I am definitely one of those people who peruse the grocery store aisles in search of interesting packaging which catches my eye. I can’t help myself from buying something just because it looks interesting. And believe me when I tell you, I’ve tried a few crazy tasting, fizzy beverages that I wouldn’t try again…that I bought based on label alone.
When I saw this beautiful little travel package of teas from Leaf, I couldn’t help myself. The graphic design of the packaging makes them too pretty to pass up.
http://www.leafshop.co.uk/store/
The designers of XSMG identified an interesting trend; those able to afford luxury items spend a vast amount of money on beautiful cars. But, there was no marine equivilent to offer that high end market. So, the designers shifted their passion for fast cars to the water. The result is the new XSR48, a speedboat which takes styling cues from supercars and performance tips from superboat champions.
How hot is this boat? The makers optimistically suggest the boat is the closest thing to an ocean-going Bugatti Veyron. That’s hot! The boat’s futuristic cabin, sleek racing lines, and two twin-turbo diesel engines rev to at least 1600 hp, giving the craft power to propel through the water at nearly 95 knots (109.4 MPH.) Now that’s impressive! And, there are just 100 of the dart-like, 48 foot, built-to-order watercraft. Now that’s exclusive!
Working out of a studio in Cornwall, England, three college friends, Tom Raffield, Chris Jarratt, and Charlie Whinney created a small company known as sixixis. Their field of study and expertise is 3D design and sustainability. Nothing encompasses these concepts better than their design of the Chaise Lounge. They create seemingly impossible bends and twists from locally available, unseasoned hardwoods. They experiemented with customized steam bending equipment and developed new structural forms like their own, sixixis grid shell system.
The Fashion Institute of Technology, FIT , museum is currently exhibiting Luxury, now through November 10th. It covers 250 years of fashion history and features more than 150 lavish garments, fabrics, and accessories. Pieces from couture greats such as Chanel, Dior, Hermes, and Lanvin are represented. The exhibit walks through history and the birth of haute couture during 19th century high capitalism. Fashion houses such as Hermes and Louis Vuitton became known as “artists of luxury” for the elite few.
Through modern marketing, luxury has become big business and available to the masses. So, expand your cocktail party conversation and repertoire! Learn a bit of the history on that little Louis Vuitton bag under your arm!
http://www3.fitnyc.edu/museum/luxury/intro2.htm
In honor of my upcoming trip to Munich, I found these exciting artists turned industrial designers, Konstantin Landuris and Horst Wittmann. They started their company, hansandfranz, just last year. 
Their first public appearance was at the 2007 Salone Satellite, Milano Furniture Fair and they made a splash with their arc lamp they call “trojia.” They received special mention for this stylish LED floor lamp.
http://www.hansandfranz.de/main.html
The theoretical work of Philadelphia University student Skylar Tibbits has created some fascinating studies of recursive growth patterns and in the process has created some incredibly complex and beautiful surface structures. He has used his surface manipulation to connect to the fashion world. Below are some of his renderings for a fashion runway he describes as “illusionary transformation, scripted lines of sight & resultant surface generation.”
Check out his exhibit curated by Simon Koumjian at Philadelphia’s edgy First Friday: scriptedbypurpose. The private opening reception is September 7, 2007 5-7pm followed by a public opening.
