Nendo was recently asked to design the packaging for Shiawase bananas, high-quality bananas grown on a plantation in a national park located in the north-central region of the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Grown using only organic fertilizers and adhering to the strict restriction on the use of pesticides, the produce became the first bananas to be awarded with 2 Stars at the International Taste and Quality Institute (iTQi) Superior Taste Awards in Belgium. To keep things as simple as a banana’s natural packaging, the Japanese design firm decided to steer clear of boxes or packing material, and instead applied stickers to the surface of the banana peel. The double layered sticker has a top layer that replicates the textural feel and colors of the banana peel, even down to the lifelike bruises and discoloration. When this top layer is peeled off, the second sticker reveals a description of the banana’s origins upon a background the color of banana flesh. Nendo also designed a paper carrier bag designed so that when the string handle is removed you can easily pick out the bananas. Spreading open the bag reveals that it is made out of one sheet of paper in the shape of a large faux “banana leaf”. A detailed description of the “shiawase banana” can be found on the reverse side of the bag. Minions and other banana fans worldwide should take note however — this banana package is only available in Japan. 
Photos by Akihiro Yoshida.
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Cling Magnetic Clothing Hanger
The Chicago-based designers at HANGDSGN are currently raising funds on kickstarter to create the first-ever detachable hook on a hanger. Using incredibly strong neodynium magnets placed in the center of each hanger, the Cling system takes away the weight and pressure traditional hangers endure over their lifetime. Available in white or black, Cling hangers work with a regular closet and can hold up to two pounds of clothing when clicked into place. While they still have a few weeks left to their fundraising campaign, the designers are currently in talks with a local manufacturer here in the U.S. who also happens to have a base in China.
All images courtesy of HANGDSGN.
Designythings & Architect’s Toy Box Become The Latest Media Sponsors of Be Original Americas
Earlier this month Designythings and Architect’s Toy Box became the latest media sponsors of Be Original Americas. The blogs join several other leading architectural and design publications and websites who support original design, including The Architect’s Newspaper, Core77, Contract Magazine, and Wallpaper*, as well as founding media partners Design Milk, Dwell, Interior Design, and Metropolis.
The nine point Be Original Americas manifesto.
As a journalist who appreciates the moral outrage and economic sting of having work appropriated elsewhere without payment or permission, I wholly support an organization committed to educating and informing the public about the importance of original design. One of the reasons I founded my blogs was to give back to the industry and the people it serves, a goal I share with Be Original Americas. It is also my goal to only publish original design on these sites, and I encourage my readers to notify me right away if they see anything that seems to be a blatant copy of something already on the market. In fact, at least twice I have been notified that work I was told was original was in fact knock-offs of other pieces already on the market and I immediately removed those posts from the site.
Founded in July 2013, the New York City-based non-profit organizes an extensive program of lectures, workshops, and roundtables to establish a set of industry standards that encourages consumers, the architecture and design community, producers, dealers, and media partners to fully support creativity and authenticity. In addition to media partners, the movement is supported by a group of Charter Members including Alessi, Artek, Bernhardt Design, Cassina, Emeco, Flos, Republic of Fritz Hansen, Herman Miller, Kartell, Ligne Roset, and Vitra, as well as other members and supporters.
Recent Be Original Americas events took place at the Dwell on Design show in Los Angeles, IIDA NY in New York City, and the National IIDA Conference in Chicago. The next event is scheduled for August 2nd at the Las Vegas Market Center where DJ Carey, Editorial Director of Cottages & Gardens, will lead a panel including Paolo Cravedi, Alessi, Jaime Derringer, Design Milk, Josh Mintz, Dwell Store, and Howard Thornton of SF MoMA retail.
A screen shot from the “Not Original” section of the Be Original Americas website that calls out knockoffs of original work.
On the “Not Original” section of its website, Be Original Americas boldly calls out those products and companies who do not support original design by intentionally selling blatant copies and knockoffs of original work. The examples of these are quite egregious, and it is incredibly powerful to have a public forum to list these knockoffs, while hopefully preventing others.
For more information about Be Original Americas or to become a member click here.
Press Uncuffed Bracelets
Hundreds of journalists around the world are currently imprisoned for nothing more than having the courage to report the facts. According to Dana Priest, the John S. and James L. Knight Chair in Public Affairs Journalism at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, the last three years have been the worst on record for the safety of journalists covering news in many parts of the world. Ever wonder what you can do to help?
Photo courtesy Press Uncuffed.
The Press Uncuffed website home page.
Press Uncuffed, a campaign powered by students at the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism in partnership with the Committee to Protect Journalists, is helping to raise awareness of and help free imprisoned journalists by selling bracelets bearing their names. Available for $10 each on the Investigative Reporters and Editors online store, the cuff-like bracelets are made in Memphis, Tennessee with LuciteLux clear acrylic, a reminder of the importance of transparency of information.
Photo courtesy Press Uncuffed.
The Press Uncuffed bracelets honor nine journalists: Ammar Abdulrasool in Bahrain, Mahmoud Abou Zeid (Shawkan) in Egypt, Reeyot Alemu in Ethiopia, Khadija Ismayilova in Azerbaijan, Bheki Makhubu in Swaziland, Ta Phong Tan in Vietnam, Jason Rezaian in Iran, Yusuf Ruzimuradov in Uzbekistan, and Ilham Tohti in China.
© Rita Catinella Orrell
Created by students at the University of Maryland and their professor, Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter Dana Priest, Press Uncuffed launched a successful month-long Indiegogo campaign last April to raise funds to produce the bracelets. With the support of 292 donors, the campaign secured $31,495 to cover manufacturing and packaging costs for approximately 10,000 bracelets.
There has been some good news. According to Rosemary Ostmann, communications director with Press Uncuffed, award-winning freelance photographer Ammar Abdulrasool, who had captured many iconic images of the popular uprising against the Bahraini government that began in spring 2011, has been released early. “People who were working on his release believe it occurred in part because of the pressure of this campaign,” says Ostmann. In other news, Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who has already been in prison nearly a year and faces 20 years in prison for gathering information, had his second of two closed hearings two weeks ago.
To purchase a bracelet, visit PressUncuffed.org where you can also learn about the individual journalists and how to support them. Visitors will be redirected to the Investigative Reporters and Editors online store to purchase the bracelets.
Kikkerland’s China Design Challenge
At an event held last month at the company’s shop in Manhattan, Kikkerland presented finalist designs from the Kikkerland China Design Challenge, an competition held in collaboration with Beijing Design Week Organization and Redstar Design Fund. Held during Bejing Design Week 2014, the theme of the challenge was “A Passage Into Design,” which encouraged young talented Chinese designers to present unique ideas based on Chinese heritage, history and mythology. The ideas also had to exhibit the quirky sense of humor and wit characteristic of Kikkerland Design. Nearly 1,000 design submissions were received, from which 30 were selected and prototyped during a workshop with professionals. Ultimately, 17 finalists were chosen from the challenge.
During the New York event, an award was presented to challenge winner Zhou Yi, who designed the Hutong Eraser, an eraser that represents the disappearing traditional architectural style that was once prominent in Beijing. “As the streets of Beijing are filled with more and more high-rise buildings, there are less and less Hutong style streets left,” says Yi. “The eraser will disappear as you use it, like the the disappearing Hutong.” The eraser, along with eight other finalists’ designs, will be produced and sold worldwide through Kikkerland’s distribution network in Fall 2015.
The winning design was the Hutong Eraser designed by Zhou Yi, which symbolizes the disappearance of traditional architecture in Beijing.
The Hutong Eraser, designed by Zhou Yi, symbolizes the disappearance of traditional architecture in Beijing.
These plastic Kung Fu Holders designed by Zhang Chen can hold everyday objects like keys, pencils, or jewelry.
The Great Wall of China measuring tape by Yuan Xiaohan, Zhang Weiru, Li Jing, and Zang Fengqi.
The Great Wall of China measuring tape by Yuan Xiaohan, Zhang Weiru, Li Jing, and Zang Fengqi.
The Artifact Stirrers by Wang Tianxiang represent the magic weapons used by the main characters in Journey to the West, one of the greatest classical novels in Chinese literature.
My personal favorite is the Jiang-Shang Tea Bag Holder set, designed by Wang Lei. The concept for the holders comes from an old Chinese story of Jiang Taigong who uses straight fish hooks (or none at all) because he believed the fish would come to him when they were ready to be fished.
The Jiang-Shang Tea Bag Holder set, designed by Wang Lei, comes from an old Chinese story of Jiang Taigong who uses straight fish hooks (or none at all) because he believed the fish would come to him when they were ready to be fished.
To water plants with the Rainy Pergola by Yang Wanli, you pour water into the cloud on top, which then drips down the wires to the plant below.
The Ming Dynasty inspired salt & pepper shaker by Lin Ziwei and Guo Siqi splits into three parts for three kinds of spices.
The Ming Dynasty inspired salt & pepper shaker by Lin Ziwei and Guo Siqi splits into three parts for three kinds of spices.
All images courtesy of Kikkerland.
Sun and Moon Miyamoto Watch by Mr Jones Watches
London-based Mr Jones Watches has launched their latest unusual timepiece, and this one will appeal to the old-school gamers out there. Named after the designer of the Super Mario video games, Shigeru Miyamoto, The Sun and Moon Miyamoto Watch features graphics inspired by the cartoon landscape of the world of Mario that many of us know only too well. Printed and assembled by hand in the watchmaker’s London workshop, the watch is produced in an edition of 100 pieces with each one numbered on the back of the case. The case is made of brushed stainless steel and the strap is navy and grey leather with pink stitching.
“Sun and Moon” watches were first produced in England in the late 1600s during a period of experimentation with ways to represent the time. The position of the sun or moon in the crescent-shaped sky indicates the hours. As the hour disc rotates, the landscape changes from day to night. The minutes and seconds are displayed in the center dial and these run in the conventional way, so each marker on this dial corresponds to five minutes or seconds.
A great gift for someone nostalgic for their game-playing youth or just discovering the joys of Mario and his friends.
Available exclusively from Mr Jones Watches. £175.
All images courtesy of Mr Jones Watches.
