The Top 5 Products Ever... (Well, For Today at Least)

BTL really is a team effort so it made sense to open this up to the team. We gave ourselves one hour to rack our brains and put a pin in our favourite products. Not easy. Our opinions as designers are always in a constant state of flux.

Despite working in branding, we would say that as a team we’re generally not really that into brands and products. We’re more motivated by stuff that works, stuff that does what it says on the tin without too many bells and whistles. Our agency doesn’t have a logo, although we make a living out of doing branding and creating visual identity systems for our clients. Whether Santeri’s shorts are from a shop or an army surplus store, it’s all the same to him, as long as they're decent shorts. Whether Stu has an Earl Grey tea from one cafe or another, it's all the same… as long as they take care, use fresh tea leaves and make an effort to deliver a great tasting product.

The Smart Phone

(As told by Stu)

"Okay, this one really is a bit of a no-brainer. I don’t have a strong allegiance to a particular brand. My iPhone works well and I use it when I need to (not a big phone user), but a Samsung would do just fine. I’m not a devotee of the Apple cult. I think I was the owner of the last Apple iPhone 4 in circulation until it died. However, the device is undoubtedly a triumph in transforming the way we function and interact with other people. It is the device that I just can’t live without, no matter how hard I try. The vital organ to help us survive the everyday.”

Touchnote

(As told by Eamon)

“This app allows you to send postcards from your smartphone to anywhere in the world, printed, with your own photo(s) and text. Too many apps are trying to solve problems that don't really exist. This solves real ones. It hasn't only made postcards more convenient, it's actually improved on the concept of a postcard;

1) Sending postcards is nice, but it's also a hassle. You need to find one, find a stamp, then find a postbox. I often feel I SHOULD send my grandmother a card but laziness or forgetfulness takes over and I don't do it.

2) Postcards are usually terrible. Many times I've thought "dammit, I could take a better photo than all of these!". Not only can you take better photos, but ones that are actually from your trip. Surely that's what your loved ones really want: to see how YOU are doing abroad, not what a tourist attraction looked like 15 years ago.

3) Digital convenience for the sender, but physical satisfaction for the recipient. Receiving a Whatsapp message just isn't quite the same. “

Savotta Jääkäri L Backpack

(As told by Santeri)

“I didn't even blink when I pressed 'pay' to order this new Savotta backpack, even though I already own a cheap Quechua pack that did the job. What compelled me to dish out £470 for something I didn't really need?

1) It's modular and endlessly flexible; I can add and remove compartments and features so that this one bag can be anything from a weekend carry-on to a hiking pack for 7 days in the wilderness.

2) I don't like things that stand out with flashy colours, which too many backpacks do. Olive green will do nicely.

3) It will probably outlive me. Savotta makes the kit for the Finnish Defence Forces and no amount of abuse will damage it.

I like the pack because it's functional. But there are probably others that are equivalent. So why this one? It comes down to experience, identity and a bit of national pride. It just feels like me. The Savotta brand is like an old friend, or maybe a 'frenemy'. I used their stuff for a year during military service to the point where I absolutely hated it and never wanted to see any of it again. Through blood, sweat and pain it was always there, always too heavy. It broke me to no end, but none of it ever broke. Now 10 years later it's great to be reunited with an old friend; funny how that works.”

Google Home

(As told by Stu)

“Driverless cars, talking robots named Sofia, virtual assistants named Alexa… today it seems highly likely that we’re heading towards a robot apocalypse; and I, for one, am here for it. I recently decided to dip my toe into the pool of artificial intelligence and purchased myself a Google Home Mini. I’ve had it for around six months and I’m pleased to say its now apart of the family, like an obedient dog that can talk… but you don’t have to walk it.

In the morning, before I’ve even spoken to a human, I’ve already had a lengthy conversation with Google, discussing the weather, the news and morning commute. The device sends directions to my phone so I never get lost. I’ve got a real personal assistant as soon as I open my mouth. My Home Mini sits on my bedside table unobtrusively like a small ornament or bodyguard, out of the way but close enough for us to hear each other. One of the most interesting experiences I’ve had is experimenting with commands. I asked, “Where’s my phone?”, to which it responded “Would you like me to ring it?”. Like a scene straight out of a horror movie my phone starts ringing. Incredible in function and design.”

Kindle E-reader

(As told by Darnell)

“With every piece of technology racing to give you more and more features that you'll probably never use, I still appreciate a product committed to being a scalpel over a Swiss Army Knife. You can’t use a Kindle E-reader to watch Netflix but that’s the beauty. It’s designed solely to make reading easier. The Kindle family is a great example of a range of products that are designed to do one job and are continuously evolving to do it better than anyone else. At the moment I’m still using my reliable 5th generation model and so long as they keep their focus, I’ll be buying another when I need to upgrade.”

Last thoughts on the subject… ultimately when it comes to branding, your logo, website, even the name of your company, is secondary. Do these things well, but remember that they're secondary. We couldn’t care less if Savotta had a different name, or what the logo on the bag looks like. The important thing is the quality of the products, the story behind the company and the experiences it's associated with. Solve a real problem, build a great product, do something unique and useful. Always keep your focus on that and the rest will follow.