Do You Have a Zen View?

Chris Wilson

Chris Wilson

October 12, 2007

u003cpu003eu003cimg alt=u0022Do you have a Zen View built into your product or company brand?u0022 src=u0022https://freshpeel.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/zenView.jpgu0022 height=u0022236u0022 width=u0022430u0022 /u003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eA Zen View is what author Christopher Alexander named his architectural pattern 134, in the book u003ca target=u0022_blanku0022 href=u0022https://amzn.to/4t1xJtNu0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eu003cemu003eA Pattern Languageu003c/emu003eu003c/au003e. 134 Zen View says:u003c/pu003enu003cblockquoteu003enu003cpu003eIf there is a beautiful view, don't spoil it by building huge windows that gape incessantly at it. Instead, put the windows which look onto the view at places of transition- along paths, in hallways, in entry ways, on stairs, between rooms. If the view window is correctly placed, people will see a glimpse of the distant view as they come up to the window or pass it: but the view is never visible from the places where people stay.u003c/pu003enu003c/blockquoteu003enu003cpu003eThis concept comes from a parable of a Buddhist monk who lived on a mountain with a beautiful view. The monk built his house so that the beautiful view could only be seen during the brief walk up to his hut. This way the view would not become something that was seen so often that it became common and unappreciated to him.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003ca href=u0022https://freshpeel.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/steve_jobs.jpgu0022 rel=u0022lightboxu0022 title=u0022Steve Jobsu0022u003eu003c/au003eThis reminds me of a humorous theory that has been running around the office at u003ca target=u0022_blanku0022 href=u0022https://www.hesterdesigns.comu0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eH-Du003c/au003e for over a year now. We speculate that Apple has the technology to bring us an iPhone that is beyond our imagination, but the secrets are locked away in some Sector C, high security vault in the basement of Steve Jobs' house. At specific timetabled dates Steve opens up the vault to present the next u0022iDevice at the Apple keynote, spoon-feeding us with tiny systematic upgrades to keep us engaged.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAlthough our theory is a little farfetched, there is some truth to it. Ru0026amp;D is an ongoing process, especially with a high-tech company like Apple. There's no doubt that Apple's got a few aces up their sleeve.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eBut is the answer to building in a Zen View into a product or company brand found in minor adjustments and upgrades? I believe it could be one option, but that is not the only way.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eArm u0026amp; Hammer, for example, saved baking soda from near extinction by coming up with new ways for consumers to use the old product, which over time had become an ingredient rarely needed for cooking. Today there are literally thousands of books on numerous ways in which Baking Soda can be used.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu002du002d-u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eWhat other ways can you think of for designing a Zen View into your products, company, and brand?u003c/pu003enu003cpu003e u003c/pu003e

Chris Wilson, Marketing Strategist

Chris Wilson

As Vice President of Strategy at Publicis CRMOne and author of Fresh Peel, Chris examines why marketing strategies fail to produce expected growth. Over 20+ years, including 11 years at Oracle advising brands like Harley-Davidson, REI, and The North Face, he has helped executive teams diagnose post-purchase breakdowns. His work connects customer behavior, MarTech capabilities, and business economics to build systems that scale long-term customer value.

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