Zonkeys and other design inspirations from the NC State Fair

Date October 22, 2007

Ahhh, the NC State Fair…a source of artistic wonder and inspiration. I go every year, more than once if I can help it, although this year, I was only able to go once. It’s comfortingly the same, but at the same time, always new. I look at the Fair every year and wonder why a lukewarm hotdog tastes great for $4, when anywhere else I would have paid $2 and sent it back if it wasn’t steaming. I wonder why I absolutely have to try (or at least see someone else try) the latest deep-fried concoction (this year it was deep fried oreos). I wonder why it’s so exciting to pay a dollar for the chance to win a 3foot wide stuffed basketball or giant Spongebob when (a) I know I won’t actually win it, (b) it’s not actually worth a dollar, and (c) I don’t really want it.

To me, the Fair is marketing and advertising at its best. Sure, the claims are ridiculous. Sure, there may be some bait and switch tactics going on, but it’s fun AND everyone knows it’s a rip-off before they pay to play. We’re NOT being taken advantage of because we KNOW we’re being taken advantage of. We’re in on the joke. We know deep down that the giant horse probably isn’t actually the biggest horse in the world…that the giant rat is probably not actually a rat…and that the piglet races are really funny AND free to see.

From a design perspective, the Fair is an overwhelming display of unpretention that has the amazing ability to speak to any age group, either gender, and many income brackets. It’s a carnival that feels like today and “yesteryear” all at the same time. The games, with the combination of signage, the wall of prizes, and the talented crier have that “C’mon, everybody’s doing it,” allure that makes you have to jump in for your chance. There are handpainted funhouse facades and handwritten signs, complete with misspellings. There are all sorts of different cakes on display by local cakes designers , and NC-citizen-designed quilts and cross stitching right beside them. There’s a 1,178lb pumpkin. AND one of the biggest memories for me this year…I saw a pig that paints “as seen on Oprah.” Yes.

Pardon the quality of this image, but if it wasn’t this bad, would you believe it?

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