This Is Indexed is a great social commentary blog that uses probability plots, graphs and Venn diagrams. I’ve just discovered it myself, but have already found several archived entries that poke fun at big brand names. Have a look at some here for a light Monday read, then head over to the source for more!

Even without the brand names mentioned, I’d guess that few people wouldn’t know which brands are showcased in the flash card above.

The visual evoked by the above flash card aside, this observation made me laugh out loud! If only it weren’t so sad that self esteem …read more

What happen when a company relies heavily on public culture as its stock and trade? What happens when a company appropriates folk tales and tradition then copyrights and claims as private property? There’s nothing easier than cashing in on a tried, trued and beloved story, but what happens when you cross the line into stealing the people’s own culture?
David Bollier’s Brand Name Bullies, published in 2005 by Wiley, shows how Disney had built an empire by poaching and repurposing public domain material.
Bollier calls it the “substitution effect” – where public domain material is available to all, including companies, but then …read more

A hand-drawn anti-logo and a red toe tip dot (for kicking corporate ass). Isn’t this itself a brand? One that promises to rail against the big bad corporation and stay true to non-conformism – sure. That’s the brand promise.
Brandchannel.com reported recently about this anti-brand effort, saying that, “it seems odd that anyone should be against branding. Brands are merely a badge, a promise of quality, an assurance of consistency.”
And this anti-brand shoe is no different.
The Blackspot campaign was in response to the use of sweatshops. The shoes are made at a Portuguese union shop, hours from 8am to 6pm, a …read more