I never understood the problem with post-rationalisation. (A blog conversation with Rebecca reminded me of that.) I guess it gained its status as a planning sin because of the assumption that strategy should always preceed creativity in a clean and linear way, and that 'the creative' should emerge naturally from the strategy without any need for explanatory fiddling.
Which is palpable nonsense.
Everyone knows that the best work comes out of strategy and creative being part of the same, continual conversation, each informing the other. Post-rationalisation is not a sin, it's a skill - a way of bringing understanding and coherence to an intuitive leap.
So I got Stefan to design us a t-shirt (see above). We've not made them yet, and I'm not sure how many to make so, an indication of numbers would be useful. Anyone want one? I'm thinking they'll be about £20.
I'll take one, and post-rationalise my purchase later.
Posted by: Jason | August 07, 2006 at 01:23 AM
Me too.
Posted by: Andrew | August 07, 2006 at 08:22 AM
Many years ago I had a mad business partner (the late Paul Jeffreys - Squeeze). As an April Fools prank we launched a scam book to clients, with accompanying conference - Retrospective Planning. Though our busines was advertising our vision was bigger, post rationalisation as it applies to everything! Look out world. Great insights with the benefit of 20/20 vision (hindsight). Thinking about it now I guess it wasn't such a silly idea. To rationalise is to find reasons. In itself a form or inquiry. Crikey, - learning. Would that some of my clients and colleagues could engage in such an exercise, instead of repeating the mistakes of the past.
S'a funny old world.
Posted by: David MacGregor | August 07, 2006 at 10:14 AM
I'd take one if there was a girls' size...
Posted by: Kirsty | August 07, 2006 at 11:01 AM
I'll definitely have one!
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | August 07, 2006 at 11:12 AM
i think we post-rationalize about most things in life. Don't know why in advertising should be different.
I want one t-shirt.
Posted by: fernanda | August 07, 2006 at 08:15 PM
I need one!
Posted by: Fredrik Sarnblad | August 08, 2006 at 04:09 AM
We will take some... 10?
Sudeep :o)
Posted by: Sudeep | August 09, 2006 at 08:30 AM
We will take some... 10?
Sudeep :o)
Posted by: Sudeep | August 09, 2006 at 08:30 AM
good man Sudeep. Discounts available for bulk purchases.
Posted by: Mr R Davies | August 09, 2006 at 08:43 AM
Sudeep- Thanks for hooking us up, but we need girls' sizes, too.
Posted by: Gabrielle | August 21, 2006 at 06:17 AM