The Flip Mino HD recorder is an extremely simple device, as big as a cell phone, weights 93 grams, has a built in usb-connector (no more looking for cables) and sends movies to your favourite website with the press of a button. It only has one physical button (the on-off switch) and the other buttons are touch-buttons that light up when necessary. Despite its small dimensions and simple design it makes qualitatively excellent images with High Definition-resolution (720p) and you can even edit movies on the fly.Every camera can be equipped with your own design. We're not talking about stickers or click-covers, but a real print. There are hundreds of designs available from which you can choose one, but you can also get to work with all sorts of patterns and your own pictures to determine your camera's look all by yourself. Furthermore you can release your design to others and have it added to the gallery of the online shop. Every time a camera with your design is sold you get $10,- commission. The price of the camera is the same no matter what the design.
Eric van der Palen on Molblog:
The whole customisation-option is included with the price and ensures that pretty much everyone chooses a design instead of the standard black edition. This makes every camera a personal object and also automatically a topic of conversation when it’s produced from a pocket. Because of that commission of $10 you can earn there are a lot of designers that have made gorgeous designers, which only makes the product more attractive.
Future Vision by Erwin Van Lun on this article
There are all sorts of trends hidden in this example.
All traditional marketing Ps are under pressure.
Product and Price: everything is becoming personal again. Currently the price is the same, but later we’ll get a ‘free’ customised design, but if we want something really special, especially designed for you, or maybe a limited edition, or with the designer’s name/logo on it, then we’ll pay (a lot) more. This is how photo and video cameras become part of your identity, brands with a true symbolic function.
Beside that the involvement of the consumer, the more open attitude of brands and taking the consumer seriously is standard in this. A nice example of brand coming-out.
And finally everything is becoming simpler, simpler, simpler. Technology is disappearing and interaction with a virtual world is left.