Dissertation Proposal

//Dissertation Topic

Panopticism/Branding/Consumerism

//Issues/Questions to be addressed

Assess the panoptic measures 'Apple' uses in order to meet the needs of the consumer and remain a superbrand.

Branding theory: What does a brand needs to be successful? How is 'Apple' branded? How does 'Apple' maintain it's brand status?

Consumerism: What are consumer needs? Why do consumers buy? How does 'Apple' meet these consumer needs?

Panopticism: What are the panoptic measures 'Apple' takes?
(publicity/use of products/advertising/store layout/store location/store window display)


//Method/Approach

Branding theory: Marxist, Marx

Consumerism: Consumer Culture, Baudrillard

Panopticism: Foucault

//Primary Source Information

Description: Interview Eight Inc, Apple retail store designer
Location: http://www.eightinc.com

Description: Apple store visit
Location: Leicester


Description: Images of Apple products

Location: Apple Store


//Books/Articles/Resources already located (minimum 6)

1 . Shipside, S. 2006. Karl Marx's Das Kapital: A modern-day interpretation of a true classic (Infinite Success Series). Infinite Ideas.

2.  Foucault, M. 1995. Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison. 2nd Edition Edition. Vintage.

3. Shields, R. 1992. Lifestyle Shopping: The Subject of Consumption (International Library of Sociology). Routledge.

4.  Blythe, J. 1997. The Essence of Consumer Behaviour (Essence of Management: Prentice Hall Series). Edition. Prentice Hall PTR.

5. Lyon, D. 1994. The Electronic Eye: The Rise of the Surveillance Society (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press): 57-80

6. http://www.eightinc.com

//Relevance to main area of study

Branding design

Graphic design within retail