Glossary
Words borrowed, stolen, and seldom used.
Austurbane
From the Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute (CARI).
Serif fonts, muted colours. Black, beige, copper, bronze and gold. Large amounts of whitespace, minimalism but ‘classy’, incorporating ‘zen’ elements in materials used. Product photography, using specific layouts and perspectives (top-down, isometric), generally has a more staged feel, with sharper, more dramatic lighting. Plant and branch shadows, prismatic or refractive elements scattering the light. Natural materials, granite and marble. Often rough stones. Fabric.
Burn party
Cultural invention from Heroku, via Brandur
Its purpose is to celebrate the work involved in removing things, and thus maintain a more streamlined company. The mechanics are simple: light up a fire pit or brazier. Symbolic effigees are prepared to represent dead products. Each product owner approaches the open fire and explains the sordid history behind what’s being retired and provides a graphic description of the effort that’s gone into its removal. The effigy is then sacrificed to the open flame.
Hipster Bait
From Unimaginable Heights, by Jack and Talita.
An important part of what makes someone hipster bait is that elusive quality of ‘putting it on’, that is, having fun with their fame like a real wanker because they can’t accept just being a regular famous person.