Classic Chairs As Alphabet. Tim Fishlock's Limited Edition Typeseat Screen Print and Chair Alphabet Prints From Blue Ant Studio.

I love chairs. And typography, So both Tim Fishlock's and Blue Ant Studio's beautiful prints are right up my alley/in my wheelhouse/my cup of tea... you get the picture.

Typeseat by Tim Fishlock
 First, Fishlock's Typeseat is a limited edition screenprint featuring classic chairs as the letters of the alphabet.



Here Tim explains some background to the edition:
“A lot of my work explores symbols and the idea of pictorial shorthand. I’m fascinated by the alphabet, how most of the letters began as pictures, icons from another era. Social and cultural change and aesthetic trends have been reflected in the Roman alphabet as it’s been refined over the centuries. Few objects reflect this cultural change as distinctly as the chair. An Eames lounger or a Panton chair are effective shorthand for the aesthetic trends of the day.

Typeseat is my attempt at creating a pictorial alphabet made up of some of the most iconic chairs of the twentieth century.”

details:




Sold out on his own website, the screen print is now being offered from twentytwentyone

A limited edition of 300 prints available.
Dimensions: 
50 x 70cm
£48.00
buy it here

Alphabet & Chair Posters from Blue Ant Studio.



I'd be remiss to speak of a poster about classic modern chairs and the alphabet without mentioning Blue Ant Studio and their wonderful selection of prints. Here are three that incorporate classic modern chairs (and are very affordable):

Alphabet Orangina (detail):


The Alphabet of Design Classics (detail):


And Eye Exam, an eye chart made of of modern classic chairs:


Above are just three of their beautiful prints, shop for these and more at Blue Ant Studio.

Aston Martin Celebrates 100 Years With Special Logo, Short Film, Big Stunt and 100 Exclusive Centenary Editions.

2013 marks 100 years since the founding of Aston Martin by Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin. By incorporating their new company they began 100 years of Power, Beauty and Soul. To celebrate the anniversary, they have created a new logo, a short film, a spectacular stunt in Dubai and have created 100 special sexy Centenary Editions of their V8 Vantage, DB9, Rapide and Vanquish.

The Aston Martin Centenary Logo



To mark the Centenary year and to ensure consistency of interpretation, Aston Martin has developed a visual expression in the form of the Aston Martin Centenary Logo.

The dynamic shape derived from nature’s nautilus shell, is made up of 99 points with the red 100 marking the celebration year.

The design represents the Centenary of the company in the shape of commemorative points aligned in perfect proportion around the Aston Martin logo. It is a dynamic expression of forward motion - acknowledging the past, yet with a strong and positive path to the future.

The points are symbolic not just of 100 years, but as an expression of what make the marque what it is today: the beautiful and iconic sports cars, the evolution of the brand and of course the many proud and dedicated people who have created it.

The 100 Years of Aston Martin Video
Featuring some of the most iconic cars and most important people in Aston Martin history the film shown below explores 100 years of this globally respected British marque.



The Dubai Centenary Spectacular Stunt
The Dubai Centenary Spectacular at Burj Al Arab was an event created to herald the Anniversary.



The New Vanquish, the culmination of a century of technological and engineering progress was chosen to grace the helipad of the Burj Al Arab hotel, one of the most iconic buildings in the world.



Lifted from the ground at a nearby airstrip the helicopter moved towards the hotel. A breathtaking two minutes saw the helicopter hover over the helipad as a crew scrambled to secure the Vanquish. Suddenly it was done, the helicopter lifted into the sky and we had successfully placed a car on top of the helipad of the Burj Al Arab, which sits over 1,000 ft in the air.



Exclusive Centenary Editions
Aston Martin's Centenary Edition Vanquish has been unveiled, just one of a set of specifically created specifications which will adorn V8 Vantage, DB9, Rapide and Vanquish - with 100 exclusive examples of each being created in celebration of 100 Years of Aston Martin.



Bespoke Exterior Styling


Featuring a unique graduated paint finish, solid sterling silver Aston Martin wings badges with tailored ‘trans flux’ enamel inlay and a special Aston Martin hallmark, the exterior represents an exclusive new celebration of their 100-year history.

A Luxurious Treatment


A Centenary Edition Aston Martin is identified inside by its exclusive and luxurious treatment. Deep Soft black leather – previously featuring only in the One-77 hypercar – with contrasting silver stitching, a special silver thread embroidery of the Aston Martin wings in the head restraints and solid sterling silver sill plaques individually numbered with an Aston Martin hallmark are among the features unique to the car.

Exquisite Craftsmanship


The process of creating the unique Centenary Edition paint finish, for instance, clearly demonstrates the brand’s commitment to bespoke luxury. Adding an average of 18 hours to a paint process that can already take more than 50 hours to complete, the unique graduated finish is meticulously built by adding special ‘tinters’ to create the darker inner colour. This custom-made mixture is then applied to each panel by hand, using a special mini-jet spray gun.



Aston Martin Design Director Marek Reichman explained: “The team has looked closely at the individual contour lines of each of the cars to determine not only the right colours and shades, but also to create a template by which the paint changes from dark to light and where the graduated effect sits.”

Each Centenary Edition model will also be supplied with a unique presentation box containing a number of exclusive gifts to mark the first 100 years of the company. These include two glass keys, two bespoke key pouches made from leather matching the car’s interior trim, solid silver cufflinks featuring the Aston Martin script, solid silver Rollerball pen and high quality Bang & Olufsen headphones.

The gift box will also include a silver polishing cloth to help owners ensure the silver centenary wings badges and sill plaques on their car keep their lustre.

Available to order now, prices for the Centenary Edition models are obtainable on application at Aston Martin’s 146 dealers in 46 countries worldwide.



See more about the history of Aston Martin here.

Teo Jasmin's Digitally Printed Furnishings Combine Artful Images With Classic Styles.

It was time to do an update on the creative digitally printed products by Teo Jasmin. Since the last time I shared her designs with you in Téo Jasmin's Fun Photo Furnishings, she has added more new imagery and several new products to her line of home decor and handbags.



Here are some of her more recent wonderful chairs, armchairs and settees which incorporate graffiti art, urban photography and hand-tinted vintage photography. She also has cushions, make up bags, handbags and stretched canvases in her online store.














To shop for these, as well as many other home and fashion items with these images and more, check out her online store here.

Herman Miller Updates An Eames Classic With Wood. The New Molded Wood Eames Chair.

The Molded Plastic Chair (or Shell chair) that Mid-Century Modern design lovers have grown to covet is the epitome of the Eames process. Since its launch in 1950, details like color and height options, shock mounts, base variations, and use of upholstery have received constant improvements.



Manufacturing processes have been closely monitored and modified. And in the 1990s, when new findings revealed fiberglass-reinforced plastic shells to be less suitable for the environment, Herman Miller explored sustainable solutions and, in 2000, reintroduced the design in 100 percent recyclable polypropylene (shown below).



Now, in 2013, Herman Miller introduces the Eames Molded Wood Chair, a beautiful expression of this timeless design.




Today’s techniques cut wood veneer into small strips and then process them in a way that makes the wood flexible enough to mold into complex curves without splitting or popping. This allows the material to take on the authentic form of the timeless Eames design for the first time as a single wood shell.



Select from three veneers for the wood shell, including white ash, walnut, and santos palisander. Pair it with a choice of three classic bases: wire (often called the "Eiffel Tower") in chrome or black, 4-leg in chrome or black, or wood dowel in one of three finishes.




The Eames Molded Wood Chair’s range of finish and base options allows for 21 different combinations of this new seating—giving you the opportunity to mix and match a unique look for almost any environment.



A beautiful expression in of the timeless design, the Eames Molded Wood Chair honors the organic shapes, sleek lines, and honest materials of Charles and Ray’s classic work—and represents Herman Miller’s longstanding commitment to the Eames vision of continued exploration.



Lightweight and carefully contoured, the shell seats have high, flexible backs, deep seat pockets, and waterfall front edges so you can sit comfortably.

Swiveling glides keep the chair steady and level on uneven floors. The standard glide is also available with felt to protect hard-surface floors.



Learn more here and look for it to be available soon in the Herman Miller Stores.

Gum In Grenades And Burberry Plaid. A Great Idea In Need of Better Branding - Paul Stiven Luxury Chewing Gum.

I love the idea of a luxury chewing gum brand. And there is one. Italian designer and entrepreneur Paul Stiven is the creator and brand name of a Luxury Chewing Gum being touted as an innovative new product in the field of fashion, food, fashion and life-style.

The gum is not about a particular flavor, but about the unusual packaging, which comes wrapped in famous luxury brand and trendy imagery (A Fashion Collection) and packed into hand grenades, bullets and brass knuckles (An Army Collection).




Initially, the Paul Stiven Luxury Chewing Gum gum was packaged in well known luxury branded packaging such as CHANEL, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen and Dolce and Gabbana, as shown below:



However, he must have been violating copyright laws because now the gum is packaged in fashion iconography, patterns and colors reminiscent of and alluding to the famous brand labels.

Paul Stiven Luxury Chewing Gum Fashion Collection

Colored and printed tin boxes with interior mirrors:

above: Padlock (a reference to Hermes)

above: Eye See You (this features a Krink-like dripping Double C Chanel logo)


above: Blanc Neve (or Snow White) is supposed to hint at cocaine

Printed boxes emulating Fendi and Burberry checks and plaids respectively:

above: Plot of Chess

above: Tartan

Printed Flip-top containers:

above: Skulls (originally branded as Alexander McQueen)

above: Camouflage

above: Newspaper

Packaged Sets:



above: Five different packages in Luxury Gift Box - LUBA (feminine version)

above: Five different packages in Luxury Gift Box - LUBO (masculine version)

As part of the Fashion Collection, Stiven also offers miniature "Jane" handbags (a knockoff of a Birkin) filled with gum, made of leather in various colors that comes in an orange box - like its real namesake from Hermes:



And now, what seems like it should be an entirely separate concept/website/brand...

Paul Stiven Luxury Chewing Gum Army Collection


In addition to the Fashion Collection, Stiven has an "Army" collection (Paul has served in the Army). This consists of the MK2 hand grenades of various colors filled with gum, AK 47 bullets and Brass Knuckles, both filled with gum. The hook here, apparently, is that the metal used in casting the grenades and bullets is actually taken from the Military.

MK2 Grenades filled with gum in various colors:


AK 47 Bullets Filled With Gum (expected this year):

Body To Body (brass knuckles packaging expected this year):


Stiven's site, which is like three sites in one, also offers milk and dark chocolate versions of the Birkin handbag on a stick, the Lolliciok, and says he'll soon be offering actual leather handbags, but I'm not even going to address those because they are not relevant to the gum.

The chewing gum comes in one flavor (mint-licorice), but it's the unique packaging that will appeal to fashionable chewers.

Not at all a bad idea, but with their oddly disparate items, a poorly designed e-commerce web site (he also needs to replace all the CGI with actual photos), lousy print ads, and terrible product videos, the product's potential is being hurt by the branding.

Their newest ad campaign (just launched this month in various Italian publications) is attempting to be sexy, but is simply confusing and inconsistent and looks like weird ads for slutty lingerie or sex toys. That may be purposeful, but perhaps premature. It might behoove them to first make it clear what the product is if they wish to introduce it internationally.

Some of the inconsistent and confusing ads for the gum:



And although the gum is sold in their online store (smart), you have to register just to browse (dumb). A few of Paul Stiven's Luxury Chewing Gums are offered online and in New York's Maison 24

If only they'd narrow it down to either the Fashion Collection or the Army Collection and hire a good Creative Director and Brand Strategist, they could be a huge success internationally.

Like I said at the beginning of this post, I love the idea of a luxury gum. But with this one, the branding is hurting the product. If there's ever been a client whose communications I'd like to overhaul, this is it.

www.paulstiven.it