Chinese packaging design – A wisp of tea

I love the simplicity and execution of this Chinese packaging design created for A wisp of Tea, Shantou. The main characteristics of the brown tea packaging are the small burn holes which cover various functions at the same time: they indicate the special process used to dry the tea, enable for ventilation and enhances the brown eco-friendly packaging paper with decorative pictograms. The white packaging design features illustrations that characterize the country and displays the tea ceremony which is held in high regard in China. The spirit of the tea ceremony is venerated as peaceful, pure and gently silent. The long narrow label serves as a closing seal and features the logo and other useful information.  Designed by Shaobin Lin who has won a red dot and Pentawards with this packaging design.

Modern Representation of the Deceased

This project, titled The Last Minute, was inspired by rituals and traditions honoring death from various cultures. The objects are symbolic as well as functional, representing modern interpretations where ritual and tradition meet. The series deals with the concept of memory and transience in the form of urns and other objects used in this sacred rite of passage.
Sea Urn was inspired by the concept of the “death ship,” a concept known in many cultures. Rather than burying the dead under ground, they were sent across the water. The ceremony of sea burials is an idea that is controversial in our modern culture. Rather than being placed in the water and sinking immediately, the “sea urn“ attempts to capture and prolongue the poetic quality of that moment. The form imitates that of a ship, so that it carries the ashes on the surface of the water, gradually fading into the horizon. Constructed of tonolith, the ship dissolvesa few days after it has been set out to sea.
The Figure Urn is characterized by numerous ceramic figurines placed on its lid. One of the figurines can be removed and kept as a memento of the deceased, whereas the jar itself finds its place at the cemetery or on the mantelpiece at home. The inspiration for this concept came from the Egyptian “ushabti statuettes” that represented the embodiment of the dead person and were either placed in a holy area or on a grave to symbolize the presence of the deceased.
The Tear Jug is a porcelain container in which the emotional value outweighs the functional one. By collecting the mourner’s tears, and placing a flower inside, new life is awoken. The inspiration came from tear jugs in ancient Rome, into which professional grievers would cry.
Similar to the tearjug, the Coins part of the series acts purely as a way to remember a loved one. In Greek mythology the dead had coins placed on their eyes to pay Charon to take their souls over the river Styx leading to the entrance of Hades.
Designer: Patrycja Domanska




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Rewarding DIY Lamp

MyLamp combines Scandinavian design simplicity with Japanese folding functionality into a beautifully basic yet eye-catching desk lamp that’s a piece of cake to assemble. Made from recycled cardboard and capable of being cut in near waste-less batches, MyLamp is a great solution for efficient production and transportation that also includes the user as part of the process. It doesn’t look half bad either!
Designer: Terkel Skou Steffensen




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Adam Hogsett – Bottle Opener

I like the simplicity of this industrial-style bottle opener by Adam Hogsett. Each opener is manually machined from cold formed steel and hand stamped with the production number.

Long Distance Glass

One of the reasons why I adore Li Jianye’s works is his simplistic approach to design. Be it the original Flexibin or the iShelf; both exude charm, wit and thoughtful detailing. This time around he has a functional toy for us, The Telescup, a set of drinking glasses that coordinate to become an impromptu telescope. Now isn’t this what we call clever!

Designer: Li Jianye

One Fun Lamp

No, your eyes aren’t seeing things! Just look a little closer and you’ll notice that the lamps of the Minimo series aren’t actually defying gravity; instead, each shade is supported by an acrylic base that faintly mimics the silhouette of familiar classic forms. Clear bases and interchangeable shades mean endless customization to fit both classic and contemporary settings.
Designer: Arborem Design

Elegant Trash Bin?

It seems like those words just don’t belong together. When can anything that holds trash be elegant? Well, when Li Jianye designs one it can. Let me introduce you to my new friend Flexibin. This little Flexibin was designed for someone like me, who has a pile of plastic grocery store bags piled up in a box in the Laundry room. Now, those pesky little plastic bags can be put to good use with Flexibin. With its flexible wire frame, the bin can hold any size plastic bag, thus transforming itself into and elegant and very functional waste bin. Ok Li Jianye, let me know when they are available – I need one for each room in my house.
Designer: Li Jianye

Uglydoll Tin Cars

An amazing set of tin cars with Uglydolls drivers/pilots. They look more like flying cars than driving cars, which makes them 100x cooler

Kontextür – Tissue Box Cover

Kontextür made a cool cover for your tissue box – I dig! Clean and cute – I would love one of these.

The Kontextür Tissue Box Cover is an understated yet potent antidote to the potpourri of ubiquitous kitsch and oft-smudged metallic ones dominating the category. This thoughtful new design redirects the tissue box from its typical role, hidden away from view, and celebrates its function by turning it into an objet d’art. The iconic factory silhouette with its smokestack-like extension at the top serving as the opening for the tissues creates a strong visual interplay between the shapes, colors and materials.

Tableaux d’intimité by Anne-Laure Maison

In NYC, looking into your neighbors house or office windows is just a part of life. Anne-Laure Maison’s collages of these windows into a series of imaginary collages.

via Notcot

The Working Proof: Penelope Dullaghan – Reading Under Tree

New print release! Reading Under Tree by Penelope Dullaghan is perfect for these crisp fall days – changing leaf colors, scarves and gloves, favorite books, hanging out outside while it’s still warm enough to. There’s nothing better than sitting under a tree in the park and letting the sun warm your back while watching the world move around you, or while reading a book. Penelope’s print encapsulates that feeling perfectly.
15% of the sale of this print goes to the Farm Sanctuary. Penelope became a vegetarian five years ago because she wanted to do her own small part to help put an end to factory farms and cruelty to animals. She chose Farm Sanctuary for the awareness they are bringing to this issue.

sou fujimoto: house NA

'house NA' by sou fujimoto architects, tokyo, japan
image courtesy of sou fujimoto architects


tokyo-based practice sou fujimoto architects has completed 'house NA', a single family dwelling within a
residential district in tokyo, japan. similar in form to a stacked pile of boxes the internal areas generated by
the exterior appearance are set at different elevations. the small rooms within each platform are connected
by ladder stairs allowing a free movement through the home's loosely defined program.

the rectangular windows of varied proportions and sizes frame views of adjacent structures while the elimination
of solid interior walls encourage unobstructed sight lines to higher and lower spaces. at night, curtains become
temporary partitions for privacy and separation.



video still courtesy of sou fujimoto architects



video still courtesy of sou fujimoto architects



video stills courtesy of sou fujimoto architects



video still courtesy of sou fujimoto architects

a 1-5 model of the project is currently on display at MOT - museum of contemporary art tokyo in tokyo, japan,
as part of the exhibition 'architectural environments for tomorrow - new spatial practices in architecture and art'.
curated by yuko hasegawa (MOT tokyo chief curator) together with SANAA architects (kazuyo sejima + ryue nishizawa),
the exhibition features works of 23 architects and artists from 12 countries (tentative) that introduce their experiments
and achievements through models, drawings, images, sculpture, photographs and mixed-media installations.



model at the museum of contemporary art tokyo, japan
image © designboom

breathable caffeine: aeroshot from le whif

'aeroshot' aerosol caffeine inhaler


invented by harvard university professor david edwards of artscience labs and in production
via the lab store (creators of le whif breathable chocolates and vitamins), 'aeroshot pure energy'
is an aerosol-based, calorie-free caffeine inhaler.

each 'aeroshot' contains 100 mg of caffeine, the same amount that is in a large cup of coffee. to use the device,
one pulls on the lower, yellow-green section to extend it and inhales through the slit on the other end.
pushing the sections back together closes the device, so that users can determine how much caffeine
to intake at any given time (each 'aeroshot' offers six to eight 'puffs' in all, for the total of 100mg).
liquid-free, the device bypasses TSA regulations for flight travel.

'aeroshot' is available beginning in boston and new york, USA, in early 2012, for the expected price
of approximately 2.50 USD each.



device in use



detail view

arnaud lapierre + AUDI: ring installation

'ring' by arnaud lapierre in collaboration with AUDI
photo by ALDS and eric mercier
image © arnaud lapierre

french designer arnaud lapierre has created 'ring', a series of mirrored cubes placed in
a circular pattern in collaboration with AUDI. the vast amount of reflections and angles warps
the perspective of the surrounding area. the optical effect creates a surreal environment in which both the structures
and people are distorted and recreated, fracturing the usual relationship that individuals have with the piazza as well as
themselves. overall, the installation measured 5500 x 4000 mm (216 x 157 inches).    

 

the 'ring' installation was on show at place vendôme, paris, at the 2011 foire internationale d'art contemporain (FIAC).

view of installation at place vendôme
photo by ALDS and eric mercier
image © arnaud lapierre



view from inside
photo by ALDS and eric mercier
image © arnaud lapierre



fractured reflections
photo by ALDS and eric mercier
image © arnaud lapierre



buildings deconstructed in mirrors
photo by ALDS and eric mercier
image © arnaud lapierre



view of mirrored cube
photo by ALDS and eric mercier
image © arnaud lapierre