Given that Apple is such a influential, life-pervading brand (often ascribed as a ‘cult’), it is hard to think back to a time when something like the iPod just didn’t exist. The notion of a portable mp3 player in its current form wasn’t even comprehendible. It just fascinated me to watch Steve Jobs introduce the first iPod in 2001, and explain once revolutionary things, that we now take for granted.

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The Executive Coloring Book (by Marcie Hans, Dennis Altman & Martin Cohen) makes a mockery of the stereotypical executive’s sense of self-importance and conformity in the form of a children’s colouring book. But most importantly, it’s hilarious.

The Executive Coloring Book (by Marcie Hans, Dennis Altman & Martin Cohen) makes a mockery of the stereotypical executive’s sense of self-importance and conformity in the form of a children’s colouring book. But most importantly, it’s hilarious.

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Happy moment amongst the suffering of exams…thankyou, Mr Bean.

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These ads for The Guardian by Wieden + Kennedy are fantastic. They highlight the core values that found the newspaper’s identity: independence, plurality of views and separation of news and comment.

These ads for The Guardian by Wieden + Kennedy are fantastic. They highlight the core values that found the newspaper’s identity: independence, plurality of views and separation of news and comment.

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For me, Karl Lagerfeld is the epitome of cool. He’s iconic. He dares to say the snarkiest, politically-incorrect things which keeps me mercilessly entertained. His philosophies are left of centre, but always interesting to ponder. And I’m also really jealous of his library. Do you think there’s anyone who really you knows you? Or does nobody know you like you know yourself? It’s difficult for me to answer. I’ve moulded people’s ideas about me so much that I think it’s almost impossible. I want it to be impossible, even for people I love dearly. I don’t want to be real in other peoples’ lives. I want to be an apparition. I appear, then disappear. I don’t want to have reality in anyone’s life, because I don’t want it in mine. That’s the secret of it all. Don’t start with the cliches about loneliness and all that. For people like me, solitude is a victory. It’s a battle. People who do a job that claims to be creative, like mine, have to be alone to recharge their batteries. You cant live 24 hours a day in the spotlight and remain creative. So many of the things i do, such as reading, can’t be done in the company of others.” (in Lagerfeld Confidential)

For me, Karl Lagerfeld is the epitome of cool. He’s iconic. He dares to say the snarkiest, politically-incorrect things which keeps me mercilessly entertained. His philosophies are left of centre, but always interesting to ponder. And I’m also really jealous of his library.

Do you think there’s anyone who really you knows you? Or does nobody know you like you know yourself?
It’s difficult for me to answer. I’ve moulded people’s ideas about me so much that I think it’s almost impossible. I want it to be impossible, even for people I love dearly. I don’t want to be real in other peoples’ lives. I want to be an apparition. I appear, then disappear. I don’t want to have reality in anyone’s life, because I don’t want it in mine. That’s the secret of it all. Don’t start with the cliches about loneliness and all that. For people like me, solitude is a victory. It’s a battle. People who do a job that claims to be creative, like mine, have to be alone to recharge their batteries. You cant live 24 hours a day in the spotlight and remain creative. So many of the things i do, such as reading, can’t be done in the company of others.”
(in Lagerfeld Confidential)

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Trussardi celebrated its centennial this year, so the pressure was on for new creative director Umit Benan. Similarly, Balmain was under the new leadership of Olivier Rousteing who has taken the reins at only 25 years old.

Trussardi celebrated its centennial this year, so the pressure was on for new creative director Umit Benan. Similarly, Balmain was under the new leadership of Olivier Rousteing who has taken the reins at only 25 years old.

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It’s funny to think about how controversial Melbourne’s re-branding was back in 2009. The general consensus was that it was too futuristic and that the Government spent way too much on its development ($240 000). But anything is better than the daggy 80s-esque logo that previously (mis)represented the city. Personally I like the way the 3-dimensional effect of the ‘M’ seems to draw inspiration from Fed Square, which signalled a new era for Melbourne. The multi-faceted edges also symbolises the numerous facets of Melbourne’s cosmopolitan culture, whilst the various blue-green shades give it a jewel-like appearance, as the city is a jewel to those who know its intricacies. Over the years, it has proven itself to be a very flexible design, allowing different Melbourne events and services to consolide their brand identity using variations of the initial design. I’m a fan and 2 years later, I think the rest of the Melbourne population has come round too. I was reminded of it when I saw that the Old Treasury is holding an exhibition, ‘Missing The Mark’, about the entries which were submitted for a new Melbourne landmark. Of course, we already know that Federation Square was the outcome, but its interesting to see could have been. And sometimes, what was, thankfully, rejected….Melbourne’s Monumental Mammaries anyone?

It’s funny to think about how controversial Melbourne’s re-branding was back in 2009. The general consensus was that it was too futuristic and that the Government spent way too much on its development ($240 000). But anything is better than the daggy 80s-esque logo that previously (mis)represented the city. Personally I like the way the 3-dimensional effect of the ‘M’ seems to draw inspiration from Fed Square, which signalled a new era for Melbourne. The multi-faceted edges also symbolises the numerous facets of Melbourne’s cosmopolitan culture, whilst the various blue-green shades give it a jewel-like appearance, as the city is a jewel to those who know its intricacies. Over the years, it has proven itself to be a very flexible design, allowing different Melbourne events and services to consolide their brand identity using variations of the initial design. I’m a fan and 2 years later, I think the rest of the Melbourne population has come round too.

I was reminded of it when I saw that the Old Treasury is holding an exhibition, ‘Missing The Mark’, about the entries which were submitted for a new Melbourne landmark. Of course, we already know that Federation Square was the outcome, but its interesting to see could have been. And sometimes, what was, thankfully, rejected….Melbourne’s Monumental Mammaries anyone?

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Link Roundup

How Starbucks Transformed Coffee From A Commodity Into A $4 Splurge
Ever Wondered What English Sounds Like To A Foreigner?
Loyalty Lessons From Lady Gaga
Why Men Are Not Allowed To Write Advice Columns
3 Keys To Creating Great ‘Good Places’

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Telstra’s new advertisement by DDB is nothing new under the sun, but it still makes me so happy! All the eye-catching colourful animation combined with ‘that’ soundtrack can’t possibly have any other effect. Basically the premise is that Telstra is undergoing an internal overhaul and is attempting to shift pre-existing consumer attitudes towards the company (ie. terrible customer service!). Telstra has done well at visually rebranding, whilst maintaining its familiarity…but whether the change is more than superficial remains to be seen.

Telstra CEO David Thodey claims that, “The time is right for a new look and feel for Telstra. We’ve been busy changing behind the scenes to better connect with our customers, and our new brand identity reflects this fresh approach”.

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Apparently when the president of Urban Outfitters informed his staff that they would be moving headquarters from their high-rise buildings in Philadelphia city to some dilapidated buildings in the navy shipyard, the reaction wasn’t too positive. However the corporate ‘campus’ designed by Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle managed to stimulate creativity in the workplace whilst reflecting the aesthetics of its stores and corporate identity in its design. Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters are each housed within their own buildings, yet share a common recreation and services centre. Importantly it also united the previously physically separate branches of its three brands, resolving its prior uncertainty in direction and difficulty in communicating between them. “When profits depend on employees’ ability to create cutting-edge designs, a business simply can’t survive unless its workplace is an incubator for innovation” Richard Hayne Read more here: http://metropolismag.com/story/20070518/a-stitch-in-time and here: http://hq.construction.com/case_studies/0912_Urban_Outfitters.asp

Apparently when the president of Urban Outfitters informed his staff that they would be moving headquarters from their high-rise buildings in Philadelphia city to some dilapidated buildings in the navy shipyard, the reaction wasn’t too positive. However the corporate ‘campus’ designed by Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle managed to stimulate creativity in the workplace whilst reflecting the aesthetics of its stores and corporate identity in its design. Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters are each housed within their own buildings, yet share a common recreation and services centre. Importantly it also united the previously physically separate branches of its three brands, resolving its prior uncertainty in direction and difficulty in communicating between them.

“When profits depend on employees’ ability to create cutting-edge designs, a business simply can’t survive unless its workplace is an incubator for innovation” Richard Hayne

Read more here: http://metropolismag.com/story/20070518/a-stitch-in-time and here: http://hq.construction.com/case_studies/0912_Urban_Outfitters.asp

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