I had lunch with a co-worker recently; we traded kid stories and product stories (and books! Oooh! A BIG box of books!). She was a bit grossed out by a new product she saw, “Bottled Mom Spit”.

I suppose if you really take it apart, it is kind of a gross name. But it is accurate enough: though my mom didn’t (usually) spit, it was part of my awareness growing up from reading. That and hankies tucked into sleeves, pinched cheeks…

I’ve come up with a few names now and then, for different ideas, different products. But I’m more dreamer than designer, so most of these stay on the drawing board. But I’ll run across a name once in a while that makes me wonder – what were they thinking? Do clever names work for a product or against it?

Then again, with all the noise online and offline, you need a catchy name or some kind of gimmick to rise above the noise, if only for a moment. Then you need a good product to stay there, I guess. My kids won’t know what a Pet Rock or a Furby is, but Chia Pets may make a come back if they time it right. Cha-cha-cha-chia!

No Comments »