Extreme results when you don't have Direct TV

These ads for Direct TV from the US take not using their service to extreme results suggesting what could happen to you if you don't sign up.

Over the top but great fun and very funny. 

Scary new ad for J2O

This is a scary new ad for J2O juice drink featuring Cats and Dogs. 

Even a Mouse gets a look in at the party!

Solar tree installation at CDW

Another impressive installation at this year's Clerkenwell Design Week was the 'Solar Tree', designed by Ross Lovegrove and manufactured by Artemide.

The structure combined solar power with night LED lighting in London's St. John's Square during the week and provided visitors with a piece of urban furniture modelled on natural forms.

Comprising 20 'stems' which led to six leaf-like solar panels and four large LED lights, the installation functioned completely independently for up to three days and could feed energy back into the grid.

A great installation. Find out and see more on Design Boom.

images © Ashley Bingham (A&M photography)

Modular radiators that make an impact

Take a look at this interesting feature radiator designed by Indian-born Amsterdam-based industrial designer Satyendra Pakhalé.

This modular radiator has been developed for Italian radiator manufacturer Tubes and turns radiators into sculptures to your personal design. Each radiator has a 12 x 24 cm (4.5 x 9 inches) base system to which you can add smaller components with four-armed parts.

To ensure functionality the surface area has been maximized and it has been manufactured using aluminum for rapid heat exchange. It is a lightweight structure and includes an in-wall support system that allows the radiator to also function as a partition element as well. 

A great design and very fllexible. Just what the heating industry has been looking for.
 

The Queen's colour swatch

Last week we looked at some of the best or worst products available for the Queen's Jubilee.

We've just come across this one and thought it was worth a mention.

In a collaboration between Pantone and agency Leo Burnett, a limited edition Pantone swatch has been produced to commemorate the Jubilee in the shape of the Queen in various coloured outfits.

Find out more of Yatzer.

London Festival of Architecture

The London Festival of Architecture is almost upon us, starting on 23rd June.

The Festival is a city-wide celebration of architecture and architectural talent and brings architects and communities together to examine how we make London a better place.

This year's theme is ‘The Playful City’, responding to the presence in London of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Festival runs from 23rd June until 8th July.

Find out more on the Festival website.

Oct Design Museum approaches completion in Shenzhen

This impressive piece of architecture is the Oct Design Museum in Shenzhen, China.

It was designed by Studio Pei-Zhu and their inspiration came from both the location, being close to the bay, and from the needs of the museum, a surreal space for design exhibitions.

The Oct Design Museum focuses mainly on fashion shows, product design, and conceptual automotive shows and the goal was to create a space that is surreal to the subject matter but also transcendental in surrounding and feeling.

See and find out more on the Contemporist website.

Image © fang zenning
Image courtesy studio pei zhu

Responding to customer complaints on Twitter

Taking the engagement of their customers on Twitter very seriously, the Sainsbury's PR team this week posted an interesting response to a complaint by U.K. blogger October Jones.

He complained that the chicken sandwich that he had bought "tastes like it was beaten to death by Hulk Hogan."

The response? - "Really sorry it wasn't up to scratch. We will replace Mr. Hogan with Ultimate Warrior on our production line immediately."

Another Sainsbury's account replied by providing a phone number for Jones to call and said the company sincerely regrets that "you had to wrestle your way through the sandwich."

These are great responses but are they really appropriate when dealing with customer complaints? Made us smile though.

AIA launches architecture app

If you're heading over to the States and fancy finding out more about the buildings around you then this is the essential app.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has formed a partnership with Broadcastr and created an app that provides in-depth information about the buildings around you along with exclusive interviews with architects and a vast library of narratives from local professionals that reveal the stories and facts. The app initially works in Los Angeles, New York City and Washington D.C.

“Imagine standing in front of one of the world’s great buildings and listening to the architect tell you about her inspiration,” said Andy Hunter, CEO of Broadcastr. “We are thrilled that our partnership with AIA makes that possible.”

The AIA Broadcastr is available on Apple and Android. Let us know if you make it over there and use it. Should RIBA be launching a similar app?

The top ten best (worse) Jubilee products - some scary and some just naff  #funny #jubilee http://bit.ly/L5Pv58

Top ten best (worse) Jubilee products

The New Statesman has been taking a look at the top 10 best (worse) Jubilee products and it really is amazing what people will buy.

A crown pizza from Pizza Hut, a solar powered waving Queen or even a loaf of Kingsmill renamed for the weekend!

See the top 10 here.

The surprising dangers of fast food

This short animated film 'Happy Food' by Yum Yum is great fun and anyone who likes ketchup will be able to remember a time when they found themselves in this situation.

Luckily there would probably not have been any giant hot dogs around.

We featured one of their other films, Parallel Parking some time ago.

Plus, if you like the film you can also get the characters.

Enjoy!

VW ads celebrate classic cinema moments

VW has created three new ads, which are currently running at independent cinemas across the UK.

Each one focuses on a famous movie - Taxi Driver, Silence of the Lambs and Jaws - and imagines what inspired the classic moments in the films.

The series is directed by Ivan Zacharias and was dreamed up by DDB London as part of the VW 'See Film Differently' campaign.

See the three ads below:

Downstairs, in The Shed at Clerkenwell Design Week

A handbag?

Product design duo Maigrau’s tables were on display,  all made exclusively in Germany  - they’re just behind those large HANDBAGS which really grabbed us!  

Corking

Meanwhile our good friends Deadgood were showing their Cork Coffee Table – the PR team like objects that are made of cork and are rounded in shape…

In material - Clerkenwell Design Week Review

Clerkenwell Design Week saw the launch of Imogen Heath’s first full collection of fabrics and wallpapers since establishing her business in July 2011. 

Contemporary, but we thought with a whiff of nostalgia, her patterns have caught the attention of British retailer Heal’s and us too.  An exclusive collection of colourful cushions were on sale and we were just disappointed we didn’t have our largest shopping bag with us… because when we saw SCP Contracts’ Ernest pouffe and Frank pouffe covered in some beautiful textiles we wanted them too!

A light touch - Clerkenwell Design Week Lighting Review

Review by Samantha Dawe, Director, The Think Tank

Clerkenwell Design Week 2012 basked in some very welcome warm sunshine but that didn’t stop us being inside and having a good look around.   Particularly this year it seemed that lighting was at the forefront of some intriguing design options and what was being shown would certainly create an impact in any space.  

As part of an expanded programme for CDW, a new site was included for exhibition space – the buildings and grounds of the Order of St John. Upstairs the light streamed through the stained glass windows but that did not dim the impact of Vessel Gallery’s display of unique and limited edition lighting.      


Whilst Tsai and Yoshikawa’s sculpted piece ‘Blooming Spark I’ was centre stage, each piece displayed was a work of art in its own right.  

 
 















While big is not always best, Guinness Book of Records holder Beau McClellan’s (world’s largest chandelier) eponymous company had presented a stunning large-scale lighting installation which hung in the Farmiloe Building and appeared to change colour.


     











































Looking down from the upper tier of the Building on this installation and the Anglepoise stand was a moment to savour.          



















The heat was rising but we took the plunge and continued to climb where we spotted Lightyears’ elegant lamps, highlighting the best qualities of minimalistic Scandinavian design. Simplicity is beautiful.  



                     















Alongside this Swedese, exhibiting we were told for the first time at CDW, was showing pieces launched at this year’s Stockholm Furniture Fair but again it was the lighting that caught our eye.  Maybe it was that the pieces lent themselves so well to creating atmosphere and intrigue in this quirky building where they seemed right at home.