Light Bulb Packaging: The Package Becomes the Product

by Collin Dunn, Seattle on 07.31.07 Design & Architecture

Smart packaging design is definitely part of our green future, if for no other reason that packaging that goes in the garbage after you unwrap it is just dumb. Designer Olivia Cheung gets this, and put this ethic to work in her Light Bulb Packaging. An intricate, laser-cut paper box transforms from protective shell to beautiful lamp in a few quick bends and folds (an idea that reminds us of lite2go by knoend), leaving nothing to throw away, and nothing for you to do but bask in its warm glowing warming glow. Just be sure to pop a compact fluorescent bulb in there before lighting up. More pictures and details below the fold; hit her website to see a flash animation of the product in action. ::Olivia Cheung via ::dezeen

Who’s Minding the Mind?

By BENEDICT CAREY

Published: July 31, 2007

The subconscious brain is more active, independent and purposeful than once thought. Sometimes it takes charge.
"The idea of subliminal influence has a mixed reputation among scientists because of a history of advertising hype and apparent fraud. In 1957, an ad man named James Vicary claimed to have increased sales of Coca-Cola and popcorn at a movie theater in Fort Lee, N.J., by secretly flashing the words “Eat popcorn” and “Drink Coke” during the film, too quickly to be consciously noticed. But advertisers and regulators doubted his story from the beginning, and in a 1962 interview, Mr. Vicary acknowledged that he had trumped up the findings to gain attention for his business."
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The Future of Design

Compiled by Megan Lane Patrick

HOW's special "Future of Design" issue features projections from industry notables about how design, designers and designing will evolve by 2025. From Debbie Millman to David Baker to Bruce Sterling, these contributors envision a world where brands rule, companies are more connected with customers and designers create meaningful experiences.

The HOW editors received more great commentary than we had room to publish in the magazine, so we'll share the additional insights here.

What will a brand have to do to stay relevant in 2025?

Cheryl Swanson, principal of Toniq, New York City.
To remain relevant in the future, brands must be the following:

Empathetic Brands must understand our time-pressed needs and help us plug into "fast" and help us go faster, or help us to go slower and reunite with our biological rhythms—or, ideally, help us do both (like Starbucks).

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Call to Artists

Established in 1979, Florida's Art in State Buildings Program acquires artwork for new public facilities built with state funds. It requires that up to .5% of the construction appropriation be set aside to acquire artwork for permanent display in the public areas in, on or around that facility. This includes construction at the state universities and colleges.
Calls to Artists are issued periodically with project descriptions and requirements.
Artists may enter multiple projects but, because each project has its own art selection committee, they must send a separate entry for each project.
Artists enter by sending the following items to each of the projects that interest them.
Entries must be received by 5 pm on the deadline date.
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Like an Arcade Game With a Potty Mouth

By VIRGINIA HEFFERNAN
Published: July 11, 2007
The cable channel G4 takes its title from the four generations of video games: text, sprites, polygons and textures. To some tech-literate boys, and a few girls, those are the four G’s.
CODE MONKEYS
G4, tonight at 9, Eastern and Pacific times; 8, Central time.
Created, written and directed by Adam de la Peña; Jennifer Gore, supervising producer; Matt Mariska and Andy Sipes, art directors; Larry Z. Ho, lead animator
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Industry Spotlight: Games. Bring Your Passion for Play to Work

by Allan Hoffman
Monster Tech Jobs Expert
"Few industries demand the passion, energy and even fanaticism of the games industry."
"The International Game Developers Association breaks the field down into audio, design, production, programming, visual arts and business. Within those areas, job roles include the following titles, among others:

• 3D artist.
• art director.
• artificial intelligence programmer.
• audio engineer.
• composer.
• lead designer.
• special effects programmer.
• producer.
• screenwriter."

"If you can find the right company and the right team, you will be in heaven," says Jones. "Awesome coworkers, good money, company outings, practical jokes, free video games, beer Fridays, Nerf fights, no dress code, and a totally fun, lighthearted environment you can be completely relaxed in."

Resources

• Digital Games Research Association
• Entertainment Software Association
• Gamasutra
• GameDev.net
• Game Manufacturers Association
• International Game Developers Association
• Mobile Entertainment Forum

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Live Earth: 24-hour, 7-continent concert series

New York
London
Johannesburg
Rio
Shanghai
Tokyo
Sydney
Hamburg

"Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series taking place on 7/7/07 that will bring together more than 100 music artists and 2 billion people to trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis.

Live Earth will reach this worldwide audience through an unprecedented global media architecture covering all media platforms - TV, radio, Internet and wireless channels.

Live Earth marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign led by the Alliance for Climate Protection, The Climate Group and other international organizations to drive individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve global warming. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is the Chair of the Alliance and Partner of Live Earth.

Live Earth was founded by Kevin Wall, the Worldwide Executive Producer of Live 8, an event that brought together one of the largest audiences in history to combat poverty. Wall formed a partnership with Al Gore and the Alliance for Climate Protection to ensure that Live Earth inspires behavioral changes long after 7/7/07.

Live Earth will stage official concerts at Giants Stadium in New York; Wembley Stadium in London; Aussie Stadium in Sydney; Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro; Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind in Johannesburg; Makuhari Messe in Tokyo; the Steps of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai; and HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg.

Live Earth concerts will be broadcast to a live worldwide audience by MSN at www.LiveEarth.MSN.com.
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