When communication fails the tennis-ball test
Throw someone a tennis ball and they’ll hit it. But throw someone ten and they’ll miss them all. The same applies with communication – and that can be a fatal problem.
Breaking the mould: when chocolate design defeats self-control
What happens when a company shatters the convention of grid-based chocolate bars by introducing irregular chunks?!
Have you seen the danger signs?
Here’s a question for drivers and Highway Code buffs: when does a national speed limit sign tell you that you are NOT allowed to drive at the national speed limit?
Toilet habits: three ways of telling people what to do in the loo
Blocked toilets are a nuisance. But if you're responsible for lots of loos, figuring out how to ensure people treat your toilets with care could drive you around the u-bend.
Empathy trumps accuracy
When we answer a question or solve a problem, what answer are we seeking to provide? Is it better to give the answer we feel is right or the answer we know is right?
How much is my Starbucks coffee?
Today’s quiz question. How much is my Starbucks coffee if the price shown behind the counter says £3.55? (Here’s a clue… it’s not £3.55.)
When is an e-bike not an e-bike?
Fires caused by batteries on e-bikes have been grabbing the headlines. But the headlines don't tell an accurate story, and are spreading a misplaced fear of e-bikes. Here's one way to fix it.
Dear J Salmon… wish you were here!
J Salmon, Britain's oldest printer of postcards, went out of business in 2017. Did the sun really need to set on this 137-year-old company?
Why food banks should BOGOF
Food banks have been in the news a lot. As has the bad guy of supermarket marketing tactics, the Buy One Get One Free deal. It’s time the two walked down the aisle together.
Meet the hermit crabs of branding
Hermit crabs are remarkable – and famous for their use of shells that once belonged to other creatures. Some brands are similarly inclined, taking on what others have left behind – and sometimes making better use of discarded ideas than the original owner.