The Consumer

The term "consumer" relates to a person who purchases items and/or services for their personal use. They may also be referred to as customers, clients, or even just 'the public'. "Consumers" are the people at the end of the production line - the main focus during the creation of any product. As a graphics design student interested specifically in the advertisement aspect of design, my job will involve catering to many, if not all, of the general public. I will have to create designs which will appeal to a large variety of demographics, and these designs will be essential to selling products.

Who are you?

As I consumer I don't necessarily have a 'set' style when it comes to purchases, and I prefer more-so to take different elements from specific styles and mesh them together - allowing me to create my own distinct 'style'. This creates the opportunity for me to purchase a larger range of things and to have a more personal taste.

What do you buy?

My most typical buys involve books and clothes. When it comes to books I definitely judge by it's cover. I like covers with intricate designs, the kind that not only look pretty but also seem to allude to the story - especially if it's in a confusing way. The more questions I need ask, the more likely I am to buy. With regards to clothes I always find that I'm torn between a mixture of styles, but I tend to go with a more vintage style, taking an "old is new" approach to what I wear. Overall I think I definitely have a tendency to go for things which appear timely or unusual, but remain aesthetically pleasing as this makes them appear quirky, and I'm always on the look out for how past styles can influence the more contemporary styles of today.

What demographic are you?

Although I do go for more timely designs, I believe I still stand in the "young adult" category as a consumer. This is mostly due to the fact that when I gain inspiration for a new outfit, or purchase a new product in general, my main influences come from seeing people my age with said product.

How are you targeted?

I think I'm targeted through several different means. Firstly, there's the generic advertisements you see everywhere in day to day life, whether it's on tv, in a magazine, or on the radio. I also find that my attention is regularly captured by window displays at the front of shops, which are catered to a wide range of the general public, and once I've spotted something I almost always end up going inside for a better look. Mostly, though, I feel that I am targeted via social media. I spend a lot of time on my phone and am thus a heavy user of apps such as Instagram and Pinterest, both of which I use for inspiration with regards to many different things (clothes, artwork, recipes), and even Facebook, which displays advertisements catered to what I've ran through google search - making the products advertised more personal and appealing to my individual taste.

What sets you apart from the general public?

My personal taste, just like anybody else's would set them apart from me. As a mass we can like the same, generic things, but personal taste is what makes us all differ. Each and every member of the general public will have a refined personal taste, for example two different people may like the style of a certain blouse, but one may prefer the floral pattern whereas the other's preference lies with the plain one. Each liked the general style of the blouse, but personal taste allowed them to be set apart from each other.