After talking about labeling in class this week I got to thinking about just how important labeling is. I mean obviously it defines one product from another, it tells us what it’s supposed to do, and it’s supposed to appeal to us the consumer. That last part is the thing I decided to focus on, how packaging appeals to us. Companies spend millions on research figuring out what it is exactly that we desire in a product. They’ve gotten so good at it that it’s down to a science; everything about packaging is specifically designed that way. What color it is, the size, the outline, all arranged perfectly to make us want to buy. I mean why not? If I were a CEO of a giant company I’d do everything I could to try and make that buying process that much easier, that much quicker, that much more pleasant. The problem is do you think there’s a point where they may have gone too far? These companies are beginning to tap into sub-conscious response mechanisms when designing packaging or whatever that we can’t control. During Christmas shopping stores play faster Christmas songs to try and make people un-easy and in a rush, they want you in and out. They want you to pick up that over priced present and to not have a second thought about buying it. This isn’t the only example there are examples everywhere of companies using tricks like this to make that buying decision easier for us! I guess my point is do you think it’s ethical for companies to do this kind of thing. Is this borderline subliminal messaging? Sure we have free will we can always just say no, but in my opinion the odds are stacked against us. What do you think, should there be some limit, or do you think companies should continue to these kinds of things?
