Founded in 2002, Kidrobot creates limited-edition art toys and apparel for grown ups. We couldn't help but fall in love with their latest Dunny series, launched this month.
Even though you won't find any actual condiments inside these pop gems, we think they'd be a welcome update to the same old packaging of our usual ketchup & relish.
Edible fashion from Italian photographer Fulvio Bonavia for his book "A Matter of Taste." We can see ourselves donning the sardine belt in particular. Many more images on his site.
We can remember way back when Seattle's Best Coffee was still Stewart Brothers, roasted on Vashon Island a mere ferry ride away from downtown Seattle. Purchased in 2003 by our other local coffee giant, Starbucks, Seattle's Best has been quietly growing under the radar. Well, until this morning.
Driving to the office past Starbucks headquarters in the wee hours, more than a few of us at the Hartman Group noticed a big change to the usual Starbucks signage:
It appears Starbucks HQ has been temporarily taken over by Seattle's Best. We smell a relaunch brewing! Indeed, things are happening on the SBC website and Facebook page, including an explanation of the new look and the promise of a forthcoming video of this morning's draped banners:
While our dedication to making premium coffees isn't going to change, we needed a new look to match our optimistic outlook and simplified approach to great coffee experiences...We plan to show up in new ways and different places. Places where great coffee should be. We hope you join us on this journey, starting today.
Blogs are all atwitter with news of SBC's "new look" today. So far it's been received with mixed emotions. One commenter over at Brand New summed up his feelings about the ambiguity of the logo explaining, "makes me want to donate blood." The Seattle Times described it as "an open-mouthed smiley face with a drip of coffee" (just try to un-see it!). Others have suggested it conjures up a paint company or hardware store.
No matter what you read into it, we're intrigued to see what comes next for Seattle's Best, which is expanding to Subway, Burger King stores and AMC Theatres this year.
Enjoy!
P.S. BONUS
There's an app for that: Plastic surgery ala iPhone
In the past we've shared a few of our favorite single-focus sites, ranging from charting the progress of our new president to simply informing us if we need an umbrella today.
Today we stumbled upon another single serving site as visually compelling as it is informative. Created by Justin Ouelette (the creator of Muxtape), All The Curry does what it promises, offering a simple solution to a single common problem.
Justin says:
Brendan and I decided to order Thai food last night and faced an all-too familiar problem: remembering which curry is which. With colorful names that may or may not reflect their actual appearance and similar ingredients that aren’t usually listed, selecting a curry can be a harrowing decent into the darkest depths of indecision.
Certainly more compelling than The Price of a Stamp.
Anyone want to chip in for an order of panang?
General Mills appears to have a few Trix up its sleeve (excuse the pun) as it deploys new tactics in the quest for presence at shelf. For a limited time, General Mills is re-issuing vintage box designs of Lucky Charms, Honey Nut Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, Trix, Kix, Wheaties, and Golden Grahams. The retro boxes will be available exclusively at Target.
While younger cereal eaters may not be initially attracted to the retro feel of the boxes, GM may be reaching for another audience: consumers who have long strayed from childhood brands.
General Mills was wise to pair with Target, who has been setting itself apart with innovative shopping concepts as of late. Millennial Manhattinites recently flocked to Target’s Bullseye Bodega, a pop-up concept store modeled after traditional NYC corner stores featuring guest designers, accessories, beauty products, and housewares at traditional low prices. By offering specialty, limited-edition designs, retailers like Target are able to catch the attention of increasingly brand-averse consumers interested in playful & engaging shopping experiences.
We're tempted to go purchase a few boxes and line our kitchen cupboards with them.
This week we greet the fall equinox (or the Harvest Festival of Dionysus) with a return to traditional Seattle weather (rain, rain and more rain). Celebrate with a glass of wine and the best paper crafts the Internet has to offer. Or, you know, perhaps just the wine. Your call.
3. Permissibly Indulge in a Bento Snack
Enjoy!
Last weekend we pointed our browsers towards Apartment Therapy for some much-needed design inspiration. Our walls have been looking a little on the dreary side lately and we've found ourselves desperately searching for all the attention-grabbing patterns that spring has to offer.
Imagine our delight when we happened upon these photos of the train car IKEA decked out in celebration of their new location in Kobe, Japan. While the color pop of fabric chosen for the installation would be a little hard on our sleepy eyes first thing in the morning, the design insures that commuters can’t ignore this superbly executed experiential advertising. Give us a fabric be-decked train car over an ad-wrapped bus any day. Also, those seats look pretty darn comfortable.
This is not the first time we’ve noticed IKEA’s flare for site-specific advertising. In 2006 Seattleites were treated to the IKEA-sponsored Experimental Housing Project at the Bumbershoot music and arts festival. The interactive exhibition (or Living Art Advertising as one company likes to label it) featured several structures, designed by local artists and outfitted by IKEA. Festival goers were provided with perfect photo-ops, pleasing visual landscapes and much-welcomed spaces to rest their tired bones. 
IKEA is one of many companies to increasingly use functional advertising as a unique way to draw attention to products and services. Through site-specific events and promotions consumers are able to engage with brands in meaningful ways that fulfill their needs. Take for example the Charmin Restrooms located in New York City during the holiday season. For two consecutive runs Proctor and Gamble has provided clean facilities and bathroom products to busy shoppers including luxury seating areas and baby changing stations.
Interactive, experience-based advertising takes consumers beyond a free sample or in-store demonstration to a memorable and helpful encounter facilitated by a brand.
IKEA’s colorful train is simply one example of an effective way of building brand presence without inundating consumers with advertising.
We’re still waiting for unique prints and seating to reach our own public transport. In the meantime, though, we’ll head to our local Ikea to see what’s new in the fabric department. Those walls won’t color themselves!
