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Pictures of Walls is an online record of the things people write and draw on walls, all over the world. Some are overdone, some are sucky and sappy and gross, and some are really, really good. That said, there is nothing that annoys me more than inspirational quotes written in bathroom stalls ("Love life!"-- not the time or place, thanks), but you know...freedom of expression and all that.
Via It's Nice That
Apparently we're getting some new pennies, and they're really really... wait, those are different?
You'd think they'd at least try to give us something to look at, because there really aren't any other reasons to pay attention to one cent. Poor penny.
...they make the best promo videos around. Watch Wario Land: Shake It! creatively bring natural disaster to YouTube here.
I believe in Limited Edition. Big time. I think it has something to do with my background in trendsetting, and all the things I've seen get mad hype just for the fact that there's only 500 of them. To use a dork reference: It's 2008, and the living is longtail (in other words, tailored exclusivity is bringing some much needed life back to the doldrums of mass production).
It's no wonder then that Blossa's yearly release of a limited edition bottle of glögg, a Scandinavian mulled wine, sells out faster than a Disney pop star. The design of these bottles doesn't hurt, obviously, but what I like so much about things like this is how they can serve to medic the entire brand. In terms of brand equity, a label like Blossa can amass (in addition to whatever they had going for them prior) a measurable amount simply due to the buzz generated by each new bottle. Will every design blog (or mag) write about your booze consistently if it looks the same? No. Will lots of design, packaging, trendsetting and and alcohol blogs give you consistent, free publicity on a yearly basis if you give them something to talk about? Yes. For now, anyway. And this almost works for everybody; I literally think that if Tide were to get into super limited edition scents and designs, they'd sell. And people would talk about it.
Oh, and after enough groundwork, the "Limited Edition" aspect of these products can still almost meet demand. Production of this year's Blossa: Half a million. It will sell out. Not bad, huh?
Via The Dieline
Shen Plum is a beautiful illustrator. I think I like her because some of her drawings remind me of the ones in the Eloise books (albeit darker), but it could also be because I really envy her last name. Plum. Plummm. Just rolls right off the tongue...
Alright, it's a bit Web 1.0 of them to have named this thing the iBasket... but in all other aspects it's pretty futuristic. Really futuristic, actually-- because what you're looking at is a dirty clothes bin that turns into a washing machine once it's full. Then turns into a dryer when it's done washing. Then text messages or emails you when the cycle is complete. That's my kind of progress.
Designed by Guopeng Liang // Via The Tastemakers Society
If you need an excuse to add some ARGH into your afternoon, here you are: It's International Talk Like a Pirate Day. What this means is (according to international law and the constitution laid forth by our forefathers) that we get to be obliterwasted all day, call each other bad names, and cuss as much as we @$%#@ want. We can even threaten people with daggers if they don't do what we say. Wait... no, there's been an addendum: "As of 9/19/07, all daggers, knives, blades, swords, and additional armories under the classifcation of Lancerate must be cast in plastics as opposed to metals in order to pass official TLPD inspections." Well, that certainly takes the fun out of mutiny, but good to know.
Happy staggering, sailors; we'll be somewhere around 19 o 30' N of 80 o 30' W if you need us (but terribly drunk, so beware).
An ad for Styx wedgie-free underwear featuring two butt cheeks and a cheeky insert: "This is the only time when we are getting into your ass."
I think there's an extra word or two in that tagline, but I sort of forgot about it when I was laughing so hard I cried.
Can't find the agency credits for this one, so if you know, please share.
It’s a Thursday that feels like a Monday, and God knows we’re gonna need something to make it to Friday night. It would be super if that something was a trip to someplace where no one speaks English, but—nope—so we’re doing the next best thing: Typolade (“the sweet blend of typeography and chocolate” thankyouverymuch). Kinda silly, maybe pointless, but that’s FF FagoMo Bold to you, sir.
Now pass me the raspberry sauce; there are posters to be made.
Via Notcot
What an interesting way to make use of a neck injury.
I mean, what an interesting way to design a cell phone holder so it's not only hands free, but also helps you score pity stares, all of your friends leftover painkillers-- maybe even a cute girl to hold the straw in your juice cup.
Francesca Lanzavecchia, you are, uh, hmm. You really think outside the box.
