Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue is a title that turns up on products when the point is surprise, and that usually makes it more of a branding phrase than a clue to the object itself. By our assessment, that gives it a slight advantage in memorability, because the name is easy to say and easy to remember, but it also tells the buyer almost nothing concrete. The downside is the obvious one: without a clearer category, this could be almost anything, so the name does very little practical work. In use, that kind of label is fine when the product image or description does the real explaining, and weak when the name is supposed to carry meaning on its own. It sits somewhere between a neat phrase and a vague signpost, which is common in consumer goods, books and media alike. The plain truth is that Out of the Blue is more evocative than informative.