Comments on: Nook Turns Up the Heat on Kindle http://catchwordbranding.com/catchthis/brand-naming/nook-turns-up-the-heat-on-kindle/ Professional Naming Company Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:19:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rex Wilder http://catchwordbranding.com/catchthis/brand-naming/nook-turns-up-the-heat-on-kindle/#comment-9151 Rex Wilder Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:34:03 +0000 http://www.catchwordbranding.com/catchthis/?p=2076#comment-9151 Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things, but...just to clarify: I was working on the naming project for Ammunition before R/GA was put on the job. The name "nook," which I contributed along with its rationale, was presented to the decision makers at Barnes & Noble before Mr. Shillum arrived on the scene. I received a note from him recently with his story — which I have no reason to disbelieve — that he subsequently thought of the name independently, and sold it to the higher powers at B&N. Ammunition never "allowed" me to release anything; they just congratulated me and said sure, you're free to tell people that "nook" originated with you — because it did, unless you count the dictionary. Neither of us knew of Marc's or R/GA's involvement. As far as it stands now, I congratulate Marc on a great name for his daughter. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things, but…just to clarify: I was working on the naming project for Ammunition before R/GA was put on the job. The name “nook,” which I contributed along with its rationale, was presented to the decision makers at Barnes & Noble before Mr. Shillum arrived on the scene. I received a note from him recently with his story — which I have no reason to disbelieve — that he subsequently thought of the name independently, and sold it to the higher powers at B&N. Ammunition never “allowed” me to release anything; they just congratulated me and said sure, you’re free to tell people that “nook” originated with you — because it did, unless you count the dictionary. Neither of us knew of Marc’s or R/GA’s involvement. As far as it stands now, I congratulate Marc on a great name for his daughter.

]]> By: marc shillum http://catchwordbranding.com/catchthis/brand-naming/nook-turns-up-the-heat-on-kindle/#comment-8995 marc shillum Sun, 06 Mar 2011 08:08:27 +0000 http://www.catchwordbranding.com/catchthis/?p=2076#comment-8995 It was a hard won naming job when I was at R/GA, you're both right. I was drawn to the store as a physical space, so I thought of a space where books were relevant. The similarity to book was a bonus. But, revealed here first, the true inspiration of the name was my daughter, she's named Anouk. I realized the name whilst I was reading her a bed time story. The worst part about it all, is that ammunition the Industrial design company allowed a contractor Rex Wilder to do a press release saying that he named the device. Ammunition later retracted the press release, but you know the internet. Thanks for the kind words though, nice to see the work appreciated. Best Marc Shillum It was a hard won naming job when I was at R/GA, you’re both right. I was drawn to the store as a physical space, so I thought of a space where books were relevant. The similarity to book was a bonus. But, revealed here first, the true inspiration of the name was my daughter, she’s named Anouk. I realized the name whilst I was reading her a bed time story. The worst part about it all, is that ammunition the Industrial design company allowed a contractor Rex Wilder to do a press release saying that he named the device. Ammunition later retracted the press release, but you know the internet. Thanks for the kind words though, nice to see the work appreciated. Best Marc Shillum

]]> By: Will http://catchwordbranding.com/catchthis/brand-naming/nook-turns-up-the-heat-on-kindle/#comment-2211 Will Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:27:49 +0000 http://www.catchwordbranding.com/catchthis/?p=2076#comment-2211 An engaging rationale, but isn't it equally likely that the people who came up with the name were simply drawn to its similarity to the word 'book'? One might even surmise that 'nook' is as much a contraction of 'new-' or 'neo-book' as it is a slightly twee reference to the joy of reading in private. The holy grail of naming is a word that works on several levels and has the potential to transcend branding to become synonymous with the thing it seeks to represent. Kindle appears to lack the depth to become a hoover or a biro. Nook, on the other hand, looks and feels like a possible evolution of 'e-book', as well as an appealing brand name in its own right. Interesting blog, thanks. An engaging rationale, but isn’t it equally likely that the people who came up with the name were simply drawn to its similarity to the word ‘book’?

One might even surmise that ‘nook’ is as much a contraction of ‘new-’ or ‘neo-book’ as it is a slightly twee reference to the joy of reading in private.

The holy grail of naming is a word that works on several levels and has the potential to transcend branding to become synonymous with the thing it seeks to represent. Kindle appears to lack the depth to become a hoover or a biro. Nook, on the other hand, looks and feels like a possible evolution of ‘e-book’, as well as an appealing brand name in its own right.

Interesting blog, thanks.

]]>