Here’s an interesting interview with fashion designer and artist Hussein Chalayan about the Level Vodka tunnel that he has designed.
Andra bloggar om: reklam, marknadsföring, vodka, hussein chalayan, varumärke
Level Vodka invited star fashion designer and artist Hussein Chalayan to create a pioneering work of art with a focus on taste. He was given completely free rein. The result is The Level Tunnel – a 15 meters long and 5 meters high travelling installation that captures the essence of Level Vodka. But the road leading there was anything but straight. Follow The Level Tunnel Team’s blog on the daily twists and turns of this spectacular project (the blog will only be updated during the tunnel events).
After the premiere in Mexico, The Level Tunnel will continue to Athens and Paris. It will visit each city for 1-2 weeks and is partly open to the general public. The visitors will experience the taste of Level Vodka with all their senses but one - sight. They wander blindfolded through the tunnel as they hear music from flutes made out of Level bottles, inhale scents of the super premium vodka, and are enclosed by the soft leather of the railing. And when they climb out, it all ends with a tasting event.
Andra bloggar om: level vodka, hussein chalayan, reklam, marknadsföring, kreativitet
Jurlique rebrands to focus on its biodynamic farming principles.
This is post by David Report contributor Kristina Dryza.
Andra bloggar om: ekologisk, ekologiskt, mat, livsmedel, design, varumärken, varumärke, förpackningar
I’m proud to announce that my knowledge company Designboost has released its first annual book named “Designboost 07″. It’s the first in a series of books that in words, pictures and moving media describes the work of Designboost. Designboost is a knowledge company that helps companies and organisations to learn more about design in general and sustainable design in particular and how to use it as a competitive weapon and turn it into a business advantage.
The book “Designboost 07″ is built on the vision “sharing design knowledge” with different texts about sustainable design from Designboost “boosters” and friends. Among the contributors you will find acclaimed personalities like Mathilda Tham - professor at Beckmans College of design, Sean Pillot de Chenecey - consumer insight and brand development, Kristina Börjesson - PhD research associate/Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Tim Power - architect and Jennifer Leonard - designer researcher and writer/IDEO (among others).
‘Designboost 2007′ also brings forward all the one-liner quotes about sustainable design written by the participants at the main event that took place in Malmö October 17–19, 2007. On top of this different conceptualizations of sustainable design by a range of international design driven companies are presented.
At the end of the book a DVD is inserted with some different films about Designboost and its activities. There is also filmed interviews with all the participants at the 2007 main event.
The book is published by Arena publishing house. If you are interested to get a copy it is available through the internet book store Bokus.
Production: Designboost.
Text editor: David Carlson
Graphic design: Peer Ericsson
Illustrations: Helen Wachtmeister.
Movies produced by Scandvision.
Paper: 150g Artic volume Ivory, Jacket: 300g Artic Glacier
Size: 230×200mm
Printing: Fälth&Hässler
ISBN: 978-91-7843-283-7
Published in Sweden 2008
Press images available here.
Andra bloggar om: design, designboost, hållbar design, miljö, hållbar utveckling
Finnish supreme companies Artek and Marimekko will break boundaries when they are presenting the Milkbar, a new concept at this years Milan Design Week. You will find the Milkbar at Viale Francesco Crispi 3.
Andra bloggar om: milano, möbelmässa, artek, marimekko, möbler, inredning, tyg
Comme des Garçons’ founder and head designer Rei Kawakubo will create this autumn’s guest designer collection at H&M. Rei Kawakubo, famous and admired for her creativity and artistry, will design a women’s and a men’s collection, with some pieces for children too. Accessories and an exclusive unisex fragrance will also be included in the collection.
“I have always been interested in the balance between creation and business. It is a dilemma, although for me creation has always been the first priority. It is a fascinating challenge to work with H&M since it is a chance to take the dilemma to its extreme, and try to solve it”, says Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garçons.
The world launch of the collection will be at the opening of H&M’s second store in Tokyo, Japan, in the beginning of November. Launch date for other H&M markets will be a few days later.
Andra bloggar om: reklam, branding, marknadsföring, mode, kläder, hm, h&m, comme des garcons
I was reading an article some weeks ago in the Swedish business magazine Dagens Industri which made me a bit confused. The theme was branding (and design). In the article, Stefan Ölander from the branding agency Rewir says; “Today most products and services are exchangeable, it’s branding and communication that make the difference.”
I have a few objections.
My first questions is - could Apple exchange the iPod or iTunes? Could Fritz Hansen exchange the Ant chair? Could Omega exchange the Speedmaster?
My second question is - does he mean that a company can exchange most products without changing the company and its values itself? Like changing into products with bad design, of poor quality, without authenticity which are bad for the environment? Or disposable products that we are not emotional connected to? Or just some smoothed average design that are not iconic and timeless at all? Products made by child labour? And so on…
If we hold for true that a brand is (only) a perception in a consumers mind, the physical deliverance of great products will be even more important; the smell, taste, feel, look and sound. Everything that actually has to do with design. Design is like a “visualization of a business strategy” and products are the true messengers of a brand. Nothing you just replace by snapping the fingers.
Today you can’t diminish the importance of good design. Business executives (and marketers…) that don’t understand the power of design in general and sustainable design in particular will have serious problems in the future. Design is one of the strongest competitive weapons. It can give strong business advantages. Why are so many companies still neglecting the importance of design. Is it just lack of knowledge?
History wise, products were everything during the industrialisation. Later, in the middle of the last century marketing/advertising grew really strong. Then, from the eighties and onwards branding was suddenly the overall solution. I think that we in a way are coming back to where we started. With products, but this time based on the knowledge of the power of design. As an important tool to create the future. Design is even more important in a time when climate changes and injustices are growing. Design can make a difference. It’s sustainable. I don’t think you can say that about marketing or branding…
Maybe you were able to sell anything with simple marketing in the past. Even “canned porridge” as we use to say in Sweden. But it is not like that any longer. You don’t build a brand from only advertising or marketing these days. Because no one believes it any longer, they would even like to pay you to be free from it… Today people are wise and connected. You can only sell a bad product once. Then the rumour is all over. Isn’t that a better world? With the consumers behind the steering wheel?
At David report we believe in building brands with design. We have written about it in two earlier issues of our bulletin called The Credibility Loop and Communication Through Product. Both were released during 2006 but is still as accurate. Read it if you have a minute, or two…
Andra bloggar om: design, reklam, marknadsföring, varumärke, varumärken, företag, entreprenörskap
Saab just launched the 9X BioHybrid concept car at the Geneva Motor Show the other day. Regular readers of David Report are probably aware of my somewhat anxious thoughts on how the Saab design crew would be able to develop the Saab heritage into relevant design for the future (read here and here). One of my critical standpoints was a risk (according to me) that the originality of the Saab brand would be smoothed out. I actually have to admit that the Saab 9X is a bold statement and actually quite good car design as well (the two don’t always go together, unfortunately…). One major problem in the car industry of today is that the designers sometimes seems to live in a parallel universe. A lot of car design is definitely not that attractive, and still way to masculine. With the 9X, Saab is doing a nice convergence of it’s Scandinavian heritage and the current design trend of the 00’s. It’s really stylish (and I don’t mean just decoration). I also like the turbine rimes which reminds of the Saab history as aircraft producer. The concept is premium and is aimed at the Mini, the BMW 1-series and the Audi 3-series among others.
If we take a look at the “green” side of the car it’s interesting to see how Saab is working with embedded solar power panels in the roof and active aerodynamics.
Maybe Saab will be able to grab the unoccupied design category among cars after all? The new 9X is definitely a step in the right direction. It’s even a bit iconic. What do you think?
Take a look at Autoblog for more images.
Andra bloggar om: saab, design, 9x, biohybrid, bilar, trafik
I just got this nice movie showing one of the Absolut Machines, the Absolut Quartet, up and running at a guerilla gallery at 186 Orchard St on Manhattan, NYC. What’s best is that you can interact with The Absolut Quartet from all over the world via your keyboard! Just go to the Absolut Machines web and sign in. Please not that you have to write your date of birth before you can watch the movie. You can also download the movie as a QuickTime movie. Further info on the Absolut Machines project in my earlier post here.
Andra bloggar om: absolut, absolut machines, new york, kreativitet, teknologi, musik, video
In 2006, Johnson and Johnson turned to Harry Allen & Associates to re-design the First Aid Kit. Although it is one of J&J’s most iconic products, after years of cost engineering the First Aid Kit had been reduced to a disposable clear plastic case - gone were the memorable designs of yesteryear. The design brief was simple, give the First Aid Kit a dynamic new form.
The resulting design puts the user first. It stands on end for ease of storage; the built in handle provides grab and go efficiency while maintaining the smallest possible profile; the colour scheme is an eye-catching red and white, and the cross is brought back front and center.
Design can really make a difference…
Andra bloggar om: design, sjukvård, hälsa, harry allen, marknadsföring, prylar
