Most of our fresh picks this month seem to be about using creativity or art to get audiences to think twice about things. It’s what purposeful design is all about and it makes us realise that, as creatives, we really do have the power to have a positive impact and change people’s perspectives on things.
We hope you enjoy our selection this month and that some of them spark you to think differently, or spark some new ideas for your next campaign.
Jai’s pick: Stamps for climate change
A Finnish studio by the name of Berry Creative has produced a series of stamps for the Finnish Post Office all in the name of highlighting the effects of climate change. The rainbow-coloured stamps, made using heat-reactive ink, reveal a hidden message when rubbed on with a finger.
Each stamp in the series of three tells a different story about climate change. The colours and iconography used make for a very aesthetically pleasing set of stamps. Together with the uniqueness of the reactive stamp design, they deliver a very powerful message about the growing importance of protecting the planet.
Dan’s pick: Packaging that looks as good as the contents tastes
I recently came across these abstract and colourful packaging designs that Ocelot do for their range of chocolate. I love the boldness and simplicity of these designs, they have a great aesthetic to them and work really nicely as a series.
Ocelot are an independent business based in Edinburgh. With a background in art and design, the duo behind the business, draw and design the majority of the packaging and artwork themselves.
Check out their work on Instagram @ocelotchocolate.
Ellen’s pick: 50 windows of creativity
The streets of Manchester have been transformed into an art gallery with ’50 Windows of Creativity’. People in Manchester will be able to safely enjoy installations by a whole range of local creatives, artists, and designers that will be displayed in windows, venues, and other spaces across the city. The art trail will look to raise money for the artists involved and The Lord Mayor of Manchester Charity Appeal Trust – We Love MCR Charity.
I think it’s lovely that even during the toughest of times, the city of Manchester is celebrating its talented creatives. Wonder if we’ll see something similar come to Newcastle?
Henry’s pick: Don’t #RethinkReskillReboot
The Government’s recent “Rethink. Reskill. Reboot.” campaign went down like a lead ballon – and rightly so!
Putting the three word slogan to one side (they’re getting boring now!), we were infuriated by the idea that the Government are a) implying that artists aren’t skilled, and b) that they can dictate what someone’s vocation in life should be.
Anyway, we welcomed these parodies by @GregBirks as a bit of light relief! Check out Greg on Twitter for more where that came from.
Erin’s pick: Dystopian five-word poems
Inspired by the ‘cut-up technique’ utilised by Dadaist poets in the 1920s, artist Tim Fishlock has created a ‘wheel of fortune’ which creates random, dystopian five-word poems.
Each line of the wheel turns independently of each other when the lever is pulled, creating a dizzying display of colourful chaos. The work feels like something destined for a funfair yet the resulting slogans instantly spark dystopian images. The choice of words feel relevant, and despite the random combinations, they kind of all make sense.
Fishlock has said that “In an era when attention spans are short and brevity is king, I’ve been working at saying as much as possible with as few words as possible” – and I believe this piece achieves just that. The simple combination of randomised choice words really trigger a whole world of thought, trying to align the created poem to our own world and politics.
The piece is titled ‘The Poem Will Resemble You’ – a line taken from the original instructions of creating a ‘Cut-up’ Dadaist poem by one of the movement’s founders, Tristan Tzara. The poetry was created using cut-up news articles, and using the randomly selected words. These instructions were created one hundred years ago in 1920, with Dadaism being an anti-capitalist art movement.
We hope these have given you a little bit of inspiration today. If you’d like to bring some creativity into your own campaigns, we’re always open to discussing ideas. Simply get in touch on ellen@vidacreative.co.uk.