Le Do Nguyet Minh | Junior Graphic Designer | minh.le@iconnect360.com

Caleb Warren Magaret C. Campbell

FOUR MAIN TRAITS OF COOL DESIGN

1. It is socially constructed

• Cool is how an subject perceived by others• “Objects and people are cool only to the

extent that others consider them cool”

The Four Traits of Cool Design

2. It is subjective and dynamic • What people consider cool change over

time and across different people.• Because perceptions changes• A cool design needed to constantly

changing

The Four Traits of Cool Design

The Four Traits of Cool Design

3. It is desirable• Coolness is perceived to be a positive

quality• People like products and brands that are

cool.• Cool is valued

The Four Traits of Cool Design

4. It is set apart from others• Cool people and brands follow its own

path, regardless of the norms, beliefs, or expectation of others.

• Being different without going over the line• “Different isn’t always better, but better is

always different.”

1. Find a spot in the market

• Consider what to design and who is it for

• Are there other similar design in the market?

• Identify the gap between you and your competitors

Cheeseburger Wrapping SetGift Couture

• Set your product apart and grab audience’s attention.

• An unusual design for an ordinary product can generate ‘coolness’ and excites people.

2. Understand your audience

• Find out what is perceived to be acceptably strange.

• If it goes over the line, it won’t be cool anymore

• Research & research

Dumb Ways To DieMelbourne’s Metro Trains

• Reduce 21% in accident and deaths as a result

• Melbourne’s Metro Trains combined elements that loved universally: catchy music and cute characters

3. Try to appear effortless

• Cool design should appear effortless and natural (even though it’s not)

• It also should appear to not rely on the approval of others (even though it does)

Apple ProductsApple

• The Apple produces are functionality focused, beautifully designed, and are super cool

• Design something interesting to provoke curiosity, yet simple to understand

4. Adapt to the time

• What it perceived to be ‘cool’ comes and goes.

• To stay cool you need to keep an eye on trends

• Many brands have refined their logos to minimalism/flat design trend

• Keeping up on the game will help your designs be fresh, current, and cool

5. Look to the past

• ‘Coolness’ comes and goes; and sometimes it comes around again.

• To anticipate what will be cool is to look at what has been cool.

5. Look to the past

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• Determine the reason it was popular then and think about if it has relevance to today.

• Don’t reproduce it, reinvent it.

1. Find a spot in the market

2.Understand you audience

3.Try to appear effortless4.Adapt to the time5. Look to the pastLe Do Nguyet Minh | Junior Graphic Designer | minh.le@iconnect360.com