGHT FROM THE SUPERWOMEN WHO GROW THEM, FOR A HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER LIFESTYLE.
Superfood of Africa came to me with a fantastic range of products with real benefits for anyone that wants a bit of a health boost or is interested in trying new superfoods. The business founder, Dienaba, was emotionally invested in her business and had a lot of good things to say about her products. African superfoods such as moringa, baobab and fonio grains are not common on the UK market, but they are available in health food and specialist shops and are sold by quite a few small and medium-sized companies online. All of SOA’s competitors shouted about the benefits of adding these foods to your diet; the many vitamins and minerals that they boast to prevent illness and tiredness, promoting immune system strength and energy levels. Although it’s important to lay out the facts for people to take on board the benefits of your products, some of these sites felt like spreadsheets - a sea of letters and numbers. How many can you actually take on board before going snowblind? So the challenge was laying it out clearly, but focussing on what was tangible and pulling out the benefits that would be most recognisable to most people.
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Why start-ups can’t afford to ignore women prospects
4 years ago, Nielsen found that only 54% of global campaigns aimed at women reached their intended audience. This was 3 years after 91% of women surveyed by the Terri and Sandy Solution said that advertisers didn’t understand them. Despite evidence that women drive commercial spend in the US and the UK, they are still undervalued as customers across the board.
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Can "male" brands ever really appeal to women?
Like it or not, if your brand hasn’t actively engaged with its non-male prospects, then it’s male by default. How can you reverse this to create more inclusive campaigns that are bold and authentic?
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Grammar, pride and prejudice
Where did this grammatical framework, that people are so stuck on, come from? And do we really have to stick to the rules?
Good written grammar is the vehicle you drive to get your words and ideas from A to B. It ensures your reader’s ride is smooth. But some people think it’s much more important than that - when grammar goes bad, they get angry. Many a well-meant email or article is filed straight to trash because of a tiny error that made a very big impression. Whole arguments binned, because “she started her sentence with a ‘but’”.
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Things about....DOORS
So, you’ve moved into your new home and now all you have to do is make it look awesome. This is an exciting time! But aside from the odd moment of satisfaction, when you’ve had a quick win on eg. a simple paint job, I’m afraid you are about to enter into a world of really, really boring and fiddly things.
I’ve put together a few top 10’s of things I wish I’d known, when I moved into my first place. To hopefully give you back a bit of down time, save you money and make the whole thing a little bit less dull-whelming.
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Does child-free mean childish?
Last week, my friends (who are married with a child) did a grown up thing; they went to the tip. But they also did a very kind thing; they came to collect my rubbish to take with them. I don’t have a car or a driving license. Generally speaking; grown-ups have cars, I get lifts. But that’s not the only difference. Aged 41, I’m an adult, but as I’m single with no kids, I don’t have many commitments or ‘adult’ responsibilities. Does this make me childish? And is that how others see me?
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Why single women are winning at Lockdown
It obviously isn’t a competition. And I’m in no way bragging. I’m one of the fortunate few that is managing to hold down a living, working from home during the pandemic. But as I sit here in week 3 of Lockdown2, working an 8 hour day in the calm of my own sitting room. Tea mugs are plentiful. Radio is on. My cat sleeps a metre away from me, in an exquisitely formed ball, purring and snoring lightly. I feel calm. And happy. It may just be that my endorphin levels are naturally very high this morning. It’s more likely it’s because my cat makes me feel amazing.
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