Although I didn’t attend, the reports I’ve read and slideshows I’ve viewed have left me wondering where the beef is. Maybe I’m wanting too much – like holographic displays/mass storage, flexible high-resolution screens in transformer-like devices, computing systems built into clothing so that wearable augmented reality becomes practical, and of course a prosumer rapid-prototyping machine. Among other things. But at least it seems I’m not alone in my disappointment as these issues are echoed by NPR columnist David Pogue who reports back from the show (Link – audio report). It’s worth a listen.

The only thing I’d really disagree with from what I’ve seen is that personally I’m sick of iPod aesthetics. “Simple, elegant and beautiful”, as Pogue says, can also be – when it’s copied by everyone out there – boring. Give me devices that are “Ergonomic, sensitive to the target user’s lifestyle, and attractive”.

Pogue asks: “Will Design Elegance Win the Gadget War?”. All other things being equal: Yes. But in a niche world, sameness is the enemy unless consumers aspire to be affiliated with a corporate commodity; one of the non-discerning masses (read Bruce Sterling’s entry quoting something relevant written by Henry Jenkins – Link).

The real trick is integrating “elegant” design into everything. And copying someone else’s idea of Beauty doesn’t cut it; in niche markets or mass. So at the very minimum, expect to see more customization capability designed into mass-market items (think cell phone skins, mod’able forms, Nike ID shoes, aso) because more and more I see real evidence of a split firmly down the middle. On one side are the bottom-feeder commodity products sold at mass to leverage volume, and on the other side are luxury goods sold in boutiques and specialty stores that don’t necessarily function any better but are unique and contribute to a person’s identity and in that way have extraordinary value and command prices that make volume less of an issue.

Now, has anyone read the reports on recent holiday sales figures? Mass retailer Wal*Mart didn’t fair as well as expected. Guess what? The race to the bottom has no where to go but down, guys. And who came out ahead? Luxury goods. Target stores. Funny thing is, Wal*Mart has done it’s job too well and recent attempts to go upscale ala Target aren’t panning out according to reports. People shop at WM for low, low prices; not high-margin goods. I’m sure I’m not alone in my thinking here, so get ready to see a wave of customizable mass-market offerings – most likely exclusively available from a particular retail chain. As the saying goes, nature abhors a vacuum. Something and somebody will fill the middle ground.

As an aside, with so many people focused on how they present themselves to the world (which is often a key element in the success of niche products), is it really so surprising that virtual world avatar customization makes real world money?

via TP Wire Service

{I just happened to surf through Gizmodo and found someone from frog design saying much of the same thing today. Read those comments at this Link}