Hasta La Ideas

Dwell magazine recently published a fascinating piece on a new trend in pop-up furniture. “Pop-Up Schmop-Up” highlights mostly space-saving furniture for public spaces, but it starts with the Armin Wagner cardboard Pop Up Desk for homes and offices:

Next up is Rogier Martens’ POP-UP 2010 public benches:

My favorite item not pictured in the article, but certainly mentioned, is the Urilift public restroom. It’s a public restroom that raises and lowers out of the ground at certain times of the day. There is a not-so-safe-for-work but amazing marketing video showing exactly how the toilet operates. These pop-up restrooms would be perfect in D.C. where our public spaces have so many different uses over the course of the year — festivals, protests, inaugurations, parades, sports fields, sunbathing, tourist walkways, etc.

Check out the full article for even more amazing pop-up furniture products. These products all remind me of Gary Chang’s Incredibly Efficient Efficiency, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of these kinds of space-saving designs. I love to see designers thinking outside the box — literally, in the case of Wagner’s Pop Up Desk.

Wieden + Kennedy London has released a striking new ad for the launch of the Honda CR-Z car in Europe, directed by Frank Budgen…

The ad is shot in an arty, RGB style, giving it an unusual and distinctive look, particularly in the car sector. The RGB theme also links to strategy, with each colour supposedly relating to a different driving mode in the car – red being ‘sport’, blue ‘normal’ and green ‘econ’. I had to refer to the press release to figure this meaning out, though apparently the RBG colours also appear in the dashboard lighting of the car, changing with each driving mode.

“The thing about this hybrid is that it’s fantastic to drive,” says Sam Heath, creative director at W+K. “You can choose to engage with the road and the world around you in three distinct ways. That’s essentially what the film’s all about.”

Credits:
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy London
Creatives: Sam Heath, Chris Groom
Production company: Gorgeous Enterprises
Director: Frank Budgen
Post: The Mill

An industry-first technology created by Canada Goose, thermal mapping uses strategically-placed premium duck down to insulate the family-run label’s forthcoming HyBridge line. Tailored for men’s and women’s unique needs, the approach makes for sleek silhouettes with optimal warmth and flexibility thanks to its soft-shell construction.

Treated nylon fabric wicks away moisture, while an adjustable hem and fleece-lined cuffs help guard against the chill. An internal pocket for mp3 players makes it an ideal jacket for biking or running.

HyBridge with thermal mapping hits stores August 2010.

“Fabulous” is a configuration of self-conscious objects, premiering at the DMY Festival 2010. Each object/product has its own critical awareness. They..