Some products need to stay in the past, but others should be greeted with open arms
By Meaghan Ziemba, Associate Editor, PD&D
Nowadays, a lot of ideas are coming back from the past; such as my daughter’s Hannah Montana slap bracelets that I remember having in the 80’s with zebra print and checkered patterns. Not to mention the classic board games of Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Hungry Hungry Hippos; and the all too familiar Monopoly – now available in pink.
Classic car designs are also coming out of retirement and finding their place among younger generations; like the great 70 style Ford Mustang.
While some designers and consumers may disagree with the idea of bringing back the classics – which in some instances I agree; for example, the ridiculous idea of Casablanca being remade into a modern day movie – I welcome updated designs with open arms.
My most recent excitement is for Polaroid’s new PoGo digital camera.
Growing up in a family of six, my mom kept track of our most embarrassing moments through film. Every holiday, birthday, and important firsts are laid out in dozens of photo albums, most of which were captured by the classic Polaroid camera.
We loved setting ourselves up in silly poises and waiting for the picture to take shape right in front of our eyes. My sister Melissa and I would create comical shake-up dances to get the picture to show up faster – learning much later that this was actually a bad thing.
Needless to say, when I first heard about the PoGo, I called all my siblings to tell them that Polaroid has returned – and yes, I will be purchasing one as soon as I see it on one of my shopping ventures.
With an LCD screen, internal memory, and built-in editing tools, an instant photo can be printed in less than 60 seconds – unfortunately there’s no shaking involved. Pictures are smudge proof, water-resistant and tear-proof, and can be viewed and changed before printing. What’s more, the option of saving the picture on the internal memory makes this updated classic even more exciting.
I understand and agree that some classic products need to stay in the past. Reproducing them or updating them can take away from their legacy, hinders creativity, and cheat customers out of fresh and new innovations. However, updating some of them, like the Polaroid and the classical red wagon, brings great traditions to younger generations. I love sharing my childhood memories with my daughter, and I enjoy seeing the excitement she has when she beats me at games I played when I was young.
Besides, it’s great to keep the kid in us alive, so why not stick to the classics?
What is your take? E-mail comments to meaghan.ziemba@advantagemedia.com