MINI ME

…it was a dark, stormy and cold night in Miami…and Manuel’s car died of pulmonary congestion…50 miles away from home.

It was towed back by a good Samaritan and the next day he had to rent a car while deciding which one he should buy among the millions of options…God bless the USA.

We opted to return business to a client who spent an obscene amount of money in our home couture workroom.

An insurmountable detail almost held us back: he sells Rolls Royce, Bentley, Bugatti, BMW and Cadillac.
Fortunately his company also sells Mini Coopers...and off we went.

Not that Minis are cheap cars. They are little luxurious treasures totally design-oriented to a “granola and chancleta” crowd of professionals mostly in the design field who can appreciate them.

A couple hours later Manuel left the opulent showroom on board of a brand new Mini Cooper in a metallic silver color that compliments our English cottage house painted red with a color we imported from Helsingor in Denmark.

Needless to say he is elated with the car. He drives 100 miles a day back and forth to his office and he already saves $ 100 a month in gas which helps towards the monthly payments. His "pet name" is Minimusi.

Mini is now made by BMW in Germany, the transmission is made in France ( secretly by famous couturiers) and it is assembled in England by the Duke of Edinburgh’s gang. All three countries obsessed with good design is the reason why you get a chic little car with all the worldly comforts.

We received in the mail a luxurious box of presents and suggestions with the hidden intention of making us spend money in accessories. We are too smart  for that.

But when we thought that was all they had “quelle surprise!”

The guys at Mini edit a magazine: The Mini International which they claim is a Mini Summary of Urban Life, Culture and Design.
Ultra chic, intelligently put together and printed on the best quality paper.

I used to say that in my lifelong design career I have seen it all. But not. There are still some concepts that leave me in awe.

And that little detail is the reason for me to write this post.

What amazed me the most and became the reason for me to share this with you all the “granola and chancleta” crowd of designers of the world was a mere wire paper clip.

An introductory card for the magazine came addressed to Manuel and attached to the front cover with this jewel of a wire paper clip.

If anybody in a car company pays that much attention to detail it gives me shivers.

Taking time to think about an otherwise insignificant piece of wire which only function is to put together two pieces of paper, rest assured they won’t be recalling cars because of deadly careless mistakes anytime soon.