What's The Matter?

So my Matter box showed up. In general I'm not a fan of free things as I stated here. I just hate waste and generally free things are very generic and not what I'm after. I think Matter is a very interesting idea and this is only the test so I don't want to be too critical but when I interviewed Tim we discussed the idea of these items creating thought, evoking memories and being inspirational. I'm not sure that this has quite happened...yet. I would love to pull something out of the Matter box and be taken to another place by the mental triggers held within.

Contents:

Close ups of everything here.

This happened once briefly. On the Jordans box - designed to look like a Penguin book - cereal prose (arf arf), there was an extract from Three Men In A Boat, which I loved. So immediately I was taken back to the moment when I read that and I had a little internal smile. So now there is a little bit of me that associates the book with Jordans and I'm going to eat the cereal. I've never eaten Jordans anyway. So yes in this case. Job achieved, box ticked.

This is obviously hard to do for everyone. And for me this only happened once. I'm not sure that's enough for the project to be a win for me. Most of the other bits were a bit weak, a badge, some shower gel, a plastic toy, two tubs of Playdoh, some top trumps...not really getting me that excited or stimulated.

The only actual product I could see relating to Matter was the Virgin one. It's a generic calendar with a paper wrap that has an offer for a free lounge pass. There is a Matter email address on there listed to claim the free pass.

The Wii armband is nice but a bit old now. And the Nissan crayons that are actually soap are ok but available in Muji and not that new.

So some of this stuff is of no use to me and I won't use it.

If anybody wants any of the following please let me know, otherwise they'll go to a charity shop:
A Virgin calender
two small tubs of playdoh
a Wii wristband
Evo top trumps
A Stolichnaya badge
A Sony Erickson plastic toy

I'm gonna use the soaps, shower gel and eat the Jordans. This makes me sad because the things I'm keeping are the functional products - not the inspirational ones.

I shall of course fill out all the feedback online and then see if the next box is maybe more tailored to me. This will be where it possibly starts to get interesting. If I'm going to be targeted I absolutely want to help the marketing folks do it better so less is wasted.

So overall not a total disaster but not quite golden either. Roll on the next one.

Here's an idea: Matter is partnered with The Royal Mail. Inside the Matter box should be a postage paid bag or two. Then I could post on unwanted items to friends or children of friends.

Pictures courtesy of Adam Crowe.
Pictures of everything inside the box here.

Update: The Jorrdans has blueberries in it...yuk.

Comments

[Mark Hadfield]

Good post, Charlie. As you know I was initially quite excited when mine turned up. But the proof is in the pudding. A few people have came over to my desk and asked what it's all about. I've told them, they're excited, look at the stuff and then walk away.

Like you I'm going to use the functional items - but also like you I'm looking for homes for the non-functional things.

You see - I'm thinking of this matter box in a similar vein to 'favours' at weddings. To me they sort of have to have a function in order for you to relate to them on a regular basis. So whilst the badge is nice (but 6 months old) and top trumps ok - i won't use them.

As you said though - this is where the learning begins. I'm looking forward to filling out the feedback and helping it improve.

[fosta]

hey, i'm hoping my box is waiting for me at home, i could kill for some cereal right now

[claire gates]

I quite enjoyed opening it all, although now looking back on it, perhaps some of the stuff will end up in drawer.

Oh well. At least it wasn't a mousemat and a keyring.

[Rob]

I concur, Mr Gower. Thought it might be good to put together some thoughts on making the thing better too...

http://robmosley.typepad.com/weblog/2008/02/matter.html

[Dan]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

could i have
the wii wristband and the sony erricson toy n the play dohh .... Thanks

Dan