Shortest and smallest film on a stamp

The Dutch postal service has launched the world's "smallest and shortest film" on a new lenticular stamp. KesselsKramer asked director Anton Corbijn to shoot the one-second film, which features actress Carice van Houten... The result is a small lenticular stamp that contains 30 frames of film. A bit of a lengthy intro.... but would it make it through the British postal system? See more on Creative Review

Foster + Partners design seating for Cathay Pacific

Designed by Foster + Partners ,‘The Cabin’ is the latest addition to the Cathay Pacific lounge collection at Hong Kong International Airport. The new seating combines the highest quality materials in the lounge that can accommodate both First and Business Class passengers and maximises the available space for relaxation.

See more on Contemporist

The Zamet Centre in Croatia

Dragana's choice of project today - apparently her home town in Croatia - the Zamet Centre in Rijeka is a sports centre topped with a series of undulating buildings and energy-saving green roofs. Studio 3lhd designed the complex with one third of the facility located underground.
See more on Inhabitat
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Wilson House by Denton Corker Marshall

As an international design practice Denton Corker Marshall is known for producing striking and innovative architecture and urban design in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Solving complex design problems on every scale their work includes commissions for buildings of international significance to micro skyscraper coffee cups. This is one of their recent projects - looks great but does it remind anyone else of an ice cream wafer?
See more on 2 Modern Blog
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Nominated for Best PR Campaign

The Think Tank has been shortlisted in this year's Construction Marketing Awards in the Best PR Campaign category for our work with SAS International. We have worked with this leading architectural metalwork, ceiling and room comfort systems manufacturer for several years and at the start of 2010 work was extended when we were appointed as their European and Middle East PR agency in a competitive agency pitch.

The Think Tank provides a range of services to SAS International including digital communications and graphic design.

Matt W Moore adds colour for Dulux Campaign

Dulux's Let's Colour campaign has been extended by mural painter Matt W Moore ,creating a series of 'live painting performances' in Marseille, Lyon and Paris. Let's Colour launched in the spring and is a global campaign from Dulux/AkzoNobel based on a concept to stage events in different cities in which Dulux paint is used to brighten up a neighbourhoods thereby "adding colour to people's lives".
See more here
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Blueprint announces Awards at 100% Design

The winners of the Blueprint Awards at 100% Design have been announced. In a very competitive year the Best New Product award went to Nathalie Dewez for her piece Linea light and the Most Promising Talent at 100% Futures award was given to Daniel Emma Studio.

See more of about the winners and their work on Blueprint.

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The Think Tank contributes to RIBA North West Magazine

The Think Tank's Liam Bateman has contributed an article to RIBA North West's magazine 'A', which has recently been distributed to local practices.

The article discusses why Architectural Practices should use the services of a marketing or PR agency and the impact such a sevice can have.

View the full article by clicking on the link to the pdf.
PracticeSupport.pdf (1191 kb)

Online v's Offline Direct Marketing - A topic for RIBA Insight Consultancy Days

Blanket online direct marketing, on its own, is neither cost-effective nor sophisticated enough to engage today’s customers, argues The Think Tank’s Liam Bateman who will be speaking at RIBA Insight's Consultancy Days in November.

It needs to be combined with other activities, on- and offline, to optimise your return on investment.

Direct marketing has gone through many changes in recent years with new online opportunities and more sophisticated segmentation of data. The boundaries are becoming blurred; what does direct marketing now include? How do the various digital channels impact on other marketing channels? Where does it cease to be one marketing technique and become direct marketing?

This blurring around the edges has become more extreme with the introduction of online relationship marketing, or social media marketing, which has now pulled public and media relations into the mix.

The importance of direct marketing has increased in the last two years as budgets have been squeezed and margins cut. Its targeted nature has provided levels of accountability and quantifiable return that other activities cannot match, and as a consequence has led many companies to switch from press advertising to communicating directly with existing and potential customers.

Online direct marketing presents many new opportunities, but is it cost effective? Businesses that switch to online marketing often do so because they perceive it to be less costly, with its promise of reduced print and mailing costs. Online direct marketing can be a better route to take when budgets are tight, however it’s less costly for a reason. Response rates from electronic direct marketing can be very low.

Online direct marketing serves a particular purpose and needs to be combined with other activities to optimise return on investment. Blanket direct marketing alone won’t engage customers used to being flooded with marketing messages. Multiple touch points, where your customers have the opportunity to interact with your brand and products, combined with strong messaging and a reason to believe, are essential in cutting through the fog of marketing activity. It is the suitability of media and message to your audience that is crucial to developing a good relationship with existing and potential customers, not putting all your eggs in one basket for budgetary purposes.

Combining and integrating marketing channels will have the greatest impact on coverage and response.

Liam Bateman will be discussing this, how social media marketing complicates matters and more at the RIBA Insight Consultancy Days in November. Click here for more information.

mybuilder.com ad searches for the best tradesman!

Great ad for mybuilder.com but I'm not sure I would want them in my house.


MyBuilder.com Commercial from Sell! Sell! on Vimeo.

Adaptable Structures opens in Clerkenwell

Adaptable Structures is an exhibition that presents models, drawings and a multiple-level brick installation by Toh Shimazaki Architecture. It opened this week in the Toto Gallery, 140-142 St John Street, London
 EC1V 4UA and is on until 8 October. Worth a look.

See more on Blueprint

John Pawson at the Design Museum

The London Design Museum is showing a major exhibition of John Pawson's work. Known for his rigorous process of design and minimalism he creates architecture and product designs that offer visual clarity, simplicity and grace. Marco Zanta's images of the exhibition can be seen on Arch Daily and the exhibition is on until 30th January 2011.

Click here to view more

Images © Marco Zanta

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Formica launches new European Collection

Formica Limited has launched its new Collection including intriguing premium textures and many new unique designs.

Formica comments, 'This new Collection presents a comprehensive palette of High Pressure Laminate (HPL) specially designed in response to European trends. With extensive colour families and co-ordination between ranges, textures and patterns, innovation and exclusivity are watchwords of this exciting offer.'  

The new Collection includes a unique new texture Rigato™ and new patterns Mode, Geo, Dogbone and Strand. The Formica Collection is a practical, trend led resource for Architects, Designers and Specifers and demonstrates how the Formica Group continues to innovate and lead the market in decorative laminates.

Click here to see more
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LondonKillsMe featured in Clerkenwell

LondonKillsMe is an independent design and screen print company based in London specialising in designing and making fashion and interior products of the highest quality. It has been described as a lifestyle anti-brand and a movement towards a more social conscious consumer who takes an ethical approach to lifestyle products.

Established in Nov 2007 by Jane Young and Nick Darrieulat LondonKillsMe counts the Museum of London, Rockett St.George, Handmade Interiors, One in the House (Brighton) and the Zetter Hotel as clients. All products are ethically traced and made from natural or reclaimed materials, such as pure linen, cotton and silk. All the slate products are made from reclaimed roof slate and are hand cut and finished.

LKM will be featured at a One Day Designers Sale at Craft Central, St. John’s Square, Clerkenwell, London, EC1 on Wednesday 22nd Sept 12-7pm and also at The Pop Up shop at Clerkenwell Green from Tue 28th September – Sunday 3rd October.

See more here

Thomas Heatherwick installs Spun seats for Design Week

Designer Thomas Heatherwick has created an installation of his Spun seats designed for the Italian manufacturer Magis. Located in the  Southbank Centre Square it has been installed to celebrate the opening of London Design Week. Watch the video below.

Jaime Hayon launches Sé Collection II at London Design Week

Spanish designer Jaime Hayon has launched a new furniture collection for the design brand Sé.

The brand comments, ‘Solid bronze side tables with fantastic curves. Bold colours applied to confident shapes. A sofa and armchair delicately proportioned but with a wit and presence that sets them apart from any other chair. The upholstery is refined, the styling almost classic but with a look of something very new, very now.’

This great Sé Collection by Jaime Hayon launches at the London Design Week and the series of chairs, mirrors, tables and sofas is Hayon’s first complete furniture range.

Blueprint 100% Design Awards

The Blueprint Awards are back at 100% Design with a format that guarantees the best work receives a prestigious Blueprint Badge. Opening up the conventional awards structure, there is no limit on the number of possible badge winners for the Best New Products, New Talent in 100% Futures, and the Best Use of Materials. The Blueprint Badge winners were selected by Peter Kelly, editor of Blueprint, and design author and curator Max Fraser in late July.

See more on Blueprint

Murakami comes to Versailles

Takashi Murakami's whirlwind exhibition of manga-inspired works comes to the Palais de Versailles, Paris, in a display of 22 bright coloured sculptures - does it work with the historic background of the palace? What do you think?

See more on Cool Hunting

A balancing act at the Venice Architecture Biennale

Madrid architect Antón García-Abril of Ensamble Studio has installed two enormous girders that slice through the Arsenale exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Entitled Balancing Act, the installation comprises one girder balanced across the other and supported at one end by a metal spring.

See more on Dezeen

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Industry Gallery, Washington DC, opens Nature/Data exhibition

The Industry Gallery, Washinton DC, is holding a new exhibition called Nature/Data by New York-based Italian designer and architect Antonio Pio Saracino. The exhibition features eleven chairs that are constructed in a range of materials including plywood, metal, carbon fiber and synthetics and in various forms such as molecules, leaves, blossoms, and crystals. Great furniture designs that inspire.

See the collection here

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