The Essence of Value: Secrets of Desired Products- 80 Inspiring Strategies for Creative Companies by Mario Pricken

by Mario Pricken

For his new book, Mario Pricken has thoroughly analyzed more than 300 products, objects and events over their entire lifecycles in order to reveal, for the first time, the patterns that make things extraordinarily valuable. On the basis of his analysis, he has identified 80 parameters that can be found, for example, in the biographies of exceptional cars, watches, luxury foods, designer furniture, artwork and services - such as the elements of uniqueness, scarcity, the effect of time or magnificently orchestrated transfers of ownership. In addition, the book provides a comprehensive catalog of questions to help us generate our own ideas for giving products that special something which transforms them into objects of desire."The Essence of Value" is an inspiring book for progressive, creative people involved in product development, marketing, design, events and the arts as well as recommended reading for those who appreciate fine things and want to understand what makes products particularly special and valuable. The book focusses on intuition and understanding, but it also inspires and entertains, offering us an entirely new way of looking at the creation, marketing and purchase of truly desirable products.This travel guide through the world of valuable products and objects- reveals, based on examples from the worlds of business, the arts and religion, and with numerous accompanying illustrations, the fundamental parameters that create value and make products "shine"- can be used as an analytical tool to quickly and easily determine the "value-DNA" of a product- provides over 300 thought-provoking questions to inspire new ideas on how to imbue products with value- shows professionals a clear and practical application of the value parameters.

Hardcover

First published December 3, 2014

Reviews

[Tania Lukyniuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an exciting book in terms of understanding of how brand’s value is shaped. The key idea of the book is that products do not have some intrinsic 'mystic' value. Value can only be attained through consumer perception. The author introduces 8 categories and 80 parameters which can bring value for a product.
Good thing is that the book is quite solid attempt to systematize value perception by consumers. Another good thing is that products or brands do not have to have all 80 parameters to gain value. Disadvantage of the book are its writing style but what can you expect from a business book, after all? And the worst thing is that according to the author there are no quick recipes for attaining value quick if your product sucks. I mean, I have suspected that but when it is written down, you just stop believing in miracles.
Finally my favourite quotation from the book: “Junk in, junk out! There are no cheap, fast and easy solutions that can magically transform worthless things into valuable things.”