Be A Hero. Be Boring.

Love these posters by the designer Noma Bar an Israeli graphic designer, illustrator and artist, based in London. Bar's work has been described as "deceptively simple" yes it is and so beautiful with it. I love in particular as creative people how he plays with us and is such a joyous treat to our visual receptors especially his use of negative space. Great posters with a great message. Job done.

So few words but says so much

I saw this and it literally stopped me in my tracks, like all good design and creative ideas are suppose to do. (Let’s not discuss BT’s new logo redesign shall we). I do however I love this quote as it’s beautiful clear and to the point. So many people in our industry who over cook briefs and presentations, I wonder why this is? Does it make them feel by rambling it makes them smarter? Here my friends and colleagues is what you must always do; be clear, keep it simple and outline the business objective/opportunity. Simples as a meerkat once said.

Ecom Mobile Utility Ideas

Here's a free scamp of ideas that really could apply to any online shopping portal, this was done for Sendo Vietnam which has some local ideas that only work in VN like TET but most of the ideas could work in most parts of the world. Shopping online is more that just a well executed UI, pick and click is vital as always but more and more shopping sites are interlinked with their social marketing or CRS programs, take for instance the idea here for Sendo, where during TET families come together, some people are alone, so during this very important gathering wants stopping Sendo as a shopping portal to bring people who have no one together. Just a thought but more and more brands will be judged not just on words but their actions. That is why each silo in companies and agencies are brought together as the thinking and experience has to be seamless and truly connected.

Art from fabric - Just stunning.Truly.

Just look at this - no words needed apart from inspired fabric sculptor artist Benjamin Shine

Creativity, innovation, and functionality as one

I love design even from an early age I was the kid that had the most colourful clothes, I’m a huge fan of Paul Smith for his creativity. I admired great typographers in the likes of Herb Lubalin, in his simple but fluid design to architecture in Frank Lloyd Wright, who broke the rules with lines and structure that look as modern as they did over 70 year's ago. So when I saw this by a designer called Scott Summit, I gasped, from here I saw something that told a story of each person that had obviously had a very traumatic experience in losing a limb but looking at these designs I couldn’t help admire the design and creation.

Scott used 3D printing technology to create one of a kind artificial limbs for each of the patients. Even more, he allows each patient to bring their own ideas on how they can customize the shape or the design of the prosthetics. Artificial limbs are first and foremost made to function properly, with durability and realism the second and third most important features, but few amputees receive an artificial limb that looks like a work of art. Here I think you’ll all agree the designer has done an amazing job on all counts.

Music Re-imagined

Once in a while, a game-changer comes along, this piece is one of those - well it's not a piece but more a block. How it works; BLOCKS is a modular music studio that lets anyone shape music. Build your instrument as you go and customize a kit, brilliant game changing to creating original music. A mighty hat tip to the team at ROLI pushing innovation, interaction and creativity

Some problem solvers create even more problems

Sometimes as problem solvers we get wrapped up in our own little world. It could be; over indulgence with a design, we make it way too complicated for the customer to know where to look. Sometimes we're tired, maybe out the night before drinking, and thinking that maybe that last shot should have been the last shot, so you cut corners. Whatever the reason as problem solvers we aren't important, neither is our own little world, what is important is our customers and the challenge they face. Take this example they must have had all massive hangovers surely this can be the only reason. They didn't think about their customer whatsoever, do you really think that your customer is just going to sit their while their mouse charges? The end solution should always be seen through the eyes of the end customer. Problem solved, maybe they could have designed a re-chargeable mouse mat so they could carry on working.

When a problem becomes the solution

This is just amazing - now here are two inspiring young ladies, they are engineering graduates from the Islamic University of Gaza and they have defied all stereotypes with their design of an affordable new building block made from the rubble of war, and they're about to scale operations for mass production. Subverting a crippling Israeli blockade that makes importing construction materials a demeaning, expensive, and time-consuming process, Majd Mashharawi and Rawan Abddllaht overcame a litany of obstacles to develop their green bricks. Their goal is to help Gaza residents rebuild their homes after three wars in 10 years have left thousands of buildings in ruins. Brilliant beating men at their own game.

Amazing Creativity

Chie Hitotsuyama "Paper Trails" - Short Documentary from Ayako Hoshino on Vimeo.

This is incredible and a great back story, here a Japanese paper artist replicates amazing wild animals using intricately bound newspaper. Over the past four years, Hitotsuyama and her team have worked to create lifelike paper creatures with staggering accuracy. After wetting the newspaper, they twist, fold, squish, and roll it, and then bind it into the desired form. The artist builds paper sculptures representing everything from manatees to monkeys, including some endangered animals such as rhinoceros and sea turtles. Hitotsuyama even takes advantage of color-printed newspapers in some sculptures, using the gradations to mimic the animal’s actual coloring. Every inch of every intricately bound animal sculpture is made entirely by hand.

A real caffeine hit

Love this, turning brands into functionality products - like Nescafe who've turned their cap into an alarm clock - I'm also loving the tactile design of the cap too. Nice connected thinking.