Zaha Hadid/Future System

2 big architects came together in a seminar. Both are world recognised with their fresh architectural form and experimental perspectives to architectuture.
www.zahahadidblog.com
www.future-systems.com

Dove evolution and its similarity

"No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted." clearly stated the ironic concept of what Dove had brought about their views of real beauty in this TV advert for the dove self-esteem fund. This hidden true story had achieved a huge success and aroused a wide attention globally. I attended a talk by this advert behind agency, Ogilvy, Toronto to have their experience sharing. It's a risky approach to compare to the other body care or cosmetics brands. But it's a creative approach that build on truth and mutual trust between agency and client. And more, I think its documentary way and the background music (which I liked) had added the sympathy to this advert.

That advert makes me think about what I saw in a window display with a fat female model in swimming suit in Sweden. This would not be happened generally! That somehow got the similar true idea of beauty as Dove!!!

Mirror

This was the Super Design Market where the young designers were selling their inventions and creative products. The ambiance of creativity was just so good that everybody was enjoying their discovering!

And in it, I found this one. This is not a pair of sunglasses actually, but a mirror can be hung on wall. The idea is just witty and nice!
www.richardshed.com

The Conran Shop

These are 2 pieces of tomato seeds. The seeds is actually the eyes of the figure. When growing it, have to bury the figure's head into the soil. This is a funny idea.


I bought this little seeds in the Conran shop which is a famous lifestyle shop for modern living owned by Terrence Conran. And I especially like the paper bag with the colourful patterns. It's a bit 80s I think, but it's beautiful!
The Conran Shop

The Southbank Center identity

During this year's London Design Festival, the Southbank Centre is served as the central hub where many activities were held. And I found the new Southbank Centre identity is very visually attractive with the inter-weaving coloured patterns. As an art and culture centre, its identity unique, modern and flexible to adapt to different colour scheme.
Southbank Centre

Pentagram posters exhibition

Pentagram held an exhibition of posters from throughout the firm’s 35-year history on this Thursday at the London office in Notting Hill. This was also a good chance to looked around the office as well. The works are single-minded, human and typographically excellence, which are thought to be their design philosophy behind the firm.
More posters photos taken in Pentagram

Irma Boom

The new D&AD president, Simon Waterfall made the introduction.


The 2,136-paged-SHV book.

Yesterday night, I attended a lecture by the famous Dutch book designer Irma Boom. She showed us couples of beautiful books she had been designed and talked about her design process. The pictured one is the SHV anniversary book with 2,136 pages, which was spent 5 years to finish it. That's really devotion and passion. Her works were all unique. And each one was striked to make the most of it. Most of her books' structures were deconstructed then constructed to a new form and new perspective to readers. This just enhanced the books contents with Irma Boom's beautiful and inspiring ways - “If there is something in common about my books, it is the roughness,” she says. “They are all unrefined.”
Irma Boom

The Replenishing Body

SHOWstudio has devised a fun, interactive video installation that allows visitors to make a one-second video recording of a close-up section of their body to become part of one big replenishing body. The work is using a 25 section, touch-screen video grid which will be added to a constantly moving, composite video portrait. For me, I just want to leave a clue of memory, being part of this design event in London!
www.showstudio.com/project/thereplenishingbody

A unique showcase

mint is an interior design store, renowned for its contemporary collections of specially handcrafted ceramics, glassware, textiles and furnitures. It is somehow liked an art gallery of surrealistic products!
www.mintshop.co.uk

'Ten commandments' of Good Design

Vitsœ’s shelves and chairs were conceived to be timeless. Designed by Dieter Rams who concerns good design should meet the 10 most important criteria...
1) Innovative
2) Useful
3) Aesthetic
4) Self-explanatory
5) Unobtrusive
6) Honest
7) Durable
8) Thorough
9) Environmentally-friendly
10) As little design as possible

www.vitsoe.com/ten_commandments.php

Deptford Design Market Challenge

This is another about "redesign" exhibition. The idea is to give a new meaning, beauty or function to that of an old product. As we have been talking "Sustainability" all the ways, this exhibition has become more meaningful and the ideas exhibited are really fun and inspiring. Here are some examples.
www.deptforddesignchallenge.com


"Glasses for all Occasions" - Each glass is reversible: choose from champagne, wine, sherry or cocktails, so this set of glasses are for all occasions.


"Team Walk" - Ten pairs of trainers are connected together. In order to get the piece to move, ten people must wear the trainers and walk together. A piece to train people team working.


"No Strings Attached" - The broken guitar is recovered to its music function in a modern manner with the iPod.


"Spare some Change" - From spending to saving. The jewellery box which is orginally for saving the luxuries now is turned into a piggy bank. The three saving compartments in which one might be for the next holiday, one for the next car, and the other for the most amazing new shoes. The pleasure is in the planning!


"Jigsaw Jigsaw" - An impossible jigsaw puzzle. It's crazy! It's a joke!

[re]design

How would you deal with your daily read newspapers? [re]design is a series of inspiring workshops on utilizing household waste and sustainable materials to make fun and desirable products. So using tightly rolled newspapers to build distinctive furniture can be a clever example.
www.redesigndesign.org

London Design Festival 2007

The London Design Festival from 15-25 September finally began. This is a huge annual design event in London and I am lucky to be being there. So I will try to record down what I can see and share them to all.
www.londondesignfestival.com/Default.aspx

d~r~a~w

Media: pencil and water colour on paper