By Robert Burke
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Jun 29, 2009
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Why is it that all bottles have a neck anyway? The Non Object design group decided to break the rule and design a vodka bottle with out a neck. The result is the Vertikal Vodka in a neckless bottle – with an afterlife as an elegant vase.
Now all they need to do is open a Teleflora-like Vertikal Flower Service and we’re good to go.
Categories: Design, Marketing
Tags: graphic design, product and packaging design
By Robert Burke
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Jun 04, 2009
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Detail of Mary Lou and Her Other Sister, 1992 Acrylic on Canvas
Fashion designer Prada is throwing open the doors on an art gala celebrating provocative pop artist John Wesley. A little more nuanced than your typical Lichtenstein, but just as compelling.
Categories: Design
Tags: art, Culture
By Robert Burke
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Jun 02, 2009
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Back when surfing was just beginning to catch fire in southern California and elsewhere, there was an intrepid band of film producers from this region (themselves legendary surfers, like Greg Noll) who were contributing to the sport’s popularity by making a series of films that documented the first big wave riders and their assault on Oahu’s fabled North Shore.
Complimenting this furious output of homegrown moviemaking was a series of film posters that more than anything else serve as a time capsule to the early days of surfing and the artistic sensibilities that surrounded our culture at that time.
The posters in many instances have a common type usage and format similar to the popular film posters of graphic designer Saul Bass but begin to play off in wildly imaginitive tangents, each one a small document to the heady days of the burgeoning surf scene.
The films themselves had their world premieres in locales such as the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and Van Nuys High School. The venues may not seem that impressive in comparison to their Hollywood counterparts, but these locations, these movies and these incredible posters all played a seminal role in influencing generations of young surfers and skaters – such as the legendary Z Boys of Dogtown – creating a youth culture phenomenon that continues to this day.
Categories: Advertising, Design
Tags: Advertising, art, Culture, Design
By Robert Burke
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May 28, 2009
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It’s that important. Go. Read. Share.
Categories: Advertising, Design, Interactive, Marketing
By Robert Burke
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May 26, 2009
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Trompe l’oeil (trick of the eye) artist John Pugh is a native Californian whose deceptive murals decorate walls from Honalulu to Hayward, CA.
Pugh has brought the structure of an architect, the intellectual vision of a scholar, the humor of a comedian, and the narrative ability of a master storyteller to his craft. His murals cleverly fool the viewer into seeing a modern facade’s broken wall revealing Greek columns or a bull grazing in front of an unfinished mural. But his art also captures the imagination and engages the mind. “Once captivated by the deception,” he says, “the viewer is lured into crossing an artistic threshold and is seduced into exploring the concept of the piece.”
If only New York had his talents for the subway cars of the seventies…
Categories: Design
Tags: art, Design, graffitti, murals
By Robert Burke
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May 07, 2009
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An idea proposed by Peter Blake, one of the greatest Pop Artists. A custom-made state-of-the-art mobile art gallery. Top deck is an art gallery while below serves as an entertainment area. A rock n’ roll tour vehicle for artists and designers from the Royal Academy in London as well as some of the top names in the art scene today. What better way to decorate a rock n’ roll tour bus than with Pop Art–the two go hand in hand.
Categories: Design
By Robert Burke
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May 01, 2009
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Really terrific exhibit now going on in London. Some of the top names in design and art are coming together for a great cause. Something to see while you’re in London for Wimbledon this year :)

Drawing Room exhibit outtake - Mark Titchner
Categories: Design
By Robert Burke
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Mar 18, 2009
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1 Comment »

Amazing how some methods of visual communication during world crises never seem to lose their shelf life. This article from the Guardian comments on the resurrection of a British WW II propaganda poster which was never really displayed to the general public. It was designed for use and distribution in the dire event that England was invaded.
The simplicity of the design and the caption seem perfectly suited to today’s world crises and the poster has become a national sensation in England.
Categories: Design
Tags: Design, poster
By Robert Burke
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Jan 09, 2009
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1 Comment »

I found this packaging from Newton Running on creativity-online.com. Really embraces the whole green concept, and the box can be reused for other storage purposes (action figures anyone?).
Categories: Design
Tags: Design, green, packaging, recycled