I want to learn about coolhunting.

November 15, 2004 10:20 PM

This link from the blue a couple of days ago made me want to learn more about coolhunting. Have you been interviewed by a coolhunter? Been one yourself? Other experiences with viral marketing (such as student parties that look natural but are set up by companies to hand out product samples)?
posted by Termite to Society & Culture (9 answers total)

I don't know if this was in the mefi thread on the link you posted, but this 1997 New Yorker article called The Coolhunt seems appropriate.
posted by putzface_dickman at 3:30 AM on November 16, 2004

You might want to research Faith Popcorn -- from what I understand, she either invented coolhunting or really revolutionized it. She came up with the concept of "cocooning," for example.
posted by sugarfish at 6:52 AM on November 16, 2004

...and for fun (if you haven't done it already) you might try reading "pattern recognition" (william gibson), the book that probably did the most in terms of popularizing coolhunting (main character is a coolhunter, searching for the origins of a hot new trend). i certainly hadn't heard of the phrase before reading the book...
posted by caution live frogs at 8:27 AM on November 16, 2004

Ooh I want to be one! Anybody want to set up an international coolhunting organisation?
posted by bonaldi at 9:31 AM on November 16, 2004

Pshaw. I'm not a cool-hunter: I'm a cool-hunted. Ahead of the curve. Setting the styles. The pace-car of fashion and fun.

Well, okay, so I grew a ponytail years before it was fashionable. That's gotta count for something!
posted by five fresh fish at 9:46 AM on November 16, 2004

Response by poster: ...and for fun (if you haven't done it already) you might try reading "pattern recognition" (william gibson), the book that probably did the most in terms of popularizing coolhunting --- posted by caution live frogs

Thanks, I read it a while ago. The character that lingers in my head isn't Cayce, but the woman whose job was to chat to strangers in pubs, mentioning streetwear labels, movies etc. in a favourable way. Maybe that kind of job doesn't exist, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did.
posted by Termite at 11:26 AM on November 16, 2004

Response by poster: I don't know if this was in the mefi thread on the link you posted, but this 1997 New Yorker article called The Coolhunt seems appropriate.

Thanks for the link... hey, it's that Gladwell guy again! He seems to be into a lot of interesting things.
posted by Termite at 11:41 AM on November 16, 2004

from a mefi lurker, another book about coolhunters. review from boingboing here.

thanks karl r.
posted by caution live frogs at 2:08 PM on November 16, 2004

The character that lingers in my head isn't Cayce, but the woman whose job was to chat to strangers in pubs, mentioning streetwear labels, movies etc. in a favourable way.

I used to work in the closely-coolhunting-related field of non-traditional marketing. People do get hired to do the job you're talking about, but very rarely AFAICT. Examples: 1, 2
posted by jeb at 2:30 PM on November 16, 2004