simplicity
Businessweek is running an article (and slideshow, for more pictures see also here) about Philips’ big showcase event in London a few days ago, describing it as ‘futuristic’. In line with Philips’ motto ‘sense and simplicity’ it was titled the Simplicity Event.
In terms of strategy, Philips’ focus is shifting, according to CEO Gerard Kleisterlee. Quoting Businessweek:
“The last decade was the information society, but going forward, health and well-being will be a leading theme and driver of economic growth,” says Philips CEO Gerard Kleisterlee.
Many brands (e.g. Apple, Muji, plusminuszero …) are focussing on design and experience concepts along similar trend lines. Hence, think ‘new’ value sets in terms of: simplicity, silence, emptiness, clarity, transparency, …
In line with Philips Design‘s tradition and design methodologies, future technologies were presented ‘in context’, thereby placing human experience at the center and creating (atmo)spheres of engagement; the future made ‘experience-able’ in a way (something we value highly in future thinking as well), through careful stagesetting and design.
Several online reactions to the future products on showcase, mention however the hope to see them appear on the market designed as beautifully and simply as they are now, without too much unfortunate restyling and reconfiguration, a fate some feel several former future concepts have undergone.
For more info on the Simplicity Event see also Philips’ site and the LiveSimplicity discussion forum.
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