Despair, Inc.
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Despair, Inc is a company based in Austin, Texas, that produces posters and souvenirs that satirize the motivational indoctrination common in corporate environments.[2][3][4][5]
Quick Facts Company type, Founded ...
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Founded | 1998[1] |
Headquarters | Austin, Texas , US |
Area served | International |
Key people | E.L. Kersten, Ph.D. (co-founder) |
Products | "Demotivators": Posters, calendars, misc. |
Website | despair |
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They are known for their cynical and ironic "Demotivator" items, which parody the grandiose imagery and solemn language of Successories, a range of motivational products. Examples:
- 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 the company website, each "Demotivator" is followed by a list of individuals who the company feels would be a perfect candidate for the item (this does not apply to all their offerings). A running gag is that the category "Disaffected College Students" (or a variant thereof) is included as the last candidate in most listings.