Illustrations of interesting reverse inventions

Designer Dominic Wilcox has created a great little animation that brings together some of his illustrations of absurd inventions, including a reverse bungee jump in a humorous and thought provoking two minutes.

See the animation below and find out more on Dezeen.

A typographical cafe

Heading down to Greenwich, London and fancy a cup of tea then pop in to the Movement Cafe, a new project by Studio Myersough. 

This eye-catching temporary cafe is near the Greenwich DLR station and makes use of a corner of what was once the Greenwich Industrial site. This is being redeveloped into a mixed-use scheme of flats, business units and retail units which will be called The Movement by developers Cathedral Group.

The Studio worked with poet and author Lemn Sissay on the project, who was commissioned to write a poem about Greenwich. The result, Shipping Good, runs along the hoarding and will eventually be set into the road that cuts through the site.

The cafe is open until Christmas and you can find out more here about the cafe and events planned.

The Cravendale cats are back

The 'cats with thumbs' are back in a new campaign from Cravendale.

In this teaser ad the question is 'What happened to all the Milkmen?'

Presumably we will find out soon enough.

The changing face of logos

This new book 'Logo Life' is a must for logo buffs, celebrating the development of 100 famous logos over the years. From Lego to Apple and Gap to Adidas, see how your favourite logos have evolved.

The book is by BIS Publishers and you can see an online preview of the book here. 

A new magazine wrap

This is an interesting project by Spanish graphic design studio Lo Siento which was created for the cover of Japan's +81 Magazine.

Injecting bubble wrap blisters with coloured water the artist has spelt out the issue's latest subject 'Next Creativity'.

The studio has created several other typographical explorations, more of which can be viewed on Design Boom here.

Clock this interior in St Petersburg

Clocking in in St Petersburg, Russia could not be easier than in this office designed by Za Bor Architects.

The office was designed for Yandex, a search engine business, who wanted to go one step further than their other office in the same building, which was also designed by Za Bor.

The project architects decided to locate meeting 'cells', work areas and unusual objects along the corridor, resulting in visitors finding themselves 'inside' the Yandex search service. 

At the reception they're met by a 'Search' button and a yellow arrow (an unofficial Yandex logo) and as visitors move around the corridors they find familiar user name and email password input boxes as well as symbols and icons associated with Yandex services.

To find out more about this interesting themed interior visit Contemporist by clicking here.

Campbell's Soup issues limited-edition Warhol cans

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Andy Warhol's use one of a can in his art Campbell's Soup has released a series of limited-edition soup cans.

Warhol famously featured Campbell's' cans in several of his paintings and screenprints from 1962.

These special edition cans are not exact replicas from Warhol's art however they reference the bright colours he included in his 1965 series.

Cans will only be on sale at Target in the US, with 1.2 million cans released, at 75 cents each and already they are springing up on eBay.

The most Condescending Corporate Facebook page

Taking a rather humorous and sarcastic look at Company Facebook Pages the 'Condescending Corporate Page' (called 'Corporate Bollxxxs)  features posts that will make you cringe whilst complementing you on your Facebook presence.

Click here to take a look at some very funny posts that may be close to the bone for many marketers out there.

Fancy running over your pretentious friends?

Ever wanted to get your own back on your pretentious friends on Facebook - well this is the app for you.

"Mitsubishi Unpretentious" analyses the content from your friends' Facebook pages to see which are your most pretentious friends and then runs them over with a speeding 2013 Outlander Sport.

It does not always get it right but it does most of the time.

Combining marketing with interactive online apps has become a great extension to consumer product launches, getting people to engage with products in a fun and interesting way.

Whether encouraging people to run down people they don't like is questionable but fun anyway.

Click here to get the app.

A car chase without the cars

In a bid not to lose any of their beer these bank robbers head off around town in a police chase without the cars. All the classic moves and a few spills and thrills from Carlton Draught.

Very funny and worth a watch.

The Allianz Drunk Mirror

Insurer's Allianz has come up with an interesting way to demonstrate to party goers the effect of a few drinks can have on their reflexes in an anti-drink driving campaign.

They have installed a time-delay mirror which demonstrates how slow your reflexes are after a couple of drinks.

Have a look at the video below to find out more:


Concept created by OgilvyOne

What happens when Dad's left in charge!

This great little animated short is very funny. It considers what happens when Mum pops off for the ice creams leaving Dad in charge.

All we can say is 'Ouch'. Enjoy!


Film by Bird Box Studios

Microsoft updates logo

For the first time in 25 years Microsoft has updated its logo, and obviously simple is best.

It has the launched the new brand identity to be ready for the launch of Windows 8 and to bring it into line with the typeface being used on all its products.

See more in the video below and let us know what you think?

New ways of reaching out to customers

According to the latest issue of Catalogue newsletter, Marks & Spencer is set to install free Wi-Fi into all of its UK stores and arm customer assistants with iPads as part of plans to push its ecommerce offering.

It is reported the retailer is investing £100 million on new technology and £150 million on a new model, or platform, for its website that will be ready by 2014.  

Meanwhile our multi-channel retail client, IronmongeryDirect, has run another Direct Response TV campaign. After the success of the first ever national TV campaign, which saw an increase in attributed leads by 63% within 30 minutes of spot transmission, IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest online and mail order supplier of ironmongery products to the trade, decided to move ahead with a second campaign in June.  

Most recently IronmongeryDirect has launched its mobile website, in keeping with the latest technology moves, making it easy for tradesmen on-the-go to search for products and place their orders.   

We got this story covered and a by-lined feature by IronmongeryDirect’s Head of Marketing, Stuart Wilson, in the recent issue Direct Commerce magazine, and the story was picked up by a number of other trade titles.

Celebrating design 'Before 1980'

Here's a new fair to add to you calendar for the London Design Festival, but this one is not for those seeking out cutting edge design; this is one for those looking for retro.

The organisors say 'Before 1980 is a fair that favours style over age and has invited like-minded traders to exhibit – whose stock style is distinctive and special, and whose displays are always creative and inspirational.' 

Amelia Forster, organiser, says “Interior style magazines continue to reference and feature past design periods – this only helps to reinforce the idea that vintage offers a great level of quality and style without a large investment.  We have recognised the growing interest in vintage design and décor and its place in contemporary homes.”

“Before1980 will be a fair with an eclectic mix of antiques, mid-century and vintage – we hope people will be inspired by the looks on offer but feel they can really go home with something.”

The first fair features handpicked traders selling stylish pieces for the home and garden; it will be part of a series of seasonal events celebrating home style from Before1980. The fair is on Saturday 22nd September in the Central Library, Islington, London.

For more information click here.

Design comes to London

With the London Design Festival fast approaching we thought that it would be useful to highlight some of the key destinations for interiors, furniture and product design.  

The Festival runs from 14th until 23rd September and encompasses all forms of design from Graphic Design to Fashion. The key destinations below mostly cover interiors and furniture however for details of other design events you can view a calendar on the London Design Festival website.  

100% Design – 19th-22nd September, Earls Court  

Decorex – 23-16th September, The Royal Hospital, Chelsea  

Tent London – 20th-23rd September, Old Truman Brewery  

Design Junction – 19th-23rd September, The Sorting Office, W1  

Clerkenwell Design Week – 21st-23rd September, Various Venues, Clerkenwell  

ICON Design Trail, September, Various Venues  

Super Brands, 20th-23rd September, Old Truman Brewery  

Before 1980, 22nd September, Central Islington Library  

For full details of all these events please click on the event title to go to their websites.

Here’s to a great festival of design!

Stunning design for Denmark's Natural History Museum

BIG architects' has presented their proposal for the new Natural History Museum in Denmark.

The design includes a man-made mineral landscape that adapts to the organic forms of a botanical garden situated in the centre of Copenhagen.

The design is quite stunning and you can find out a lot more on Design Boom here as well as full project details.

3D interactive art in Chinese exhibition

We don't now a great deal about this exhibition in China however these great interactive 3D art by South Korean artists caught our eye on Toxel.com.

Looks great fun.

See many more here.

A novel recruitment approach

Gaming company Kixeye has taken an interesting approach to staff recruitment in this advert.

Taking a sideways swipe at the competition in this humorous, if quite long, film that tells you why you should work for them and not others.

Please be aware that there is strong language in the film.

View if below and tell us what you think of this novel recruitment approach and take a look at their website which is great.