Boarding

Pretty boards at the snowboard show.

Levi's Window Display

From afar a really basic and simple window display but little touches like creating a 'wall' out of tape measures set it apart. Tieing it in they also do free alterations on Levi's jeans - happy days for all the fellow short people out there.

QR Codes

Quick response (QR) codes have taken information at your fingertips to a whole new level. Smartphones have revolutionised the way we live and function - we can get hold of anything at the touch of a button. Sometimes I wonder what I would do without my blackberry, all be it a broken one and therefore have not had the chance to fully explore these QR Codes. As a concept I think they are fascinating, they seem to be on everything. I saw one on an events calendar, they crop up on walls, labels and the most recent - the job section in Marketing Magazine. A great place to see it used especially as most jobs are applied for online and it stands out from all the other wordy job ads and generates intrigue about the position and leads to potential further traffic on the site.

However now it's not just about what the code leads to but what you can do with the visual of the code to add further impact. As long as you keep certain elements unchanged the code should work, hence the range of designs below. It's pretty fascinating what you can do, I particularly like the Wired and Time QR codes, think they look amazing and very in keeping with their branding.

Tagged.

Everything nowadays has a tag or a label, so basically you can't escape from anything, where your going, who you were with, however sometimes it can work in your favour. Obviously great from a night out when your friend has the camera or you've been to an event, say like the white party... In the O2 arena there was a Smirnoff team milling around, their aim - get anyone with a facebook profile to log in on their tablets and you get a band. This band was scanned and links to you.

So the people who were initially getting you to log into Facebook are at the event for the whole evening, their second aim - taking photos of you at the event. Once photographed they scan the band, Smirnoff uploads the photo's and you are automatically tagged. I thought this was a great marketing ploy, Smirnoff get photographs and peoples profiles are updated without them having to lift a finger. The only downfall was the image quality which is more of a technical spec however disappointing to see a bit of a blurred image the next day. Facebook has become this immense hub of not only social activity but is now a huge online presence for brands. Companies not only have their own pages that you can 'Like' but they use it for competitions and regular updates. Facebook literally has the world eating out of its hands, if you don't have a friends number you can always get them on Facebook in as quick time. The other small detail which was a great novelty was the Smirnoff lights... Guys walked out with huge glowing tubs of these little rings - glowsticks are so last year. Rubber ring loops (one size fits all), on and off switches and a crowd full of people all dressed to the white theme with white lights adorned on their hands. It looked amazing.

Nice firm buttocks!

No, we are not talking about Spike from Notting Hill. Last weekend I ventured to London for a huge white party hosted by Smirnoff at the O2, by huge I mean 10-12,000 people from all over Europe with a strict dress code of white only.

Anyway getting side tracked already, we stayed in a quaint little Radisson hotel on Canary Wharf... a stones throw from the party location. In our room I was fascinated by a piece of metal work, framed using a recess in the wall. The photo really shows the definition clearer than you could see when looking at the piece in person.

It wasn't until we put the room lights on later on that it became clearer.

I thought this was a great piece and could work really well in a high end fashion retail space, very different and great how the definition was then reflected on the wall through the shadow. Impressive use of art, positioning and lighting. Food for thought.

Jelly!

We all know jelly is fun, it is a classic kids party pudding and even the adults have a soft spot for it. It is a fascinating thing, neither liquid or solid but fun too wibble and wobble seeing how far you can push it before it topples over.

However we are not talking your average jelly here, Bompas Parr have definitely taken it to new levels...

As you can see it is pretty epic, not only do they have more than your average jelly mould but the different colours and shades not to mention ones in the form of the 'Gherkin' and below - Buckingham palace.

Its not all about the jelly, they also do Kitchenalia - you've guessed it things for your kitchen but a large part of what they are about is the events and shows they hold. Whether it is a party or corporate event they can tailor it to your needs and put on a party to remember. For instance just look at this - neon jelly!

An amazing company and looking at their many projects from Dining with Alice to the Dirt Banquet you wonder whatever will be next.

Have a good look around, truly fascinating and magical - www.

'The' torch

Were not talking you average mag-lite here, this is the one and only 2012 Olympic torch. I have to say it is probably the first thing I have generally been impressed with in regards to the games. Don't get me wrong, I applied and was successful in gaining four tickets, what for you ask, good question, I think we would all like to know but that is a story for another time. Being a bit of a sports fanatic I am quite excited that our country is holding the games but it probably couldn't of come at a worse time what with the recession, yes it is creating jobs now but what happens once the games have been and gone...

Anyway, natter natter natter. So, this beautiful torch, whether it looks as good in person in comparison to this photograph we will never know but on that black background it looks truly amazing standing all alone, tall and proud. The torches perforated body has 8,000 holes which represent the 8,000 bearers that will carry the torch on it's journey. The bearers will be a mixture of athletes and people who have given outstanding sporting contributions to their community. I am excited to see if Barber Osgerby have anymore involvement in the Olympics. Take at look at their website for some design inspiration.


http://www.barberosgerby.com/