New Coke (or could be New Coke)

Andrew Kim, an industrial design student, came up with a really innovative idea in packaging for pop bottles. By changing the design to be more angular, more bottles can be shipped and bottles are more recycling friendly. The fact that they can be stacked as well is another cool feature. The new design also gives designers or advertisers more area in which to play around with new designs or to let people know about new offers. I don't think that Coke will ever change their bottle though. Oh well, more ideas for Pepsi!

http://steelcloset.com/2010/03/29/what-would-a-coke-bottle-from-the-future-look-like/#more-15032

Paper Type

Yulia Brodskaya is a designer who uses an interesting medium, rolled up strips of paper. I know she creates illustrations using this technique, but it's her typography work that I find the most interesting. The way that she is able to maintain the shape of the typeface and yet have a sense of movement throughout her pieces is really effective. I also really enjoy the way the paper creates a sense of volume making her work stand out both figuratively and literally. In seeing her technique, it makes me think of other ways I could use certain mediums in my own work. I can't wait to try out new things like this in the summer.

http://www.artyulia.com/

Elettro Domestici

I saw this logo on a "Most Awesome Logos" list and had to track it down. I found that it's a logo designed by Italian designer Gianni Bortolotti for a company selling 'home applicances'. It reminded me of the Swiss International Style when I first saw it. Using strong lines and shapes combined with the use of positive and negative space really makes it feel like it's a part of that whole look. I really like the simplicity of this logo; it's able to convey the underlying message without being too direct about it. I especially like the fact that the 'E' is somewhat hidden at first allowing the viewer to see the shape of the plug and then the 'ED'. Or maybe vice-versa. Either way, it is a strong logo all around.

http://38one.com/cleverblog/ed

Slim Chips

If there's anything I love, it's food. I know I'm not alone in this. I especially find any foods that are really random fascinating; from the grotesque (www.thisiswhyyourefat.com) to the oddly refined (http://www.elbulli.info/gallery.htm). I found these 'Slim Chips' which I think are pretty unusual and slightly ironic for designers. They're chips that are made with edible paper. They come in 3 flavours (peppermint, blueberry and sweet potato) and have no calories.

In combination with the product itself, the package is also really well designed. The use of a completely clear bag with white overprint on them is a modern and uncommon take on the usual chip bag design. The layout of the bag is also effective with a almost a headline at the top and all the information at the bottom leaving the chips to almost speak for themselves. I like the fact that the ingredients are on the front as well and that they take up the whole width of the bottom of the bag. The graphic on the back of the bag also adds to the design in its simplicity and its wit. I'm really interested to try these now..the last time I remember eating paper was when I used to chew the corners off of books.

http://www.dezeen.com/2010/04/19/slim-chips-by-hafsteinn-juliusson/

Inky

Oscar Diaz has put an interesting twist on the calendar. It's a calendar of paper numbers put up on a wall with one end in a bottle of ink. As the ink is filled up each day, the ink spreads and turns one number dark per each day the bottle is filled. Even though the concept itself is pretty interesting, the placement of the numbers also works well. I especially enjoy the way all the numbers are connected within the layout. His concept also includes colour, using different colours each month to represent different seasons/weather. Using the colour in this way adds an extra dimension to the overall idea in the design. It's a neat idea; I just know that if I had it I'd probably end up with ink everywhere.

http://www.dezeen.com/2009/07/17/ink-calendar-by-oscar-diaz/

Honest Beards

So, supposedly beards make you more trustworthy. Well, I guess depending on what kind you have according to Matt McInerney, a designer from pixelspread.com. I like the idea of this chart, really using colour and shape to guide you through from 'trustworthy' to 'disastrous'. The use of shape to convey men's heads combined with the simplification of the beards makes it easy to navigate. I also find it funny (even though it's not based on scientific fact) that the shapes of beards could say a lot about a person's character (even though the gauge seems to be based mostly on pop culture). It's also kind of funny just to see all the options of facial hair styles. Makes you wonder where guys without beard would fall on the list....or maybe they're on a different playing field all together.

http://www.geekologie.com/image.php?path=/2010/04/22/beards-full.jpg

Japan - The Strange Country

I have been looking around design blogs for quite a while and had stumbled upon this a little while ago. It's an animated film made by graphic design student Kenichi Tenaka called "Japan: The Strange Country". Although it goes into details about what makes Japan weird compared to North American and European nations, it's more a visual representation of facts about Japan. Personally, I find it exciting and fun plus makes basic stats about the country easy to digest. There's also a nice flow within the whole film as shapes and ideas flow easily in and out of one another. There's a whole feeling of connectivity that runs throughout the film, connecting the all the different subjects they approach. Even though they don't offer the film with an English translation anymore (technically) it can still be found on YouTube in English. Although, I think it's interesting to watch it in Japanese first because you can really see how the visual messages come across pretty clearly despite what language it is presented. All in all, a pretty cool movie on a pretty strange (and cool) country.

In Japanese: http://koikoikoi.com/2010/03/japan-the-strange-country
In English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgsbIfI0uIg