The South African Reserve Bank probably won't be too impressed with your idea, but here's a good way to make your useless small change more useful.
This restaurant, that has used US pennies as floor tiles, is in New York. For a real money shot, substitute the 5 cent coins for 5 Rand coins. It's one way to lock capital into your business.
The woman who brought us the designer swine flu masks is at it again. This time she's producing a line of unemployment attire and trinkets which make you feel better about being laid off.
Who says that the economic slowdown should be a time for profit. Apparently the creator, Irina Blok, is an unemployed art director herself who is still struggling to find a job.
[via Josh Spear]
Probably after realising that South Africans were happily tapping most of their currency to create billboards and business cards, the Zimbabwean government have unfortunately discontinued printing their worthless currency and have switched to using US Dollars. But notes can still be sourced and turned into inexpensive business stationary like this. Miki sent in this example, which was offered by the Liv design girls in JHB.
Personally, we aspire to one day printing our details on twenty pound notes.
[thanks Miki]
Update: If you are keen to use old Zim dollars as office stationary and are wondering where you can get hold of old currency from our northern neighbour, check out the The M’dala Trust - which supports elderly, destitute Zim pensioners in the Western Cape.
They have One Hundred Trillion Dollar notes for sale at R100 each – details and image on this Gumtree advert. Or you can order these puppies via e-mail from their Chairman – Leon Jacobs at marleon@MWeb.co.za
Even Dr Evil couldn't miss that kinda opportunity.
We're still getting used to blow up armbands and an inflatable ring with red crabs printed on it - and now they've invented this...
It's a 'biomimetic swimming aid' - which means it's something that somebody from nature already uses that has now been adapted to be used by humans.
This is a flipper, based on the age-old design of a dolphin's tail and apparently if you slip your feet into the dolphin shoes and give it a go, it'll generate enough power to boost you out of the ocean.
Watch out for Michael Phelps and a pair of these things at the next Olympics.
Why stop there? They should make one based on a whale's tail that'll boost you to the moon.
[via]
We're really happy for the London 2012 Olympics that they have a fine set of proposed posters for their event. We're not sure just how 'proposed' as apposed to 'approved' these great examples of clever graphic design are, but they do highlight the lack of proposed 2010 FIFA World Cup posters we have floating around.
Although clinical, these are really striking.
[via]
Because if pigs are going to give us all an illness, somebody may as well profit from the whole thing [besides the drug companies who are all rubbing their wallets with glee].
Cost: $10 - buy here
[via Josh Spear]
Have you ever looked up at a Weaver bird's nest and wished you could climb up and sleep inside it?
Porky Hefer has and he's now made his dream a reality by crafting a human-sized nest woven out of alien trees [Port Jackson/Black Wattle]. The design was commissioned by Southern Guild for the Joburg Art Fair and the purpose was to blur the line between art and design.
Having worked closely with Porky in the past, we're rightfully expecting a nest, complete with down feathers and a few chicks, to be erected in our headquarters for brainstorming purposes and Friday afternoon drinks.
We met the legendary Mike Schalit for the first time last week at a BBDO World Cup 2010 function. Turns out that apart from making ads, he's also involved with a personal creativity project called MAL [MakeALiving-MakeALife]. The idea is that 'We make a living from what we get – we make a life from what we give'.
With the Britelite Candleholder he's giving of his creative thoughts to solve the huge problem of shack fires as a result of knocked over candles. [video link]
Simple, effective and a brilliant use of a creative talent. With first world knowledge and third world understanding, we're sure there isn't a problem in the world that South African creative designers can't solve.
All it takes is a little effort and a bit of giving of your time.
Interactive business card for a Yoga studio in the US. [via]
Previously:
The personal trainer business card - Cherryflava
Headhunter business card - Cherryflava
Monday and Tuesday we spent some good quality time dodging underground rail networks and thunderstorms in Johannesburg, while designing a new alternate reality gaming [ARG] course in Sandton.
We're producing this little nugget of 'Bourne Identity' bliss for UCT's Graduate School of Business who are hosting one of their highly sought after Nomadic Marketing courses this month in Joburg. We were kindly asked to repeat our Long Street marketing event for the folks up north to also experience in their backyard.
Walking the streets of Sandton at night we came across this guy on his bike, a or two shopper, a geek, and a general member of public watering the garden all in techni-colour on the pavement.
Nothing says 'we no longer have an electricity crisis anymore' than electrified street art.
