Interesting packaging

42 below vodka bag

Neue created this design, for 42 below vodka out of three 42 below vodka water billboards. This is a innovative way of recycling and creating a limited edition bag that everyone wants.

Image from http://www.neue.com.au/42below-vodka-bag-design/

The next two packages are from a website called the dieline, it showcases packaging awards, designs from the industry and from students, with the ability to leave comments on what you think and how the package could be improved.

Earphones

Image from https://awayproxy.appspot.com/www.thedieline.com/blog/2010/03/earbudeez.html

This is a series of packages for earBudeez, each package is for a different coloured earphone and has a different face, which portrays the kind of person who would buy that colour. They are interesting and create a point of difference I would pick these up in a shop, especially when they are sitting beside lots of boring black earphones and packaging.

Chocolate

Image from http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2009/02/packaging-experiment-choco.html

This is a experimental concept based around making the product itself into the information, clearly there would be problems with making the chocolate into the shapes and the chocolate moving in the package so that you couldn't read what it said. I think that it interesting and could be developed further, to crate a compromise, use a full cylindrical shape of chocolate and etching in the lines, deep enough to read and they could be the places where it would break as well.

Sources:

Neue. (June 5, 2009). 42Below vodka bag design. Retrieved on May 23, 2010 from http://www.neue.com.au/42below-vodka-bag-design/

The dieline. (n.d.) Retrieved on May 23, 2010 from http://www.thedieline.com/

Animation

In an earlier post I mentioned a blog post from Vidget (I have tried to go on their website today and it's under construction, can't see the blog anymore) about the beginning sequence of Catch me if you can. I like the use of typography and solid colours in the style of Saul Bass.

Video from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaLDyrun_Cc

The blog suggested looking at this site, they do animation, this one I really like, it is a movie musical about a white woman who becomes black, the title sequence is swan lake ballet animated using paper, it is made by Add a dog, Kuntzel and Deygas. The website design is creative yet easy to use and goes with the name of the company, the animation is very playful and elegant and gives the impression of swan lake and ballet.

Sources:

Portfolio: Agatha Clery. (December 2008). Retrieved on May 28, 2010 from http://www.addadog.com/v3/fiche.php?id=195&categorie=&reference=&motcle=

Speilberg, S. (producer). Speilberg, S. (director). (2002). (motion picture). United States: DreamWorks

Vidget inspire. (n.d.). Retrieved on May 29, 2010 from http://www.viget.com/inspire/

Photographer, artist, graphic designer

Computer arts is a great magazine, I love the fact that they show us a interesting and complicated design, but they also give the steps of how to do it yourself. They give you one example of a technique but the reader can apply it to any of their own work too.

Image from computer arts 62, 64, 65, 66

This is the final solution, the brief was to design a piece, with the theme of body art, that was photo based. For me it's really interesting to look at this article to see the process, the final result is amazing, but when I look at the development I think "I could actually do this".

Image from computer arts 62, 64, 65, 66

First the artist Gustavo Lopez Manas, takes photos, then on tracing paper experiments with different lines and direction, using the photo underneath as a template to get the right shape. He then scans the tracing paper drawings into photoshop and starts using layer masks to create the final look, making the original photo fade away into his drawing.

Images from http://blog.monzuki.com/2009/12/calculated-art-of-beauty.html

What I really like is that his work gives me possibilities, things to think about and ideas. I also like the fact that the work is a cross between photography, art and graphic design. Everything is a mix, a collaboration, no one could design anything truly interesting and thought provoking if they never explored, never influenced by other designers, never saw the city where they lived, visited the museum or looked out the window.

Sources:

Gustavo Lopez Manas. (n.d.) Retrieved on May 30, 2010 from http://www.glm-studio.com/

Monzuki. (December 22, 2009). Calculated art of beauty. Retrieved on May 30, 2010 from http://blog.monzuki.com/2009/12/calculated-art-of-beauty.html

Lopez Manas, Gustavo. (July 2008). Inspiration workshop. Computer arts. 62, 64, 65, 66

Illustrating a room

This is a video of a couple of illustrators, the bearded ladies from Brazil. I find their work quite amazing, I like the style, the collage quality to it, but what I really like is the scale of the work, they have drawn on the ceiling and walls, it will have taken days. I like the overall effect and as a designer sitting in that room it would inspire me all the time. Each section of wall tells a little story.

Live at MiCasa | Days 01, 02, 03 & 04 from Mulheres Barbadas on Vime

There are also other objects done in the same style. A black car with white roof that has illustrations on them, a paper wallet, a series of fridges, sunglasses, chairs, the design for the front of a vending machine and a shoe box for Nike. They must go through hundreds of permanent makers, especially when experimenting too see which one works best on a new or different surface than they have used before, like the car and the fridge.

Image form from http://www.mulheresbarbadas.com/

Mulheres Barbadas na Casa do Lado from Mulheres Barbadas on Vimeo.

I first found these illustrators on a blog about up and coming illustrators.

Sources:

Meek, Larissa. (April 8, 2008) Illustration inspiration: 20 artists who are making waves. Retrieved on May 29, 2010 http://www.larissameek.com/2008/04/08/illustration-inspiration-20-artists-who-are-making-waves/

Mulheres barbadas. (n.d.). Retrieved on May 28, 2010 from http://www.mulheresbarbadas.com/

Architecture and design-Does everything need to look new?

I've been looking at design a lot lately, not just graphic design and what I've noticed is that it is all very pretty even the stuff that is trying to be edgy has some thing that makes me think there's something beautiful in it. Maybe it's just that I try and find something beautiful or interesting in everything, but it also makes me wonder if it's going to look good in a couple of years. There are many things that I look at and think, "wow, that's so 90s". Usually that's not a good thing.

Then again there is a lot of architecture at the moment that looks like it i could have been designed by Mies Van Der Rohe or Frank Lloyd Wright, In the photographs there a couple of things I notice. The colours are brighter now than they were in the 1940s and in Meis Van Der Rohe's case his design is very industrial, using glass and steel. In Frank Lloyd Wright's designs there are more natural materials like stone used with the boxy style of Van Der Rohe. The use of box shapes like in Wright's and Van Der Rohe's work is taken further by putting more boxes together, so the houses looks kind of like a toy blocks.

Mies Van Der Rohe's The Farnsworth House image from http://www.designboom.com/portrait/mies/farnsworth.html

Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West, image from http://www.franklloydwright.org/fllwf_web_091104/Home.html

In architecture at the moment, like in Van Der Rohe's work there is a lot of playing with different materials and textures, juxtaposing modern with traditional to create something new and unique. The same can be said for all other forms of design. Technology is developing so fast that the designer either has to be up with the newest of everything or start going back to their roots, where design started.

Images by Eric Sierins Monument. 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61

Sources:

Drew, Philip. (February/March 2009). House of calm. Monument. 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61
Frank Lloyd Wright's taliesin west. (n.d.) Retrieved on May 29, 2010 from http://www.franklloydwright.org/fllwf_web_091104/Home.html
The farnsworth house. (n.d.) Retrieved on May 29, 2010 from http://www.designboom.com/portrait/mies/farnsworth.html

Websites-showcasing creativeness

From a person who doesn't know anything about web design I find it very frustrating when I find a website that I want to look at, but it is so hard to use that I give up before actually seeing it. This website is a prime example it is a photography portfolio by Sean Kennedy Santos, I wanted to look at his work after looking at an online magazine encore which was a Best of 2004 to 2008 had profiles of illustrators artists and photographers.

Screenshot of http://www.sksantos.net/2008/

As people who work visually this is something everyone should think about, especially when putting your portfolio online, people are impatient, if they are looking though lots of portfolios and one is harder to use then they will probably skip over it. We should also consider the layout and what size the images are, I often don't bother looking through the artist entire body of work if the page has to reload every time I click next.

Now it is embarrassing to admit that after reloading the page it is working better, however I still think that the most important information you should be able to see all of the time, no doubt it is a nice looking site and portrays the photography well but if I hadn't been writing this while looking at the site I would have given up and never seen any of his photos.

Image from http://www.magwerk.com/mag.php?magazine=encore&language=en

This is a spread from encore featuring Sean Kennedy Santos the caption reads "Truth be told a dancer does feel gritty… often grueling… and I'd even describe it as a dirty job. Your work, your art is being put out there every single day in how you walk down the street, how you carry yourself, how you move.When your body is both your instrument for creating and you final presentation performance, there's a lot to consider everyday. How do you take care of yourself, challenge yourself, look at your self (and also not look at yourself too much!)." I think to some extent this applies to graphic designers too, although we are have a client the work is still very personal and everyone is judged by the way they walk, the way they talk what they design looks like and the way it is presented.For me this one spread shows so much more about the photographer than what his whole website gave me.

A website is there to give the audience information, at a certain point the creative side of us has to step aside and know that our work speaks for itself.

Sources:

Best of encore 2004-2008. (n.d.) Retrieved on May 29, 2010 from http://www.magwerk.com/mag.php?magazine=encore&language=en

Magwerk. (2007). Retrieved on May 29, 2010 from http://www.magwerk.com/

Sean Kennedy Santos. (n.d.) Retrieved on May 29, 2010 from http://www.sksantos.net/2008/

Blogs and illustration

This post was going to be about illustration, however I started researching and found some really helpful, inspiring blogs from illustrator and designers, here's a few that I think you should look at. This blog was about illustration inspiration, I found all of the the things in this post originally from here.

Jim Bradshaw

Images from http://jimbradshawillustration.blogspot.com/

What I like about looking about looking at a blog compared to a portfolio, is that we can look at more of the work, lots of doodles, experimentation personal and professional work as well as their thoughts about their on work. I like the style of illustration, the mix of hand collage and vector. I also like Jim Bradshaw's wrote that "the computer is merely a tool and our minds must stay active in the creative process from start to finish. I don't think humans are in danger of being replaced anywhere in the near future." (Jim Bradshaw illustration. (November 4, 2009). http://jimbradshawillustration.blogspot.com/2009/11/robot-ideas.html) I agree with this, I think that there are many ideas that we come up with and the computer is our way of bringing them to life. There's is no way, I would be able to draw some of the ideas so that anyone but me would know what it is.

Viget inspire

This blog is written by a group of designers who are web consultants. There is a lot of jargon in this blog, since it is about web, however I did find some things that apply to any designer or design student. Some good advice I found was make an online portfolio, get inspiration from things you see everyday, this post looked at the starting sequence of "Catch Me If You Can" then used ideas from there in her own work and how designer get innovative, needing other designers and opinions to inspire and improve their own work and process work showing how they designed their own character for vigepops the companies holiday treat.

Images from http://www.viget.com/inspire/vigepops-making-them-look-as-good-as-they-taste/

Sources:

Jim Bradshaw illustration (n.d.). Retrieved on May 29, 2010 http://jimbradshawillustration.blogspot.com/

Jim Bradshaw illustration. (2007) Retrieved on May 29, 2010 from http://jbradshaw.net/index.html

Meek, Larissa. (April 8, 2008) Illustration inspiration: 20 artists who are making waves. Retrieved on May 29, 2010 http://www.larissameek.com/2008/04/08/illustration-inspiration-20-artists-who-are-making-waves/

Vidget inspire. (n.d.). Retrieved on May 29, 2010 from http://www.viget.com/inspire/

Furniture and lights

This furniture is contemporary and modern, however they were first designed in the 1970s by Frank Gehry and are being revived by Vitra. On first look, they are made out of wood, but that's not quite true, they are made out of pieces of corrugated cardboard and reinforced with beech sticks, so it's tough enough to sit on. They punch out the shapes, then glue them together by hand, they don't always line up properly but Frank Gehry likes that about them and they leave it like that, just grinding down the areas where you lean against the chair.

I like the way the wiggle chair is made of a interesting material, I find it amazing how strong something made out of cardboard can be, it makes me think about the different possibilities that are out there, even the options of using recycled materials.Image from I.D. magazine. 88

These are made by Foscarini an international company specialising in lamps and lighting, who have over 32 designers. These lights are made from aluminium and are almost invisible until they're turned on, what I like about these lights is that they are part of a set, but are all different geometric shapes and create their own unique shadow. They play with shape a lot in their designs when you look at their website there is a choice of where your light is going to go then they show you the outline or shape of all of those lights, when you click on it you can see the light plus any advertising it was in, photos of it in buildings and clippings of it.

Image from I.D. magazine. 30

They look like any other couch, however there's something different, it's funny how changing something as simple as the colour of the outside of the couch would have such a drastic difference to the furniture. In the image below it works though, there's no way the lounge would look as modern and homely if they were solid colour.

Image from http://www.rinkedesign.com/calligaris_super_soft_sofa.htm

This desk by Philippe Starck, who has thirty years experience as a designer who also does architecture, interior design, clothes design, furniture design and food packaging design. All of his work is very interesting, practical, but it still looks good. His work from the 1990s looks like it could have been designed this year. I would buy this desk, I like it because it is not the typical wooden desk, it has curves and an interesting colour and is designed so that all of the papers that are normally on a desk can be hidden away in the shelves.

Image from http://www.minimadesign.com/product.asp?productID=1023

Sources:

BaObab desk. (n.d.). Retrieved on May 28, 2010 from http://www.minimadesign.com/product.asp?productID=1023

Calligaris super soft sofa. (May 19, 2010). Retrieved on May 28, 2010 from http://www.rinkedesign.com/calligaris_super_soft_sofa.htm

Foscarini. (n.d.). Retrieved on May 28, 2010 from http://www.foscarini.com/index.php?lang=en

New and notable products. (January/February 2010). I.D. magazine. 30

Silverberg, Michael. (January/February 2010). Sandwiched board. I.D. magazine. 88

Starck. (n.d.). Retrieved on May 28, 2010 from http://www.starck.com/

A different take on conventional objects

I love this clock, it is such an innovative idea. I'm sure no one has ever thought of a clock that works like this before and it's so simple and easy to read. It's like a cross between an analogue clock with the numbers in a circle and a digital clock because it sits on a surface like a digital alarm clock.It makes me think, does the whole clock move and the red hand stay still or vice versa.Image from Computer Arts. 20, 21

This christmas card made for a PR company that was sending it to clients all over the world, therefore it had to be versatile and broad in its religious message. I think that the idea of a very simple solid colour background with a die cut represents christmas while still being professional. Added to this is the fact that they don't have the logo on it, it just says "seasons greetings from Hill and Knowlton UK" which makes it even more professional, they aren't trying to sell anything they're just saying thanks for your business this year, have a good holiday and were looking foward to our continued business next year.Image from Designs that stand up, speak out and can't be ignored: promotions page 128

This chandelier is a modern take on something that can be seen as very over the top and old fashioned. When reading the description, the inspiration was the idea of "humans orbiting harmoniously around one incandescent or compact fluorescent bulb". (http://www.interiordesign.net/newproductdetail/2140496935.html) this makes me like it even more and reminds me of Martin Luthur King Junior's speech "I have a Dream" this is because when I look at the chandelier I see people working together, the light bulb looks like the sun and the people on earth are revolving around it.Image from http://www.interiordesign.net/newproductdetail/2140496935.html

Sources:
Biography. (n.d.) Retrieved on May 28 2010 from http://www.thekingcenter.org/Default.aspx
Designed for life.(December 2008). Computer Arts. 20, 21
Hickey, Lisa. (2004). Designs that stand up, speak out and can't be ignored: promotions. Massachusettes. Rockport Publishers, Inc. 128
Martin Luthur King, Jr. (n.d.). Retrieved on May 28 2010 from http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
New prducts-hive-little people. (May, 27 2010). Retrieved on May 28 2010 from http://www.interiordesign.net/newproductdetail/2140496935.html

Political Statements through design

Howies

The project was to design a point of sale that would be able to hold organic t-shirts by Howies a ethical clothing company in Wales. The company promotes recycling, renewable energy resources, organic farming and environmental consciousness, they wanted to promote these views as part of their campaign.

Carter Wong Tomlin had designed the packaging for the t-shirt and were then asked to design the point of sales, the idea behind the packaging for the t-shirts was discarded furniture that kids use in skate parks as ramps. This got taken even further with the point of sale when wardrobes were collected form highway underpasses, bought at thrift stores and found at dumps. They used the discarded wardrobes to house the t-shirts.

Image from designs that stand up, speak out and can't be ignored: promotions. 32, 33

As a small business, there wasn't a huge budget for this brief, therefore Carter asked some of friends, who were illustrators to illustrate the wardrobes, each with some kind of message, the illustrator had free range to choose the message they wanted and to illustrate them however they wanted, their payment was free Howies t-shirts and good PR.

Image from designs that stand up, speak out and can't be ignored: promotions. 32, 33

This is a great campaign, I think that taking something you believe in and turning your business into one that promotes your beliefs and educates your audience. The point of sales are provocative, I love the use of colour and the fact that designers came together for something they believe in. The company has expanded and has a whole range of clothing including men's and woman's t-shirts, jeans, trousers, jumpers, jackets, underwear and bags as well as kids t-shirts.

Image from designs that stand up, speak out and can't be ignored: promotions. 32, 33

Nick McFarlane

Nick McFarlane is a graphic designer and artist originally from New Zealand, although he is now in the UK, a lot of his work is still based around New Zealand society, not the clean green image that New Zealand is portrayed as, but the "New Zealand the I knew and loved" (Nick McFarlane, Patch work, Pordesign, 10), about gangs, domestic violence and the contrast between poverty and wealth.

Image from Prodesign. 10

I Like the idea of looking at New Zealand from a different point of view and the idea of using non traditional materials to create his work, often using old leather and hand sewing to recreate well known New Zealand gang patches, they are shown in gold frames to show the contrast between poverty and wealth and sometimes use broken glass. I like Nick McFarlane's philosophy, when asked how he deals with any conflicts that come up between the artist and graphic designer inside him he said "I usually just employ a bit of George Orwell's "doublethink"" (Nick McFarlane, Patch work, Pordesign, 10). George Orwell's "doublethink" theory is that you can have two contradictory ideas that are both correct.

Image from Prodesign. 10

Sources:
Artists: Nick Mefarlane. (n.d.). Retrieved on May 27, 2010 from http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=660

Doublethink. (May, 2010). Retrieved on May 27, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doublethink

Hickey, Lisa. (2004). Designs that stand up, speak out and can't be ignored: promotions. Massachusettes. Rockport Publishers, Inc. 32, 33.

Howies. (2010). Retrieved on May 27, 2010 from http://www.howies.co.uk/

Patch work. (February/March 2010). Prodesign. 10

Packaging- Hair and Toiletries

ghd Hair Straighteners

Hair straighteners are used so often these days and one of the most well known products is ghds. I looked at the precious gift set that comes with straighteners and travel hair dryer. It creates quite an experience, the straighteners and travel hair dryer come in carry case, in a box, in a bag, it's all consistent, all shiny black, with glittery silver swirly patterns. This is what I like about it, ghds are a luxury item, they are feminine but in a sophisticated and glamorous way. On the web site even the page for each set has the same colours and feeling as the product its self. The photography is amazing and showcases the products to their full potential.

Image from http://www.ghdhair.com/au/shop

Loreal Professionals Playball

The name says it all. The packaging is playful fun bright. It also uses circles motifs in the shape of the package as well as in the gratis on the packaging. The product stands out in a sea of pastel and dark colour on the shelves in salons and appeals to a younger target audience than a lot of other hair product on the market at the moment.

I have been looking at the UK website for this brand, it is user friendly and has a good layout, click here to view it and all of the products. The New Zealand and Australian sites are hard to use and take a lot of time to load.

Image from http://www.lorealprofessionnel.co.uk/_en/_gb/products/feature/site_playball/index.aspx

Method Products

Method Products is a company that makes personal care and cleaning products that are green and environmentally friendly, but for the company it's not only about the effect on the environment but the effect on the people whose use the products, in the article I read it mentioned that the company co founder sometimes drinks shots of the toilet cleaner "Lil Bowl Blu" to prove how non toxic it is. What really intrigues me about "Lil Bowl Blu", is it looks nothing a like toilet cleaner, in fact it looks like it could be a face wash or moisturiser. That was the concept when they first designed the products though, the idea was that cleaning products are seen all of the time sitting out on the bench, therefore they should look like they belong, like they aren't things that would rather be hid in the back of a cupboard somewhere, they are not in your face with the bright colours and little animal characters, like many other cleaners on the market. I really enjoyed looking at this article and all of the products, the basis of the story was about a kiwi couple who have been doing graphic design in New Zealand, London, New York, Sydney and then found themselves in San Francisco working for Method Products.

Method Products are simple and elegant and have a point of difference, for me it is the shape of the packaging that creates the interest, the choice of colours which reflect what the product is for and the typography which adds to the overall feeling of clean simple to use products.

Images from Prodesign. 54, 55, 56, 57

Sources:

GHD hair. (2010). Retrieved May 23 2010 from http://www.ghdhair.com/au/shop

Loreal Professionel. (2009). Retrieved May 23, 2010 from http://www.lorealprofessionnel.co.uk/_en/_gb/products/feature/site_playball/index.aspx

Nelson, Frank. (2010, February/March). Causing a disruption. Prodesign. 54, 55, 56, 57

From the future-Pods the new age of public transport

Image from I.D. magazine. 38,39

We all know that public transport is better for the environment, the more people who use it the cheaper it is to use and the more frequent and varied the trips. Now there's even more opportunity, with this new concept of small pods run by computers seating about four people they are a cross between a gondola carriage and an electric train.

Image from I.D. magazine. 38,39

They are being trailed at Heathrow Airport it is designed to carry people between parking areas and terminals, with the dream for it to the be brought into the city in the future.The idea is for these pods to connect areas that don't have access to public transport with their nearest station.

The best bit about them is that they are on shared tracks above the ground, therefore they can travel constantly while cars have to stop and start, they are waiting at the station when you arrive to take you to your destination. The pods are also good for the environment reducing pollution by using small batteries that charge when the pods are in the station. This new technology is designed by Advances Transportation Systems and is called Ultra PRT (personal rapid transport).

I also had reservations about the batteries, as there was much debate years ago about hybrid cars and that the batteries in those cars were in fact just as bad, but after some research I have come to the conclusion that the batteries in the hybrid cars are no worse for the environment than those of a normal car, the difference between a normal car and a hybrid is that a hybrid combines electric and gasoline to create a more fuel efficient car. After learning about batteries I believe that there is no problem and in fact a better solution than cars. Electricity is a renewable resource as long as we use the right things to create it. Wind turbines, geothermal energy, tidal power and solar power are New Zealands future electricity producers.

Design is about creating something new, something that will make every day life easier and for me this works. Not only does it look good, but it's practical and is thinking about the future and the environment too.

Sources:

Fuller, John. (09 April 2009). Do hybrid cars cause pollution?. Retrieved May 23 2010 from http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/hybrid-technology/hybrid-cars-cause-pollution3.htm

Hybrid batteries: Long lasting freshness.(2005). Retrieved May 23, 2010 from http://hybridblog.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/06/hybrid_batterie.html

McKeough, T. (January/February). ULTra PRT I.D. magazine. 38,39

Powell, Philip. (n.d.). What you should know about hybrid cars. Retrieved May 23, 2010 from http://cars.about.com/cs/familysedans/a/hybrid_explain.htm

"Should we be worried about hybrid-car batteries?" (2005) Retrieved May 25, 2010 from http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/06/should_we_be_wo_1.php

ULTra sustainable personal transport (2010) Retrieved May 23, 2010 from http://www.ultraprt.com/