I’m going to stick with my coffee theme for a little longer today as I introduce to you the Coffee Machine by Jasper Morrison. This beautifully modernistic machine is entirely self-contained: filters, spoon, measuring table, etc and was noted as one of Fortune Magazine’s 25 Best Products. Love it.
I’m loving this site right now. The Visual Dictionary is a collaborative project to collect as many photographs of words as possible. They aim to do this by asking users to send in their images of words, whether they be “signage, advertising, graffiti, packaging, menus, written in the sky, tatoos, or made of grass” – if it’s a single word they’ll definitely accept it and add it to the dictionary.
How does it work? Simple, type in any word in the Search bar on the homepage. The Visual Dictionary searches and supplies thumbnails of all images related to your entry.
Posted In collaboration/project, online
Last Friday I purchased some Wrigley’s 5 gum, I’ll admit, mainly for the packaging. Most of the package is matte black with only the 5 and flavor-associated color being glossy. Besides that, I was intrigued as to what type of pieces of gum would go into such a unique-shaped box. Turns out they’re regular old sticks, but arranged in three rows of five pieces each.
Afterwards I did a little brand research to satisfy my curiosity. There are two ideas about the source of the name. The first is that it has been 5 years since Wrigley’s debuted Orbit. The second, and generally more accepted, is that it stimulates the five senses while chewing. The name could also possibly be a reference to the gum having 5 calories.
Posted In packagingI’m an unintentional collector of barware. Most of what I own is retro in design, some of it actual vintage pieces. I run the gamet though and even own some crystal. I’m always on the lookout for cool pieces and accessories, which might explain why I own something like five cocktail pitchers alone.
The Aluminum Cube Jigger by designer Josh Owen is so innovative – it has different pour measure on every side. According to Josh “the design of the Aluminum Cube Jigger evolved from an experiment to compress the six most common liquid measures used to mix alcoholic drinks, into the smallest possible dispenser. the form was inspired by traditional box-shaped, Japanese sake cups, from which sake is sipped from the corners.”
You can get your very own at at Unica Home for $20.
Posted In entertaining, grand design
These photographs by the very talented Alicia Bock of every day life are incredibly surreal and haunting to me. She’s entirely self-taught, so that makes them that much more amazing. Check out her portfolio as well as her etsy shop.
V Chocolates has some incredible packaging going on. I love the baby blue box, which I’m convinced we equate with Tiffany’s in our mind which then equals quality. Or maybe that’s just me! Regardless, not only are V Chocolates (and toffee and berries) amazing to look at, but I’m betting they taste delicious as well. Master chocolatier, Ron Best, has been in the business of creating chocolates for more than twenty years.
Every big fan of The Royal Tennebaum’s won’t be able to resist this two-print set of Margot and Richie Tennebaum. They’re fabulous looking and would be a phenomenal conversation piece. Each piece is 8 x 11″ with a white border and signed by the artist. The $17.50 cost includes shipping from Canada.
I adore my hot pink Nalgene bottle. What was once a camping product to carry food mixes now has a cult-like following among college students and 20-somethings. Now Nalgene has taken another step forward by creating Kit Bottles – 32 oz bottles that are stocked full of things for First-Aid, Heat Stress, Auto, Dog, Emergency/Survival and Kids. Genius.
I’m completely infatuated with Bom Design’s billbirdhouse at the moment. Because 1.) I love when products are a reincarnation of some other product (um, obviously billboards in this case) and 2.) I love when things are one-of-a-kind, which these defnitely are. No two could ever match. You can pick one up at Bom Design for 40 euros.
The Bubble Roome’s bath and body products are the brainchild of David E. Johnston. Pre-9/11 David spent his days (and many nights I’m guessing) designing websites and multi-media projects. After the job market took its fabled downswing, he decided to take things into his own hands and utilize the design and marketing skills he’d garnered over the years to enbark on a new adventure. To his kitchen to be exact, where The Bubble Roome was born.
Um, David, I think you’re going to need a bigger kitchen sometime soon. The TBR packaging is incredibly well-designed and right on target for us product junkies. When you have a chance, check out the site, too. I’m wondering if David designed it himself.
