Come to think of it, a balloon artist constantly designs, manufactures and hand-delivers his balloon art toys. He tests and refines his designs every day until he comes up with a bestseller.
And, get this, he reads his customers response right there, in their eyes. There is no need to commission an expensive market study.
Here is one of my bestsellers.
You get hugged constantly and occasionally even kissed
on delivery. A response that is hardly expected, but welcomed as a sign
and seal of ultimate market approval.
I had an investor approach me once, when he witnessed one of such feeding frenzies. “ If you can make them last," he said, "I want to invest in it."
I didn't have an answer for him at the time. Balloon art lasts for about 10 days and all it leaves behind is great memories.
But thinking back, the answer should have been something like this, "If you provide the business structure, I will design. A designer is someone who has a special relationship with shapes, colors and textures. As for the medium, it is interchangeable.”