Pictogram

These movie poster re-makes are brilliant. See more here.

Packaging

I love these proposals to minimize the amount of visual clutter on consumer products. I think the clean design of these packages builds upon the appeal of similarly streamlined brands, such as Apple, who have enjoyed significant commercial success. Via A2591.

Big Mac

Yes, advertisements stretch the truth (sometimes), but this project shows exactly how much popular fast food joints stretch the truth. Behold, a comparison of what you actually order and what a glossy magazine presents to tempt your taste buds. Images via Bored Panda (thanks Julie!).

Staging

HGTV finishes a close second to Slice for the most frequently viewed channel in our house. A few evenings ago, while wasting time watching The Stagers followed by The Unsellables, Greg announced that he doesn't like watching television shows about staging homes for sale.

Though it came as no shock that he might dislike my television monopoly, his reasoning for disliking those shows in particular - because the design isn't permanent - was surprising. When someone stages a home, it is to close a deal. This explains why air mattresses are put in bed frames - to give the illusion of how someone might live in a space. Seeing how someone actually lives in a space, or prepares to live in a space, has an appealing human element. This said, I also think that watching how a designer or realtor interprets a space to maximize what will appeal to the broadest range of people, is interesting.

Watching Sandra navigate someone through the purchase of their first home on Property Virgins feels like an education for young professionals like ourselves, taking in how to find a great rental property on For Rent is a reflection of our daily lives, and absorbing ourselves in the excess of Million Dollar Listing is just plain entertaining. I enjoy the personalities behind and in the design.

Staging turns a room like this...

...into a room like this. Images via Portico Home Staging.

However, Canadian and American staging has a long way to go to mirror Swedish staging. For an example of what I mean, check out Alvhem. These realtors certainly take staging to the next level.

Take for instance, the placement of a sweater on an armchair.

Or a high-end shopping bag left in a corner.

Or a half eaten piece of cake next to a coffee mug.

Or a half drunk glass of wine on a dining table.

These pictures make it seem like the person living in the home has impeccable modern style, is neat and has just popped out for a moment to collect something at a nearby market. I'm a sucker. These photos are trying to sell an illusory lifestyle, and I'm lining up to buy it even if Greg thinks it's temporary.

Neon

Whyte Avenue has a sprinkling of neon; the signs and the tubes wrapped around light posts are my favourite part of the street at night. Here's a sample of the Chevrolet dealership on the strip. I think the retro feel adds to the life of the street.

Vancouver has some notable retro neon signs too, such as the 'preserved' Bowmac sign on the Toys R Us on West Broadway and the swinging lady at Helen's Children's Wear on Hastings Street.

I'd like to visit Las Vegas to catch a glimpse of the neon lights. Perhaps my love of neon colours has something to do with being a child of the 80s? These glass tubes filled with neon, argon, helium, krypton and xenon never fail to catch my eye.

Flickr is a great place to find photos of fun vintage neon signs. Here is one of my favourite finds. For more photos, check out this group.

Photos via JMR64, Bob 2006, and G Meadows.

Fresh Air Campaign

I am always curious about what's happening in my home province of Newfoundland and Labrador. A place where I have spent the majority of my life, I find myself swooning when I catch one of the breathtaking NL tourism commercials between the usual wedge of advertisements for $10 meals at Boston Pizza and saving money by buying No Name groceries. Not surprisingly, I am not alone in my delight for these ads - Newfoundland and Labrador received a number of honours at the recent Adrian Awards in New York City. These accolades are well deserved; they capture the unique beauty I have been so lucky to grow up around.

For my favourite commercial, click here.

Every time I come across a snap of a St. John's row house, I long to live in a colourful confection like that of my own. The above photo was taken by a former radio co-worker. He is the owner and photographer of King's Photography.

Said The Whale

Always a sucker for a good jingle, I am as likely to discover a new band from a tv commercial or movie soundtrack as I am from a list of Wednesday newly released albums.

Said the Whale is the brainchild of Vancouverites Ben Worcester and Tyler Bancroft. I discovered their catchy tune, The Light Is You, on a Sun Ripe commercial. Give the song a listen on YouTube! I promise you'll think it's the most romantic ditty. What a wonderful serenade song.

The lyrics go like this:

Teddy Bear, Honey Bee

Don't forget that you love me

More than the stars over your head

It's just that your love shines like the moon

Full and bright and blinding through

Into my heart, into my head

When it's so dark I can't see the light

I close my eyes and I think of you

My little love, my only girl

I wouldn't leave you for all the world

I'll just sit here and wait for your moon to rise

When it's so dark I can't see the light

Well I close my eyes and I think of you

When it's so dark I can't see the light

Well I think of you

When it's so dark I can see the light

Shining through you