Overheard in the OrKid Toy Co design department:

Marketing: we’re getting feedback from parents that our off-road quad bike toy is dangerous.

Design: Huh?

Marketing: well, not actually dangerous, but potentially dangerous.

Design: Potentially dangerous?

Marketing: Yes. If the child is playing outside, they might think it’s a real off-road quad bike and heaven knows what they might get up to.

Design: In their garden?

Marketing: We have to think about these things.

Design: Sure. But when the things turn out to be stupid, we’re supposed to ignore them.

Marketing: We need to send the message to parents that we actually did think about it.

Design: We advise them that the kid should wear a helmet.

Marketing (shaking head, solemn): apparently they’re also potentially dangerous.

Design: So what do you want us to do?

Marketing: Could we bring it indoors? Make it usable indoors where Mum and Dad can keep their eye on things?

Design: You want an indoor off-road quad bike?

Marketing: Yes, but without the element of danger.

Design: Danger of what? They’re indoors.

Marketing: Falling down stairs. Banging into the walls. Furniture. The home’s a minefield.

Design: How about if we put it on rails?

Marketing (smiling for the first time): Rails! That sounds more like it. Railways are fun. (Pause) They’re still a bit dangerous though, right?

Design: Not if we form the track into a circle.

Marketing: Won’t the kid get dizzy?

Design: We could add a couple of straight bits.

Marketing: Hmm. Yes. Better.

Design: We could add a slightly jiggly bit too.

Marketing: How jiggly?

Design: Well, side to side a bit. Not up and down.

Marketing: Great.

(pause)

Design: Okay. We’re on it.

Marketing: Great. We’ll start working on the name. Something that says ‘off-road fun’ without scaring mum and dad.

Design: Traction control?

Marketing (shaking heads): leave the fun problem to us.

Design: Even though it won’t actually be fun?

Marketing: You’re forgetting the giggle-jiggle.

(long pause)

Design: Maybe, when the kid reaches thirteen, when they’re allowed outside, they’ll work out they can take it off the track? Maybe that’s when the fun part comes in?

(longer pause)

Design: Or maybe it’s when they’re sixteen and learn how to set it on fire?

(even longer pause)

Design: Using the track as kindling.

 

Learn more about Generation Z and what their Generation Y parents are doing to them in one of our DNA books.