We don't mention McDonald’s too much on this blog (aside from a few snide comments here and there), but a new billboard in Chicago – masterminded by Micky D’s ad agency Leo Burnett – recently got our attention. To promote McDonalds’ “Fresh” Salads, they let lettuce (yes, the real stuff) grow from the sign for three weeks to spell out “Fresh Salad.†We have to admit– a very original take on a timeless, and otherwise plain vanilla advertising medium. We’re not asking you to eat there, but anyone in Chicago that has seen this living billboard should let us know how it looks up close.
Icelandic designer Sruli Recht has come up with an interesting solution for traveling fashion designers and students who have become frustrated with their lack of workspace while on the road. For Sruli, I imagine this idea was born out of pure necessity– Iceland is, after all, a pretty isolated place, so the ability to bring one’s work abroad is a must. The ‘Cutting Table No. 1′ – or as I have dubbed it, ‘Icelandic Fashion Designer’s Best Friend’ – is a collaboration between Sruli and FormFast, is made of cardboard, and is at once portable and sturdy. It comes with 3 collapsable drawers, jute strap moving/storing box, laminated white surface top, and all replaceable parts. It’s available at the Liborius boutique ($400 U.S.D); and rest assured, if you buy one, they’ll ship it to you (i.e. no trip to Iceland necessary).
It’s more or less a fact of life that you learn something new everyday. You might learn that Paris Hilton is dating someone new or that your Grandmother’s application to join the Hells Angels was accepted. However, if you’re employed within the creative fields of graphic design, illustration, web design and developement, the odds are that neither of those things are useful or applicable towards your continued personal growth within your chosen trade. If you’re looking to gain more practical knowledge that will go a long way toward giving you more of an edge in your creative field of employment, you’ll probably find The Learnlist to be a much more valuable source of wisdom on everything from Flash to Dreamweaver. The site is aimed at creative types and lists a bevy of the best books and websites to help you add to your ever growing database of information for innovation. Whether there’s a new program that you need to learn or an application you just haven’t had the time to perfect yet, The Learnlist is the place to go to expand your intelligence on such matters.
The international women’s fashion retailer Topshop has tapped the legacy of famed fashion photog Helmut Newton to recreate the camera for which Newton became known in the 70’s. The Newton Machine is basically Newton’s self-timed camera with a mirror next to it and a strobe light connected to the “magic box.” The model adjusts the timer based on what she want’s to do in her pose– all at once she can be the photographer, stylist, and subject. The site tells us the story of Newton, explains this instant project, and most important– serves as a constantly updated place for candid photos of Topshop customers doing god-knows-what in front of that magic little box. Whether animalistic, expecting, or jumping for joy (see photos above, from left), it looks like folks are having fun with this one.
While many a great artist has had to suffer for their work, there are plenty of artists who realize that there is suffering in other people that exceeds their own struggle. Grant Barnhart is one such soul. Recently Grant received notice that a close family friend had been diagnosed with advanced small cell cancer. In an effort to ease her pain and the financial strain that comes with treating such a diagnosis, Barnhart decided to use his art to help with the more literal aspects of fighting the disease. To help pay for his friend Pam’s medical treatment, Barnhart is releasing a special edition print of his “In The Beginning” print. The image is available both framed and unframed and includes hand work applied by the artist, insuring the uniqueness of each piece. All proceeds go toward medical treatment and all print purchases are appreciated immeasurably.
When Rafael Augustaitiz – a student and long-time member of Brazil’s pixacao tagging movement – staged his graduation show along with the rest of his class in Sao Paulo at the highly esteemed private art college Belas Artes last Wednesday, he took a different route that made the news and pissed a ton of people off, but did get them talking. He invited 40 to 50 (the numbers vary on all reports) pichadores to help him mount a protest about what essentially is the divide between the poor and the rich, between art and how far it can go. Pixacao, for those who don’t know much about it, is a visual form that a lot of disadvantaged youth identify with here in Brazil. During the show, the group went on a rampage using spray paint as artillery, bombing the school with their cryptic-like tags, even spraying officials in the face who tried to stop them. It was chaos and now, after the event, school administrators are thinking about pulling Augustaitiz’s financial scholarship. This insane bit of rebellion was captured on film, and you can see it here to decide whether the message came through loud and clear or just lost its gas.
Have a look at London based designer Dan Mumford’s portfolio. He's produced some really fluid prints and appeal showcasing his career as a freelance illustrator, designer and screen printer. We especially love the shark series he did for music group the Gallows. I didn't know who the Gallows were until I looked them up on iTunes. I can't vouch for the music, but Dan's design work for the group and others is definitely worth a look. We can chalk this one up as another example that you can't judge a book by its cover, but that doesn't mean you can't take the cover off and admire it in its own right.
While many a great artist has had to suffer for their work, there are plenty of artists who realize that there is suffering in other people that exceeds their own struggle. 
