Despair, Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing, Memorabilia, Posters |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Austin , United States |
| Products | Demotivator series posters and memorabilia |
| Website | despair |
Despair, Inc operates out of Austin, Texas, specializing in the creation of posters and memorabilia that mock the typical motivational rhetoric found in corporate settings. Their signature line, the "Demotivator" series, offers a sardonic twist on the exaggerated style often seen in motivational products such as those by Successories. Notable examples include:
- MEETINGS: None of us is as dumb as all of us.
- BLAME: The secret to success is knowing who to blame for your failures.
- DREAMS: Dreams are like rainbows. Only idiots chase them.
On their official site, each "Demotivator" product description lists suggested audiences, frequently concluding with "Disaffected College Students" as a recurring humorous remark.
Other works
In 2000, Despair, Inc. secured a United States trademark for the frowny emoticon on items like greeting cards, posters, and art prints. The following year, they released a tongue-in-cheek press statement warning of legal action against anyone incorporating the "frowny" emoticon or their trademarked logo in electronic mail.
In 2005, the company published The Art of Demotivation, authored by co-founder E.L. Kersten, Ph.D., who formerly taught organizational communication at the university level. This book parodies management self-help literature through 18 artfully designed Demotivators and is offered in three versions, including an exclusive $1,195 Chairman edition. Additionally, Kersten penned a thoughtful article on work and personal fulfillment titled "Let Me Take You Down," which appeared in the Harvard Business Review in 2004.
See also
- Demotywatory.pl, a Polish website dedicated to satirical demotivational posters
- Life Is Good, a brand recognized for its positive-themed apparel and goods