Here, the beautiful Swiss guards boots in Medici’s blue and yellow at the Vatican. Their uniform has remained relatively unchanged since the seventeenth century.

This dress appeared at JC/DC (Jean-Charles de Castelbajac) London, right after Michael Jackson passed away. And I actually loved it.

I spent the summer of 1990 at Berkeley, CA. studying English with two close friends of mine. It was then when I ran into Whole Foods for the first time, I noticed it was a different kind of grocery store. I wasn’t quite sure why, but it felt more cozy than the other grocery stores, it reminded me the happiness you fell when exploring street markets aisles. I liked the variety of fresh cereals they had at that time, it reminded me the way in which teas are sold and displayed in mexican markets.

Now, 2009 winter season in London, lots of people with flu and colds. Well, I’m not exemption. I have not left home for almost a week, I have a bad flu. I ran out of food this morning and my boyfriend is out of town, so I called Whole Foods Soho branch to ask them if they deliver groceries at home, like the Kensington branch. A young gentleman told me over the phone that Soho branch does not have that service. Nevertheless, he asked, why? I explained my situation – I am sick at home and ran out of food. It took me more time to explain myself, before Habib kindly offer to help me by taking my groceries request over email and then bring them home.

I could not believe it. But it is true. There are very good people out there. They get out of their way and basic job functions just to help other people. There are people with a big heart, that still can make time to listen to other people needs. There are people who know what to prioritize in life and make this a better world.
Thank you Habib you made this a very special day!

Habib also reminded me a lesson about brands. No matter how good a brand strategy or brand idea is; brands are what people working for them decides to make out of them on a daily basis. All the maneuvers that take place behind the scenes reach consumers no matter what. All the good and the bad, the projects, programs, processes, structures, etc… have a true impact on the way consumers perceive brands. Employees behavior become absolutely critical in contributing to a brand success or failure. Today I like Whole Foods more than I liked it yesterday.

Yesterday evening I came across this sign in a street in Prague. A more descriptive approach, it reminds me a comic book frame.

We went to Wimbledon last weekend and saw all matches on court one. I enjoyed the rituals and formality of the event. For me Venus Williams was the day’s highlight. What I found most interesting was the event branding. All the starategic places where symbols and logos were situated. Besides Nike, Reebok, etc. endorsing players, Polo is one of the core brands you constantly see, all '’ball boys'’ wear navy caps and polos with a humungus polo symbol, impossible to miss. The other strong brand is Fila strategically placed on the ‘’ball boys'’ sneakers’ soles… unmissable given their kneeling throughout the matches. And of course the wimbledon brand in '’line judges'’ dress code, from sneakers, color pallete to shirt patterns, a whole visual language for the event.

In a Thai park. I wish these pictograms were everywhere…

In a public toilet.

Be kind… behave.

Be kind.

When you do not speak and read the local language, some thoughts on a universal language… and the power of shapes araise.