CLII
it has become normal for the multiplication symbol x to be used instead of words to denote a collaboration.
yesterday after a friend asked for my thoughts on it, i insisted that when spoken the proper pronunciation is times. after further consideration and then some discussion i discovered that i may in fact be alone in using this pronunciation.
without taking into consideration the small inconsistencies in usage the full and correct way for brands to mark a collaboration follow this schedule:
[manufacturing brand] by [designer]
[designer] for [manufacturing brand]
given that by is shortened to x when describing dimensions in all forms english, this would seem to suggest an easy etymology for the use of the multiplication symbol.
why is it then that i use the more unusual times in place of x when speaking?
personal experience of collaborative work suggests to me that both by and for and the respective roles that they suggest for the first and last named conspirators are too simplistic, and in no way come close to describing the give and take that happens when any two entities decide to join forces and create a product.