Colorful Credit -The PANTONE Platinum VISA Rewards Card In 5 PMS Colors.

And the Pantone Parade of Products marches on. The latest product to brandish the Pantone brand name and five of their trendy colors for 2011 is a credit card. Whether you're buying groceries, paying the dry cleaner or getting Sparky groomed for the dog show, now you can do it in style, with the new PANTONE Visa® Platinum Rewards Card.



Are you a Dynamic Firecracker? Or more of a Spiritual Lavender? The PANTONE Visa Platinum Rewards Card comes in five exciting hues, selected from the PANTONE Fashion Color Report for Spring 2011. One of these colorful cards is bound to express your Inner Shopper.

PANTONE 18-4039 Regatta
trustworthy, noble, generous

PANTONE 15-4825 Blue Curacao
sensuous, tender, inviting

PANTONE 14-0941 Beeswax
warm, sincere, generous

PANTONE 16-1452 Firecracker
cheerful, dynamic, tuned in

PANTONE 15-3817 Lavender
insightful, intuitive, spiritual


The PANTONE Visa Platinum Rewards Card comes with benefits like No Annual Fee, a Low Introductory APR, Travel Insurance and more. Plus using your PANTONE Visa Card can earn you points at participating retailers redeemable for great rewards including free and discounted travel to global destinations, name-brand merchandise, tickets to top sporting events and theatrical attractions – and the list goes on and on.


Apply for your PANTONE Visa Platinum Rewards Card here

The Pantone Visa® Platinum Rewards card is issued by UMB Bank, N.A. All applications for Pantone Visa credit card accounts will be subject to UMB Bank N.A.'s approval, at its absolute discretion. Certain exclusions may apply to benefits listed above. Please visit www.cardpartner.com/app/pantone for further details of terms and conditions which apply to the Pantone Visa card program.

info and images courtesy of Pantone and VISA

The Leaf Swing & Leaf Hammock For Adults By Alberto Sanchez

Inspired by the falling leaves of Autumn, Alberto Sanchez of mutdesign first designed a Leaf Swing, and now a Leaf Hammock, both intended for adults.




The poetic and romantic looking swing, initially conceived of in 2008, has since been refined to be thicker and include a self-supporting stand.



In addition, the swing has been joined in 2010 by the Hammon, a complimentary hammock for the collection. Both are made of a specially laminated material called Wave by IVF, in which the shapes of leaves are cut out, creating both an aesthetically pleasing design and beautiful shadows.



The Leaf Swing as conceived of in 2008:


and now thicker, with self-supporting stand:


The Hammon Leaf Hammock:



The Leaf Swing was introduced in 2008 at Salon Satellite 08 (Saloni Internazionale del Mobile de Milano), 100% Design London, HabitatValencia Forward (Salon Nude) and Salone Satellite in 2010.


FINISHES: WAVE by IFVILA, material
COLORS: You can choose any color and texture in a range from the WAVE Catalogue
DIMENSIONS: (700 X 300 X 350)mm

all images and info courtesy of Alberto Sanchez. Special thanks to Industrial Served and Behance.

mutdesign
eneastudio

Surfboards Inspired By WWII Fighter Planes From Kana

Kana Surfboards runs the gamut when it comes to the long, short and special boards they design and create. Their designs include high-end Carbon Fiber and Diamond (metallic auto paint) surfboards, stunning custom wood boards, even recyclable bamboo fiber resin boards.

But what caught my eye (admittedly, as a designer and not as a surfer) were their P-51 series, a collection of both long and short boards inspired by fighter planes from World War II. Take a look.

The P-40:

The P-51A and P-51B:


The P-51C and P-51D:


the B25 Bomber Boards in Blue and Black:


Their online store is still under construction, but you can see their custom wooden boards, carbon fiber boards, enviroboards and more here.

Something Green For You Today: Cleaning Cloths Made From Corn Cobs & Peach Pits

Since it's St. Patrick's Day, I thought I'd share something really cool and 'green' with you today.

When it comes to green cleaning products, it seems there are new ones hitting the market daily. But these fabulous Japanese scrubbing cloths by PLUS ONE, made of all-natural abrasives (peach pits and corn cobs) have been awarded the 2009 Wallpaper design award for best cleaning product and NY York Magazine names them a best bet.


above left photo by Hannah Whitaker for NY mag, above right photo from Wallpaper magazine

They last for months, have need no detergent, and fit in tight little hard to clean spots.



Green Depot sells them two to a pack; the yellow for metalware like pots and pans, kettles, sinks and grills (they even work to peel the skin off of veggies!) and the pink one for more delicate surfaces like glass, wood, and teflon coated or non stick pans.


buy them here.


all images and info of the Japanese scrubbing cloths are courtesy of the company and its President, PLUS One and Taka Aoki (shown above)

Monopoly Goes Modern. A Good Look At The New Monopoly: Revolution Edition

above: no more paper money, Monopoly Revolution has electronic banking

The classic Hasbro board game Monopoly is issuing a new modern version with a round game board, sound effects, music clips, modern graphics, translucent houses and buildings, clear plastic stand up game pieces and electronic banking.

Monopoly: Revolution Edition

The most obvious difference is the new round board:


The newly designed game pieces are decidedly different from the original pewter 3D charms:


Got To Jail still has the whistle blowing cop, only now he's a modern graphic icon:


And the houses are translucent red:




The press release:


In 2010, the 75 year tradition of buying, selling and negotiating properties in the quest to own it all gets a modern makeover with the introduction of MONOPOLY: Revolution Edition. The new edition reinvents the traditional MONOPOLY game with a new look, featuring a round game board, standout packaging, electronic banking, music and sound effects.

“As MONOPOLY has truly become the world’s favorite family game brand, and is a part of pop culture, we are pleased to celebrate our anniversary by offering new MONOPOLY entertainment experiences for families around the world.”

“The new MONOPOLY: Revolution Edition continues Hasbro’s tradition of providing new and revolutionary entertainment options for families,” said Jane Ritson-Parsons, Global Brand Leader for MONOPOLY. “As MONOPOLY has truly become the world’s favorite family game brand, and is a part of pop culture, we are pleased to celebrate our anniversary by offering new MONOPOLY entertainment experiences for families around the world.”

In 1935, Parker Brothers began selling MONOPOLY, a property trading game, which would quickly become a cultural phenomenon. Seventy-five years later, more than 1 billion people in 108 countries have played the game designed by Charles Darrow and based on the streets of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

MONOPOLY: Revolution Edition features the traditional streets of Atlantic City, but with property values more reflective of today’s prices. For example, players collect $2 Million when passing “GO” instead of $200. Keeping track of the millions changing hands during game play is an electronic unit that serves as banker, die and music player.

MONOPOLY: Revolution features clips of hit songs from five decades, including “Umbrella,” “Bad Day” and “Drive My Car,” and sound effects throughout the game that bring a contemporary new spin on the classic family favorite.


Buy MONOPOLY Revolution here

Of course, there are tons of Monopoly versions now on the market from specifically branded ones like The Simpsons to Disney versions. Army, Navy... and Star Wars editions, too. But, if the idea of a modern version of the classic board game bothers you, there is an alternative. They have a beautiful wooden replica of their 1935 version:


buy the Monopoly 1935 Deluxe Wood Edition

Sweet Dreams Security: Safety Never Looked So Good.

Who says that elements designed to keep people away can't be inviting? Certainly not Matthias Megyeri of Sweet Dreams Security in Great Britain where safety, preventative and secure elements are functional but fun. Butterfly-shaped razor wire, teddy bear shaped padlocks and lace embroidered Beware of Dog signs are some examples of the whimsy interjected into products usually designed to be foreboding and unattractive.

Several of their designs like the heart shaped link chain and glass landscape toppers are ordered by commission, but others are available to purchase. Definitely the cutest security precautions you'll ever take.

Below are all of their products to date with descriptions taken directly from their website.



Sweet Dreams Security™
Fences with bunny rabbits for railheads, razor-wire woven with butterflies, padlocks shaped like teddy bears and feline CCTV covers – a few of the products in the Sweet Dreams Security™ range. Matthias Megyeri has carved an exciting new niche market for products that respond to what he sees as an uncomfortable balance between the growing demand for security products and an over-saturation of the kitsch, the‘cute', the garden gnomes and the frilly curtains.

Railings: R. Bunnit , Peter Pin and Didoo


The first set of three unique railing-top characters by Sweet Dreams Security™ is now available. This contemporary take on traditional Victorian street furniture injects a sense of energy into often-lifeless urban landscapes. Let the jagged but friendly little creatures guard your home with a warm smile.

Razor Wire: Mr. Smish & Madame Buttly
The Sweet Dreams Security™ razor wire is our most vicious but cute product to date. Standard razor wire has been transformed from a purely threatening object into one that is highly playful, yet every bit as effective.



‘Mr. Smish & Madame Buttly’ had the honour of gracing the cover of the 2005 ‘SAFE: Design Takes on Risk’ MoMA exhibition catalogue, in New York.


You can either order ‘Mr. Smish’ and ‘Madame Buttly’ separately, or together as the dream team of security.

Preventative Wall Toppers: Landscape


‘Landscape’ by Sweet Dreams Security™ consists of ten glass objects designed as security features for the top of garden or backyard walls. The strong, sharp structures offer an original and appealing alternative to broken bottle shards, which are now illegal to use.‘Landscape’ is now also available in various vibrant colours as a result of collaboration with a traditional Stuttgart-based glass company.

Padlock: Billy B.


Sweet Dreams Security™ introduces a fresh, friendly face to the Old English Padlock by offering ‘Billy B.’ to grace your backyard or private space. Made by Henry Squire & Sons Ltd UK – family-owned lockmakers since 1780 – this fun, new product boasts the quality workmanship expected from an old favourite.’Billy B.’ is now being sold in selected design outlets worldwide.



Chains: Heart to Heart


Sweet Dreams Security™ developed ‘Heart to Heart’ to enhance a classic product icon with a sprinkling of sweetness.The heart-shaped chain will inject a dose of good, old-fashioned charm to your front garden, backyard or other private space.

Alarms: Daisy T.
 

The ADT alarmbox flower attachment from Sweet Dreams Security™ transforms your existing alarmbox from dull and dreary to chirpy and cheery, giving a playful look to your building exterior and bringing a smile to the faces of passerby. The extra shell provided by the flower’s petals also provides an extra layer of protection against wily burglars’ expert ways.

The one-year installation of ‘Daisy T’ at the Design Museum, London, has greatly raised her profile and even turned her into somewhat of a local celebrity.

Security Cameras: City Cat TV
These quirky Sweet Dreams Security™ CCTV camera attachments add a welcome touch of humour to our increasingly security-conscious lives.


The sliding feature on the outdoor camera ensures that the quality of the images captured is never impaired by bright sunlight.

Security Illusion Curtains: Mrs Welcome
Sweet Dreams Security™ proudly introduces ‘Mrs Welcome’. Woven to look like a metal security shutter, this traditional lace curtain with a twist is soft and welcoming on the inside, yet cold and harsh-looking on the outside: a placebo product designed to keep the burglars at bay, without making you feel imprisoned in your own home.

Made in Nottingham, UK, this product also marks a return to traditional English lace-making roots – a much-needed boost for a fast-fading local industry and identity

Beware of Dog Sign: Snoopy D

‘Snoopy D’, from Sweet Dreams Security™ is an ironic remake of a classic warning sign. The phrase ‘Beware of Dog’ takes on an entirely new slant when embroidered onto a delicate lace window hanger using the traditional German hand-embroidery technique known as ‘Plauener Spitze’.

‘Snoopy D’ lends a touch of old-fashioned class to a society ruled by suspicion, where niceties are all too often forgotten.

Sweet Dreams Security™ has found international acclaim, exhibiting widely and attracting high profile bespoke commissions - two projects in Tokyo this summer, Colour By Numbers and Tokyo Hipsters Club, and a window installation at Paul Smith in New York. After participating in the ‘Hometime’ exhibition organised by the British Council in China and showing at the Design Museum's Design Mart exhibition of new British design in 2004, the products were included in Paul Smith's Great Brits exhibition at the Milan Furniture Fair in 2005. As well as participating in the Pop noir exhibition at The Israel Museum in Jerusalem the product range is also being exhibited at ‘Safe – Design Takes On Risks’ at the Museum of Modern Art, New York and in a show curated by Droog® design in Amsterdam.


above: designer Matthias Aron Megyeri



SweetDreamsSecurityTM
Matthias Aron Megyeri, Designer
18 Trafalgar Mews
E9 5JG, London, Great Britain
m.megyeri@sweetdreamssecurity.com

Telephone 0044 (0)20 8986 5116
Mobile 0044 (0)77 7962 4974
For information regarding prices please contact us.