Give Me Liberty, Or…

Jun 24
2009
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ladylibertyThe marketers for the Residences at Two Liberty Place must really know their target demographic.

Why else would this call-girl-esque model be the main feature of their advertising, both in print and on their website.

When I first viewed their outdoor ad, I didn’t even get the connection between the name of their building — Liberty II — and the Statue of Liberty, from whence they derived this Lady Liberty character.

Really thought it might be an ad for a high end sex club, or one of those hotels that rents by the hour.

Even the copy suggests that the “private tour” might be more than just a look ’round an empty apartment.

Guess these people are sure they won’t offend the women/wives choosing to pay ridiculous prices to live in their highrise.

Philebrity puts it well: “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful. Hate me because I’m the exact kind of asshole who’d pay $2M for an apartment with no opening windows.”

Yup, that’s the demographic. If they really wanted to go all out, they’d do another ad with Cole Hamels — a building resident — in the same kind of seductive pose.

Then they could really give the Parker Hotel some competition.

Written by phillydesign in: funny, print |

The Poet of Plastic

Jun 17
2009
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Karim Rashid - Ring Door for AlbedKarim Rashid is an incredible industrial designer.

I’ve run into and admired many of his designs without even knowing they were Rashids.

Such as the Method bath & body products. And Morimoto restaurant in Philadelphia.

What’s most cool is his statement on design philosophy, his “Karimanifesto.”

How to define design, today and what is its role?
Karim Rashid - Slice Precision Cutter

Design has been the cultural shaper of our world from the start. We have designed systems, cities, and commodities.

We have addressed the world’s problems. Now design is not about solving problems, but about a rigorous beautification of our built environments. Design is about the betterment of our lives poetically, aesthetically, experientially, sensorially, and emotionally.

…

My real desire is to see people live in the modus of our time,to participate in the contemporary world, and to release themselves from nostalgia, antiquated traditions, old rituals, kitsch and the meaningless. We should be conscious and attune with this world in this moment.

Karim Rashid - K-8 Dogbowl for Acme

This is a general philosphy for the advancement of society, and parallels the insta-, all the time, everywhere connectivity we are beginning to take advantage of as a species.

“We should be conscious and attune with this world in this moment.”

[Post inspired by idsgn]

Written by phillydesign in: artists, objects |

Idea of a Tree

Jun 08
2009
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idea_tree11The Viennese design firm mischer’traxler has developed recorder one, a completely solar-powered machine that makes furniture.

This furniture (benches, lampshades, stools) is unique. Each individual piece is unique, in fact, because its height, shape and color are determined by the natural surroundings of the machine — specifically, by the amount of sunlight falling on the solar panels.

Beginning at sunrise, the loom dips threads through dye and glue, and winds them around a mold until the sun disappears again. So if the machine is not on the equator, you’ll get shorter pieces in winter, longer in summer.

The passing of clouds or shadows throughout the day determines the saturation of color and the thickness of the weave.

idea_tree3Interesting idea. I would love to see other, more complex shaped objects created this way. And different colors in a single piece — perhaps a gradation between two — could probably be worked out.

[Via DesignBoom and Dezeen]

Written by phillydesign in: objects |