Monday 27th July:
The new authenticity
45s are back. iTunes is going retro with the launch of the new ‘D45’ – a throwback to the old days of the two-song 45 rpm vinyl record. The D45 section on the iTunes Store features discounted prices on packs of two digital song downloads. Just like old 45s, the D45 selection includes a popular single accompanied by a B-side song. Prices range from $1.49 to $1.99. (A very big thanks to Ben and Tim.)
‘iTunes is bringing this concept to a new age with D45s – two great tracks at an equally great price,’ the iTunes Store reads.
Music company EMI announced that the release of D45s marks the 60th anniversary of the 45 single record. The digital bundles will be sold exclusively by iTunes through July 27. After that, they will be available for purchase from ‘all major digital service providers’.
‘More than 35 digital singles will launch the campaign,’ the EMI press release states, ‘including original 45 single A-sides and B-sides, and top hits by Coldplay, David Bowie, R.E.M., Poison, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dean Martin, Duran Duran, Nat King Cole, Blondie, and Billy Idol among others.”
Ref. http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/07/14/itunes_goes_retro_with_digital_45s.html
Tagged with: Authenticity, Music, Retro, Technology
Thursday 27th November:
How can the functional become beautiful and contribute to its environment?
Think like Penguin Classics who have recently released a new line of jacket-less hardcovers featuring handsome covers which have a wallpaper like quality when put on the bookshelf. The designer, Coralie Bickford-Smith, is known for her brilliant and simplistic fusion of plot themes with visually stimulating layouts, including a three set collection of the Arabian Nights and a Gothic Horror Series. This particular series is unfortunately only being sold in the UK, exclusively through Waterstone’s.
According to Bickford-Smith, the pattern design was organized with collaboration from researchers familiar with the books’ specific themes and historical contexts. Everything from the aristocratic hierarchy of Great Expectations to the jarring psychology of Crime and Punishment is captured through the elegant covers.
http://thepenguinblog.typepad.com/the_penguin_blog/2008/09/book-design-to.html
(Ref. PSFK)
Tuesday 25th November:
How to combine two trends
Think like Reebok with their bold, brightly colored pop-up store which taps into the desire for ‘reassuring’ retro – this time the 80’s.
Reebok’s first ever pop-up store ‘Reebok Flash’ is located in a 3,000-square-foot gallery space in New York City and will be open until mid-December.
The flash store sells Reebok shoes designed in the 1980’s and also exclusive limited-edition shoes and clothing designed in collaboration with visual artists including Rolland Berry, John Maeda and the estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
“The design of the space plays with sense of depth and perspective, tricking the eye by extending three dimensional shapes into distorted graphic patterns,” say designer’s Formavision.
(Ref. Trendhunter)