Newcastle Brown Ale Invites You To Design Your Own Label

above: six examples of submissions to the contest

Newcastle Brown Ale, America’s No. 1 imported ale, recently announced the launch of its “Your Beer. Your Label.” program. Aimed at celebrating the personality of its fans, Newcastle is turning its label into a blank canvas for adult consumers to change their individual bottles into a one-of-a-kind artistic expression. Consumers may use any type of tool – pencil, paint or computer – to create their unique label.



Digital labels submitted through the microsite will be considered during the designer search, with the chosen concept featured prominently on the Newcastle Brown Ale Web site.


above: the actual Newcastle Brown Ale label

“The Newcastle logo, with its unusual ‘cottage loaf’ shape and its iconic blue star, has inspired hundreds of photo collages and tattoo designs. We’re encouraging Newcastle drinkers to tailor individual labels with their own uniquely different, personalized touches,” said Colin Westcott-Pitt, Brand Director, Newcastle Brown Ale. “Our online program gives fans a chance to show off their artistic skills and, for one designer, on our Web site. We expect our judging panel will be inspired by the variety of designs our fans will submit.”

For designs to be considered, U.S. consumers 21 and older must submit their digital concepts on NewcastleBrown.com before March 14, 2010. After the entry period, fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite design until March 30, 2010.

The 10 designs with the largest number of votes will be judged by Newcastle team members on the basis of creativity, originality and brand personality. The selected designer will have their label prominently showcased on Newcastle’s Web site.



For additional rules, a template to download or just to get started, please visit here

The Making Of Chanel's New Venetian Bib Necklace

I'm very fond of the 2009/2010 CHANEL Cruise collection (as opposed to their Spring 2010 haute couture collection) and the accompanying accessories.

The large decorative bejeweled neck pieces referred to as plastrons, are a stunning accessory to the line.



Here's how they created the beautiful plastron, a Venetian bib necklace with resin and cast stones that is part of their Cruise 2009/2010 collection of jewels, shown above and below:


above photo by Karl Lagerfeld

A resin shaft, made in advance, serves as a model for the parts of the necklace:


The glass rods are heated with a torch:


The glass is then poured into each piece of the necklace according to the studio sketch:


The imprint of the chamber is made in a silicone mold. All of the pieces are then gilded in "galva", an acid that enables the gilding of pewter and iron:


The backs of the pieces of the necklace are polished in order to obtain an 'aged' effect, with a sparkling resin. Then, all the pieces of the necklace are joined with solder:


The heart at the center of the chamber is drawn using a syringe filled with red enamel:


and voila!

all images courtesy of Chanel

Glass Wall Design Televisions From Plush Department

New at Plush Department of Amsterdam (the same company about whose fabulous ceramic glazed computers I wrote about here) are these high end modular and wall mount flush glass television screens.

One of the biggest challenges for Plush Department was the perfect integration of the visual interface. Often, tv screens are a disruption of the interior, so they looked at a variety of possible solutions and decided on glass as the perfect material.

The screens are seamlessly integrated into the design while maintaining the highest possible image quality.


above: the 200cm x 140cm white basic module

above: 175cm x 140cm white wall mount module

above: the 200cm x 140cm black basic module

The Modular Glass Television by Plush Department is a High Definition television of the highest grade with superior image quality and the best possible color representation and sharpness.

The television is mounted behind glass on the wall. Once switched off, the black image area turns into a mirror. The set integrates beautifully into the interior design.

You can use one or more modules. If you use several modules the center module contains the television. Of course you can also use several modules each containing a television.


above: 200cm x 140cm black basic module

You can choose between white and black or request special colors. In the near future they intend to extend the line with furniture modules by well known designers.



Plush Department is a division of MR Silent Computing
Dukdalfweg 30
1041BE Amsterdam - Nederland
Tel. +31-(0)20 33 01 345
Email: info@plushdepartment.com



Another way to 'conceal' a modern television are these wonderful Two Eye TV's, the R4.