Tag Archives: Design Inspiration


Permalink to why you just got overlooked

why you just got overlooked

Late last year, a giant in the branding & design industry passed on. Don Watt has been credited with designing the Canadian flag, creating the highly recognizable Home Depot logo, and shaking up the food industry by developing a ‘branded’ look to private label with the President’s Choice brand (among many, many, many other accomplishments).

He was also well known for creating the hallmark of package design innovation, photo-symbolism. His idea was to “make the outer package express the promise of goods inside”.

Nowadays, in the food industry, this is commonplace. Can you imagine buying cookies without a picture of decadent chocolate chips on the package? Can you imagine buying coffee without a steaming cup on the package? Thanks to Don, we don’t have to imagine what it might taste like, the package tells us.

Why don’t businesses get this same concept? Why do some of the best businesses forget about making their outer communications express the promise of goods inside their company? Bad web design, wordy and convoluted copy, generic blog templates, shoddy sales material, and inability to succinctly communicate what they do to others.

If you forget about your outer package you might just get passed up for another that looks more appealing.

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Permalink to david stark . diffa dining by design

david stark . diffa dining by design

david stark diffa design david stark . diffa dining by design

I just came across David Stark’s installation at Diffa’s Dining By Design in New York on his Facebook Fan Page. He and his team were inspired by the iPhone. What I love about his design is there’s always a message behind it. iPhones have gone beyond pop culture and have become an integral part of our lives. And, as usual, David thought of every detail (take note of the candelabras with iPhone flames).

I think this concept would translate beautifully to a fundraising or corporate event. It would have been nice to see an interactive element to the installation. Allowing viewers to push messages from their iPhones (or for those of you who don’t yet have one – gasp – smart phones) to the television display…or even switch out wallpaper for an interactive projection. B[eye]t also has incredible table projection product that could work really well for this concept.

For those of you who are looking for creative inspiration, I highly recommend turning to Diffa’s events. They incorporate so many fantastic designers and have done a great job of pushing the envelope. I will say that I have been disappointed over the past year and a half as the event seems to have been overtaken by corporate sponsors who design their own spaces. The results has been a bit lack-lustre. I do, however, always look forward to what David and his team have to ‘say’.

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Permalink to how to make sand sexy . for events

how to make sand sexy . for events

While in the Philippines we were invited to visit the über luxurious Shangri la Boracay. It was a jaw dropping property boasting one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. But I digress. The reason I mention this resort is not because of the stunning rooms or views (I’ll talk about this another day), but instead it’s for their amazing attention to detail. Specifically…what they did with sand.

I stumbled upon two great ideas that would be so easy to steal for an event. The first was a sand-topped table display with a pretty border hand traced into the sand. I thought this would be so beautiful as an inexpensive tabletop idea (but if you’re thinking of also eating off of these tables, you’ll want to add a glass top…to avoid gritty chicken ;).

IMG 1857 570x855 how to make sand sexy . for events

The second idea sat inconspicuously outside of the hotel elevators. Imprinted in the sand of an ashtray was the resort’s logo. Simple, simple, simple – yet really smart.

IMG 1863 570x855 how to make sand sexy . for events

The last idea I came across wasn’t from Shangri la. It was something I found on the Ellerslie Four Play blog and shows a standard illuminated table decorated with a sand design. It’s a really creative (and inexpensive) way of converting a basic rental item into something quite extraordinary.

 how to make sand sexy . for events

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Permalink to sunday spark: David Stark Design

sunday spark: David Stark Design

robinhood sunday spark: David Stark Design

On Sundays I post an inspirational video or quote to get you started on the right foot for the week ahead. But sometimes I get stuck. And, to get ‘unstuck’, my jolt of inspiration is usually David Stark’s website & blog. Not to get off track here, but my husband can watch a movie or read a book over and over again. He says that every time he does he learns something he didn’t notice the time before. I feel the same way about David Stark’s designs. There’s so much depth to his event storylines that even when looking at old favorites I discover a new gem of an idea.

David has recently launched his new website and there are some great new portfolios to look through. He also recently launched a new book: David Stark Design. If you’re looking for ways to get ‘unstuck’ this week, take a gander and buy the book.

Oh, and check out this Liberty of London for Target pop up installation. It drips inspiration…

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Permalink to tabletop design . alice in wonderland

tabletop design . alice in wonderland

3alice wonderland london selfridges oxford street paperoddbird2 570x426 tabletop design . alice in wonderland

Guaranteed to be one of the most requested themes for 2010, and some might predict one of the most hated in 2011, Alice in Wonderland is pure whimsy and fantasy. These two words can make any event planner salivate – after all they suggest total creativity. This is exactly what Disney had when they presented a tea party themed design at Selfridge’s & Co in London to celebrate the launch of Tim Burton’s eagerly awaited film. Aptly named the Alice in the Wonder Room, it is an “inspiring curation of curious delights”.

If you’re planning an Alice In Wonderland-themed event, get inspired by this pop-up shop…

1alice wonderland london selfridges oxford street paperoddbird 570x426 tabletop design . alice in wonderland

4alice wonderland london selfridges oxford street paperoddbird 570x426 tabletop design . alice in wonderland

5alice wonderland london selfridges oxford street paperoddbird 570x426 tabletop design . alice in wonderland

13alice wonderland london selfridges oxford street paperoddbird 570x426 tabletop design . alice in wonderland

17alice wonderland london selfridges oxford street paperoddbird 570x426 tabletop design . alice in wonderland

All images via Paperoddbird’s Blog

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Permalink to a new product . you never knew you couldn’t live without

a new product . you never knew you couldn’t live without

sugru a new product . you never knew you couldnt live without

Sugru is one of those scratch your head inventions that, heck, you can actually use. Despite its odd name, it’s quite simply a silicone clay that lets you ‘hack’ anything. Lost your glasses’ nose pad? Create one with Sugru. Handle fell off your chest of drawers? Create a new handle with Sugru. In other words, don’t throw it out. Hack it.

Sugru comes in a vast range of colours, is waterproof, flexible and dishwasher-safe once it’s cured. Oh, and it’s also temperature resistant between -60 and 180 degrees C!

So, my creative readers, what could you possibly use this product for?

sugru2 150x150 a new product . you never knew you couldnt live without sugru3 150x150 a new product . you never knew you couldnt live without sugru4 150x150 a new product . you never knew you couldnt live without

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