Radi Design

Is trust a brand attribute?

robert — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:17:10 +0000

I would have to say that trust is earned by the brand and derives from the consumer’s positive experience with the brand. Trust is certainly an attribute that leads to sales continuity and consumer retention. Brand loyalty is based largely on trust, as trust facilitates the consumer decision making process. Trust is earned by the brand and must be maintained over time by showing excellence at every stage of the product life cycle. From design and engineering to customer service and product support, trust is an organic attribute to a brand that needs to be constantly guarded, renewed and replenished.

What are your thoughts?

The Ellen Show – WP Digital Oven

robert — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:09:36 +0000

Behind a Great Chef, there is a great oven…Literally.

The Ellen Show. October 15 2009

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Robert Radi Designs “6 in 1″ Digital Oven for Wolfgang Puck.

robert — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:29:04 +0000

Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck has been on the forefront of the culinary world for decades and his passion for cooking, wine, and life is undisputed. No surprise that Wolfgang Puck demands the highest quality from the products bearing his name.

The latest product to join the WPA lineup is a 6-in-1 Digital Convection Oven with Rotisserie designed for Wolfgang Puck by Beverly Hills-based designer Robert Radi.

An attractive design with Professional European flair, the oven allows the user to experience delicious convection cooking with the Wolfgang Puck 23L Digital Convection Oven with Rotisserie. This powerful 1500-watt oven offers fast pre-heating and cooking with temperature controls up to 450 degrees. Plus, 8 function controls allow for a wide range of cooking applications. More than 20 great recipes are included so the user can start cooking right away! The high efficiency technology allows the oven to pre-heat and cook at a very fast pace saving energy.

A green appliance designed to satisfy any lifestyle. From a 12″ pizza that is ready in 10 minutes to an excellent full meals for the entire family.The electronic controls and blue backlit liquid crystal display are highly intuitive and easy to operate.Amazingly this 23L oven has a very small foot print as it was designed with a full understanding of “countertop real estate.”

Fully insulated, the 6 in 1 oven features a 8 function controls including Defrost, Keep Warm, Standard Bake, Convection Bake, Slow Cook, Roast, Broil and Rotisserie and it is also a dehydrating machine. A Child lock feature rounds up this remarkable appliance.

Please visit our portfolio for images and other exciting designs by Robert Radi.

Click here for HSN introductory offer.

VIDEO: Wofgang Puck introduces the Oven on HSN.

VIDEO: Making pizza with Wolfgang Puck

EqSolaris

robert — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:17:23 +0000

From a simple observation, a promise for the future.

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Youthful Essence® by Susan Lucci debuts Next Generation Microdermabrasion system.

robert — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:00:26 +0000

Youthful Essence by Suan Lucci: Next Generation Microdermabrasion

Celebrities like Jaime Pressly (”My Name is Earl), Lauren Holly (”NCIS”) and Paige Hemmis (”Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”) speak about their experience with Youtful Essence.

Youthful Essence® by Susan Lucci is decisively one of the most successful cosmetic brands in Direct Response. When Guthy-Renker needed a new look for the Next Generation of Youthful Essence, they entrusted award winning designer Robert Radi to provide a new brand identity. A new water proof Microdermabrasion device, with classy aesthetics, improved functionality, innovative micro-orbits management and refined ergonomics was the initial focus of the project. As the device took shape and turned into a final product, Radi focused his efforts into achieving a distinctive logo and a brand identity with timeless layouts on cosmetic components.

Of course there is plenty to be inspired by Susan Lucci when it comes to class, beauty and talent. Lucci is best known for playing the larger-than-life diva Erica Kane on the ABC television soap opera All My Children, on which she has appeared since the show’s inception on January 5, 1970. Lucci’s long tenure on the show has made her an iconic presence on daytime; she is closely identified with both the role of Erica and with daytime television itself.

Youthful Essence® by Susan Lucci is a patented personal Microdermabrasion system that gently exfoliates away dull, dry surface cells to reveal fresh, more radiant skin beneath.

“This next generation Youthful Essence is the most innovative system on the market” says Kimber Maderazzo, Senior VP of Global Product Development for Guthy-Renker “it now includes a pre and post addition to enhance the skins performance over time.”

Starting with the first application, the user will watch as visible imperfections – fine lines, age spots, enlarged pores, superficial scars, sun damage and more – seemingly fade away. Youthful Essence® leaves the skin renewed, restored and rejuvenated – without the expense or inconvenience of a spa treatment.

Youthful Essence® was developed by the award-winning husband-and-wife skin care specialists Dean and Amby Rhoades, for use in their Beverly Hills salon. They created this personal Microdermabrasion system for celebrity clients wishing to continue the rejuvenating effects of the professional services they were receiving in the salon. Now you can get a spa-style treatment in the comfort of your own home, at a fraction of the cost.

Please visit our portfolio for images and other exciting designs by Robert Radi.

Ford Thunderbird Kitchen Appliances, designed by Robert Radi, receive renewed attention.

robert — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:10:48 +0000

Designed in 2004 at the request of Ford Licensing and marketing executive Howard Ong, the Ford Thunderbird Kitchen Appliances commemorates the 50th anniversary of the legendary 1955 car. Thanks to Peter Pachal – Editor of DVICE and Online Editor at NBC News - the line has received renewed attention across online and printed media. You never know… 2010 is the 55th anniversary of the Ford Thunderbird.

Ford Thunderbird kitchen appliances remind us why American cars are cool

DVICE
by Peter Pachal – Editor

In the wake of the White House’s Detroit bailout, we needed a reminder of why we should have any good thoughts about American automakers. Well, we got it in the form of these awesome kitchen appliances by Radi Design, made to resemble the exterior of a beautiful 1955 Ford Thunderbird. They’re a few years old, but these sleek retro toys are still cool – just look at the analog dials on that blender! Personally, though, I want the grill. This bailout is still tragic, but at least from these designs you can see there was some point in history when U.S. carmakers were innovative and took pride in their work. Let’s hope that day comes again.

THE BLENDER – (Design: Robert Radi 2004)

THE TOASTER – (Design: Robert Radi 2004)

Radi Design’s Auto Inspired Kitchen Appliances

The Elite Choice

Radi Design has unveiled kitchen appliances modelled on the 1955 Ford Thunderbird. The fact that American auto companies are being bailed out by the government and hence, these kitchen appliances lend an almost nostalgic and patriotic touch.

The appliances include pieces that look almost like a replica of those luxurious and classy American cars. The funniest appliance has to be the blender which comes with an analog dial. The other appliances are nothing less and sport a retro but fun look which instantly attracts you. You would no more have to deal with boring kitchen appliances.
The designs seem to encourage the buyer to consider American auto again, and buy American cars when things are going so wrong with the industry. In any case, the Radi Design’s kitchen appliances take creativity and innovation to the next level and make every American proud of auto heritage.

Retro rewind: kitchen gadgets recreate thunderbird magic

Harshpaul | Dec 20 2008

It almost sounds like a fairy tale, but there was once a time when the Detroit automakers made cars and gave shape to the automobile world we know today. Many of the designs are famous and iconic, still holding sway. Sometime back, Radi Design designed kitchen appliances based on the 1955 Thunderbird. The retro-design of the appliances are awesome, complete with the old-world feel.

The appliances in the range get authentic with analog dials, knobs, the car’s front grille and the logo. I’ve never seen kitchen gadgets look that cool! While we’re on the topic, here’s something more to step up the nostalgia. Strange that such innovative automakers could fall on such bad times.

THE GRILL – (Design: Robert Radi 2004)

THE OVEN – (Design: Robert Radi 2004)

Estilo retro en la cocina

Hace un tiempo les había comentado de el estilo retro, sillas, butacas, etc. Un estilo muy colorido y divertido.

En esta ocasión se trata de accesorios para la cocina de este estilo. Quizás os guste este estilo pero no quieres decorar con muebles grandes y mucho más llamativos, con el riesgo que te quede un espacio temático, (excepto que esto es lo que busques!) puedes decorarlo con estos accesorios.

Tienen como motivo principal el Ford Thunderbird de 1955, y se lo ve reflejado con todo su brillo.
Los diseñaron en el 2004 cuando se cumplían 50 años de su creación, y vaya regalo.

Han realizado diferentes modelos, una tostadora, que la verdad me fascina, hermoso diseño.
También podéis encontrar un horno eléctrico, un grill y una licuadora.
Mi favorita es la licuadora, le han hecho hasta el velocímetro, una palanca de velocidades, y todo es funcional, nada decorativo y eso tiene más mérito.

Long Term Brand Identity supersedes “Color of the Year.”

robert — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:52:07 +0000

By Robert Radi with the contribution of Vicki Lederman

It is that time of the year again. The time when in strategy meetings the “let’s do it in the color of the year” quote inexorably surfaces at some point. And in 2009 when the mood of the consumer seems to be hovering between charcoals gray and black, the color of the year is a cheerful and sunny yellow. The Pantone Mimosa 14-0848TCX to be exact.

So what is the “color of the year” and how reliable is its prediction and subsequent impact on the consumer?

Color trends are predicted 1-2 years in advance and are basically self-fulfilling prophesies. There are many color and trend predicting/tracking services. Some are individuals, some are professional companies like Pantone, and the Color Marketing Group is made up of representatives from several consumer product groups (auto, paint, textile, furniture, etc) that reach consensus. The large retailers have their own trend forecasting people. Everyone tracks everyone else, manufacturers and retailers buy forecasting services and plan their product lines 6 months – 2 years in advance, and no one wants to get left behind and not have the hot color or trend. So things are pretty much set far in advance, once colors are forecast it takes time to translate that into product design and into production and get the stuff to the retailers.

Generally trends are “spotted” at the high end, specialty small producer market, and filter down to the higher volume and mass markets. The timeframe for this movement is getting much shorter, thanks to these same trend forecasting services that distribute the information.

There are slight differences for different product types, though they also track each other. Other forecasts for 2009 have called for soft purples and grays, greens, blues, reds.

So let’s do it in the color of the year?

Unless the product item or brand in question belongs in the Fashion Industry or industries where the design is seasonal and with a short life cycle, we need to ask ourselves: “What are the long term goals for the brand?”

Color is a fundamental factor in a product, a logo identity, an advertising campaign, a web site and even something simple as a business card. In our experience brands that stick to their principle of identity even when the color choice is not the most exciting at that very given time, do better in the long term than brands that chase the hot trend and find themselves unable to establish a unique brand identity. It is a well documented and undisputed fact that colors have a significant impact on people’s emotional state. Colors do form and jog memories of brands in the long term. So if the so called “color of the year” fits within the long term strategy, the brand should certainly make it part of its identity. Furthermore the brand should consider where to apply the color in question. For example if the color is used as an accent on collaterals such as business cards, websites etc. the commitment to the color in question is minimal and it will play a supportive role and can be easily replaced without interfering with the long term identity.

However if a color is to be applied on a product and/or a logo identity it is a clear commitment to the long term strategy of the brand. In both cases the color in question will take a primary role in the perception of the brand from the consumer side. When an investment in tooling and molds is made by a brand, the anticipation is a relatively long lifecycle for that product, perhaps as long as 3 to 5 years. The short slightness and lack of long term vision in selecting the colors for that product could surely affect its expected lifecycle.

So how much Mimosa yellow the consumer will see depends on how many manufacturers and retailers bought into Pantone’s prediction when they originally made it.

Let them eat cake!

robert — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:55:16 +0000

“Mr.” CakeKeeper

Arguably the most distinctive CakeKeeper on the market (designed by Robert Radi for SNAPWARE) it is making “cameo appearances” on hit Television Shows such as “Dr. House MD” and “How I Met Your Mother.”

In its method acting appearances, “Mr.” CakeKeeper brings a unique flair in carrying cakes, pies, and other delicious pastries. It can usually do it all in one take, thanks to its comfortable handle, snap latching system, and on-board knife/spatula securely snapped inside its cover.

Mr. CakeKeeper wouldn’t say if it would support a SAG strike, but asked us to have our people call its people. We were a bit puzzled when the first off-tool sample in our Studio asked for its own 6′X6′ showcase. Yep, the whole thing is going straight to its injection molded head.

On the other hand, to discuss your next project you can reach Robert Radi directly at 323.556.0788 – No people to go through….well… beside the receptionist.

The SNAPWARE CakeKeeper designed by Robert Radi

A Reactive Breath of Fresh Air.

robert — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 05:23:32 +0000

In 2007 Stephon Marbury, the point guard for the New York Knicks of the NBA, started endorsing a sneaker that costs just $14.98, a pittance when compared with the often daunting prices that companies such as Nike, Reebok, and Adidas charge for their footwear (which can cost well over $150 per pair)” (ESPNNews-2007). These shoes are known as Starbury One and Starbury Two, with slightly different designs and color options.Stephon Marbury’s reasoning, while partly motivated by business, is also driven by a desire to make it easier for people of all economic situations purchase a quality, useful basketball shoe, something that, as of now, is difficult to do at a reasonable cost.

Such is the pressure that is now facing all industries when products are “genericized” by shopping out the real design, engineering, and manufacturing to overseas resources are used to reduce the cost of making products. While the products from overseas manufacturing facilities are of good enough quality to meet the needs of the various brand names, the use of large “contract manufacturers” to make products eventually leads to every company’s products being made of very similar performing materials, with very similar manufacturing processes, with very similar designs. And, if someone like Stephon Marbury or some name brand company is willing to sacrifice a little of the bottom line by reducing the profit margins, any product can be drastically reduced in price and delivered to customers. But this is a difficult thing for most large brands to do; protecting their brand identity often requires protecting relatively high prices for their products both to provide revenues for investors and large corporate organizations but also to protect an image of higher quality and better technology than the competition.

Enter Geox® brand shoes-the brainchild of a former winemaker, the Geox® concept of shoes that breath through the sole to provide comfort to the wearer has been the basis for one of the fastest growing shoe brands in the world. Starting in 1997, the Geox® has now grown to be a $1Billion/year business. With an ever-broadening product line ranging from pure fashion shoes selling in retail stores like Nordstrom to a growing line of sports and activity-specific shoes, Geox® is fast becoming a dominant brand in the footwear industry. The founder and people of Geox® have turned a concept for improving the comfort of shoes into a billion dollar/year business and, in the process, established themselves as a highly distinguished and “differentiated” footwear brand dedicated to one thing-supplying devoted customers with good quality, comfortable shoes.

A new patent pending technology called re/ax® offers very promising elements to dislodge the shoe industry from being stuck between a rock and a hard place-a real quandary that equally affects the entire footwear, apparel, and outdoor recreational goods industries, at large-balancing the need for product differentiation through offering a good product at a reasonable, affordable price while also offering a product that provides the wearer with some aspect of real value for the money.

The latest in advanced materials science by re/ax® create materials that “reactuate” to their environments. The purpose of re/ax® is to address a myriad of problems and to enhance the function and value of products by marrying innovative product design with patent pending environmentally adaptive material technology -”reactuation to enhance valuation.” The unique blend of talents and technical expertise at re/ax® can help you find solutions for future product differentiation and market dominance.

“….re/ax® create materials that “reactuate” to their environments. The purpose of re/ax® is to address a myriad of problems and to enhance the function and value of products….”

Video: Diane Lane talks about the Healthy Skin Rejuvenator.

robert — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:16:25 +0000

The NEUTROGENA Healthy Skin Rejuvenator is a snap. Simply wet and attach the puff, then rejuvenate your skin’s look. No measuring. No mess. Just great-looking skin.

The Wet/Dry System Applicator was designed and developed by Robert Radi for NEUTROGENA.