Buttons. They’re everywhere. What started out as a physical, tactile object (did underwear really have buttons?) has even made it’s way into the internet due to its functional purpose: push this, get that. You might be thinking, “So what?”. Like me, until today you’ve rarely considered buttons. And why should you? They’re just there. So obviously we take them for granted. Poor little buttons. I say it’s about time we give the button its day in the sun, its 15 minutes of blog fame.

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It’s primal. You feel it in your gut. Simply put, there are just some things that look freakin’ good.

I’ve been obsessing a bit lately about buying a mountain bike. Today a friend sent me a link to one he thought I’d like, and I can honestly say I started to drool. It was shiny. Has a bit of muscular curve. The paint job wasn’t overdone. It looks just… right.

One of my girlfriends has a shopping policy: she only buys things that give her “happy chemicals”. You know the feeling. You spot something you like — a shirt, some shoes, a Canon EOS 1000D, whatever — and have an immediate (chemical) reaction. Eyes open wider. Sharp inhale of breath. Palms sweat (OK, maybe that’s just me). But the experience is basically a sudden onset of pure joy. Maybe it’s a little like love at first sight, (or lust).

This instinct or reaction is inspiring to me, being a designer. As much as my inner design snob tries to brain its way into a good design, it always helps when I remember that if it doesn’t give me happy chemicals, it probably won’t be giving anyone else a thrill. Sounds simple. But getting to that place of achieving instant lust with a design is the tricky part.

To dissect it just a bit further (enter: inner design snob): Sure, reactions are gutteral. Instinctual. But you have that feeling because this object of your desire is meeting your needs in multiple ways. It is something you want. Something that’s useful to you. It’s relevant. It’s likely also visually appealing. (And it’s probably not on sale, if you’re me.)

I’ve had the experience in design presentations where the client immediately loves the design. It’s perfect. It’s hitting the mark. If I’m going on the happy chemicals theory, the client loves the design because it’s just… right. They might analyze it a bit later, after the buzz wears off, and find it in sync with their needs. It has appeal to their target audience. It hits every objective in the creative brief. But the beauty is that initially they don’t feel the need to analyze it, they don’t check to see if it aligns with their company’s value proposition or run it through user testing. It just feels right. And that, my friends, is a very nice place to be.

Trust your instincts. Embrace your inner animal. Don’t settle for the sale rack when something else is making you drool.

Welcome to As The Platform Fills, a series reporting on the latest sightings, observances, and events taking place right here — outside our office — in downtown Minneapolis overlooking the Nicollet Mall Light Rail Platform. The lives we observe are complex. The dramas we record are real. Things get weird. Stay tuned for more real platform action.

#17: Diet Coke and Key, 50th Street / Minnehaha Falls Station, 9:02 AM

It was a cool, brisk morning as I hurried to catch the train. I was late to work and feeling a bit like a loser, although glad that my lateness would save me fifty cents. Reveling in this small pleasure, I approached the platform’s pay kiosk. Then I saw it. They sat as a pair at the base of the metal support beam, like some kind of mystery clue: an open can of Diet Coke and a very small silver key.

My breath caught in the base of my throat. Not in fear, but excitement. Wonder. Confusion. Then, panic! Did I have my camera? No. But I had my trusty cell phone, a white Sanyo Katana. And while it’s no iPhone (which I’m okay with) and sounds like a clicky makeup compact when you close it, it does have a built-in camera. I snuck it out of my black pleather purse — more of an oversized bag, really, $35 from Aldo — and flipped it open. A couple nonchalant button-pushes later and I’ve got it recorded. Relief. Now, what is this about?

While the two objects are placed near each other, maybe they have nothing to do with each other. But they might have everything to do with each other. Or am I just paranoid? Knowing the Republican National Convention is in town has everyone on guard, so that might be the source of my suspicion. But others have agreed, this Diet Coke and key thing is just weird. The key is what really gets me. It’s as if someone placed it there and wants us to figure out what it’s for.

Any ideas?

Welcome to As The Platform Fills, a series reporting on the latest sightings, observances, and events taking place right here — outside our office — in downtown Minneapolis overlooking the Nicollet Mall Light Rail Platform. The lives we observe are complex. The dramas we record are real. Things get weird. Stay tuned for more real platform action.

This casual male in a wooden rocking chair was observed by a coworker at Azul 7. I was out of the office one morning, and upon my return I heard murmurings of an interesting platform sighting. I was thrilled to hear someone took a snapshot of the occurance — a young guy, apparently waiting for a train — in a rocking chair. “Hmm… weird!”, I thought, as questions and theories started gathering in my mind, as I’m sure they are yours. Where do I begin?

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Welcome to As The Platform Fills, a weekly series reporting on the latest sightings, observances, and events taking place right here — outside our office — in downtown Minneapolis overlooking the Nicollet Mall Light Rail Platform. The lives we observe are complex. The dramas we record are real. Things get weird. Stay tuned each week for more real platform action.

It was just another morning at the office. I was clicking, dragging and typing when I heard muffled gasps down the hall from one my coworker’s offices. Then a shriek. Then a “Holy shit!” and some shocked, cackling type of laughter (Must’ve been Joe). Soon footsteps pattered in my direction, and I was instructed that I needed to look out the window at the platform. Excited, as I always am at these moments of platform drama, I popped up eagerly to look out the window. “What the!”, I exclaimed. This couldn’t be real. But it was very real. Someone had actually driven about 50 feet onto the train track. Not only that, but they had managed to get half the car up on two wheels onto the platform, which is about 2 feet above street level. We all stood gawking, jaws open. Many questions entered my mind…

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Welcome to As The Platform Fills, a weekly series reporting on the latest sightings, observances, and events taking place right here — outside our office — in downtown Minneapolis overlooking the Nicollet Mall Light Rail Platform. The lives we observe are complex. The dramas we record are real. Things get weird. Stay tuned each week for more real platform action.

#79: Orange Liquid, 50th Street / Minnehaha Falls Station, 8:13 AM

Mysterious. As I approached the ticket kiosk one cloudy morning — my GoTo card out and ready to swipe, wind whipping my freshly blow-dried hair into a nasty tangle — a white shape to my lower left caught my eye. I looked down. It was a white, Styrofoam cup — not your usual 12 oz size, but a bit larger, perhaps 16 oz. It sat there, perfectly centered at the base of a steel support beam, containing a small amount of an unknown orange liquid.

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I think everyone should have a dog at the office. I was walking my dog, Redd, from the parking garage to my building this morning, and even total strangers would stop to pat him, smile, or coo things to him in that baby-talk voice people use with animals (which he totally loves, by the way). Heck, even when I was driving into downtown he had his head out the window getting other drivers to smile. People that normally move into their day without much to grin about were unexpectedly made happier. But it didn’t stop there! Once we got upstairs he instantly charmed a roomful of people in our glass-walled conference room as he stared in with a big dog-smile on his face, while simultaneously bringing the level of energy in the office up about 5 levels while hopping from person to person getting attention. All day he’s been infusing the air with his relaxed, easygoing personality (and a little dog breath). For others interested in dogs as therapy and dogs in general, here are a few good links: Minnesota Therapy Animals A good site about what you can do with your animal and volunteering. Urbanimal My favorite pet-stuff store; it’s local! They even deliver pet food. Airport Dogpark A blog for one of Redd’s favorite hangouts… it even has a Flickr account attached. p.s. Redd is now passed out in the middle of our workspace; as any good dog would be.

I found these earbuds when I realized that my ears would never accommodate the regular Apple iPod ear buds without serious pain or plastic surgery!

They’re pretty awesome and have different sized rubbery things so they snug right inside your ear. Plus they block outside noise so you don’t have to crank the volume high when you’re in a noisy situation.

Drawback: You can’t hear things around you, so unsafe for outdoor use.

They’re on sale right now too!

The web is bulging with truth and lies. How can we tell who and what’s for real out there?

People and companies can be whoever they want to be online. They can pick and choose their best features and hide their flaws. A company’s website is a lot like a MySpace profile if you think about it — showing only what they do best and only showing the “good” photos. And MySpace members are basically branding themselves — using video, imagery, music, and paying consideration to wardrobe and copywriting. Someone who’s ugly can look gorgeous with the right photo. And a company that sells complete crap can look very polished and slick. Oh, and beauty products can demonstrate absolute “miracles.”

Oh sure, one could argue that this is no different than it used to be. Advertising has always been over-promising; companies have always been showing their “good side.” Consumers should be used to it. Right?

I’m not so sure. Yes, sometimes it’s very obvious that a company is over-promising, for example on the wrinkle cream image above that I found on a flashing banner ad. But what about comparing insurance companies or buying a book? What about meeting someone from an online dating service? Filing your taxes? How do we know who’s telling the truth?

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