You’re reading Signal vs. Noise, a publication about the web by 37signals since 1999.

Thanks for the link, Jason. I love OXO products. I found a lot of great insights about their design processs in the book, “Design Is How It Works”. Check it out if you haven’t already.

Dang, Quirky just got smacked and made a fool. They’re “protest” was obviously a stunt to get publicity. Really sad. They could have handed this much, much better.

It’s really rare to have someone do the “and here’s an example of how they might have made this mistakes too!” without being snarky and having thinly veiled attitude. OXO pulled it off. Thanks for sharing.

That`s a great tip. Since I`ve read a lot of Oxo products I think that I have learned a lot from their design process in the book ” Design is How it works”. Matt you`re right. Besides that it ain`t easy to find a good book about webdesign.

I will never consider using Quirky now for any reason.

Oxo gets a seat at the grow up table. Quirky not so much. I wonder how many people will still damn oxo in the court of public opinion.

Brilliant response. Unfortunately it won’t get anywhere near the attention that Quirky’s outcry did (although this post/link by Jason Fried certainly helps.) Maybe this was a Quirky publicity stunt?

Quirky’s next billboard: “Warning: OXO causes severe burns.”

Well done.

Interesting how OXO fans see their response as well done while Quirky fans see their response as missing the point. Both seem to have strong groups of supporters.

The correct response from oxo would have been, “Quirky who? Never heard of ‘em.”

Just the right amount of “Not cool, bro” mixed in with some “That was quite the righteous indignation PR stunt” and finally a little “Hmm, looks like some of your products look a lot like our older ones, but you are a young company, and you’ll learn.”

The OXO response was well thought out and logical. The Quirky followup response was so illogical and filled with vague statements. Try out this one for size:

“Oxo’s colorful observations about Quirky’s approach to traditional intellectual property, including patents, are filled with misunderstandings about our process and intellectual property law.

Our true beliefs (and policies) are well depicted here: http://www.quirky.com/about/ip”

Hmm… let’s ignore the logical arguments OXO has presented and point to a generic company page about IP.

PWNED !

Mental note: Buy even more OXO tools for my kitchen. Classy response by OXO to a “far-lower-than-reality-TV” stunt by Company X (not even worth mentioning their name anymore).

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