The Design Block
If you're looking for the latest in advertising and marketing, design related technology and lifestyle tips, and art or design highlights then you're in the right place. Find all this and more with the Design Block blog.
The latest Instagram food trend is avocado burger buns
If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Traditionally, hamburgers and other bbq are served on buns that come in all shapes and sizes. But I am reasonably certain there have never been avocado burger buns — that is, until now.
Company lets kids design their own clothes
Many people assume that you are either born creative or not. Not true. Creativity is actually more of skill that you can learn, which makes it a skill parents can help their kids develop. That’s what Jaimee Newberry, mother of two did with her kids.
25 potential culture shocks from around the world
Don’t flush your toilet paper and never finish your food or you’ll seem rude. When traveling to other countries for the first time, some local practices might come as potential culture shocks to foreigners. This handy infographic reveals surprising habits and social faux pas from around the world.
Low polygon animal head trophies made of colored paper
Trophy hunting animals is all about the thrill of the kill. Without trying to defend or shame trophy hunters, hanging the head of an animal in your home seems a bit tacky. Especially from a design perspective. But if you want to give your home a distinguished hunter’s…
KFC scented sunscreen has just launched and sold out
There’s certainly no shortage of strange beauty products on the market. Products like Burger King’s Whopper cologne or KFC’s finger lickin’ good nail polish are available for purchase. Apparently consumers can’t get enough of that finger lickin’ good fried chicken. KFC has released an Extra Crispy Sunscreen that comes…
Temporary tattoos double as app and device controls
The wearable technology market has been flourishing in recent years. As that technology grows, so to does design and innovation. In the future, even your tattoos could be much more than just ink designs.
Water Tables create the illusion of animals emerging from the glass
Derek Pearce's Water Tables series features animal bases emerging from glass tabletops.
Draw electrical circuits with this silver ink pen
This may look like just a normal marker, but it’s much more than that. However using the conductive properties of silver found in the ink, you can turn your doodles into a functioning electrical circuit.
Instagram account shares funny memes for creatives
Creatives, do you enjoy memes about your industry? If you do, you should definitely follow @screensaviors on Instagram.
How creatives spend an average day
There’s no argument anymore. Neuroscience confirms that highly creative people think and act differently than the average person. Their brains are literally hardwired in a unique way. So what is it like to lead a creative life?
Sliced lamps made from real firewood
There are many people who like sitting in front of an indoor or outdoor fireplace and enjoying each others company. In fact, humans have been using wood-based fires to keep ourselves warm for thousands of years. However for LA-based designer Paul Foeckler of Split Grain, a simple block…
Trams in Amsterdam offer a unique gaming experience
For those who take public transit, playing games on your phone is probably how you pass the time. Parts of the world are going crazy trying to catch Pokémon through their phone with Pokémon Go. But that doesn’t mean you need to run around town chasing digital…
Pirate Printers use sewer covers to print bags and shirts
There’s nothing like utilizing the tools in front of us to create art. Look around you. Art is everywhere if you want to find it. For example, who says you need a fancy printing press and machinery to create your own t-shirt designs?
The unintentional exercises designers do while working
It takes a lot of work to get a chiselled look and rock-hard abs. The way I see it though, who needs a six-pack when you have a keg. That being said, physical activity has a positive impact on brain health.
Advertising agency life roasted like BBQ items
If industry talk is to be believed, job-seekers should run for the hills rather than risk their sanity on ad agency life.
Fashion Illustrator uses his environment to complete his designs
You may remember a previous post about an illustrator who uses food items to finish his fashion sketches. This time I’m featuring Shamekh Bluwi, a Jordan-based architect and fashion illustrator. He uses clouds, buildings, and whatever else he finds to decorate his dress designs.
KFC Thailand’s new speedy packaging design
KFC's new speedy packaging is a way to encourage people who appreciate the service to order even more.
Mesmerizing kinetic sculpture floats over Pershing Square
This eye-catching kinetic sculpture casts moving shadows over those who walk underneath.
21 tips for a successful job interview
Company Folders has compiled this helpful infographic with 21 tips for a successful job interview.
Looking for a healthy alternative to donuts? Try sushi donuts
An Australian vegan foodie has come up with a different kind of donut — one made from sushi.
Shazam-like handheld tool for font finding
This handheld tool captures typefaces — even colours — from the real world and searches for them online.
Mesmerizingly colourful quilled paper art
Quilled paper has seen a resurgence over the last few years, and it’s arguably all thanks to Yulia Brodskaya.
Fake animal facts left all over Los Angeles Zoo
If you recently visited the Los Angeles Zoo, you may have spotted some rather unusual animal facts.
IKEA ads cleverly remind us of product affordability
A reminder to their customers about how affordable their furniture really is.
Unique page load GIFs help to distract users
Stop using the same old boring spinners for your page load interfaces. Seriously.
People react to ridiculous client demands
We’ve all had them at one time or another. No, not the clap; I’m talking about the ridiculous client demands. Terrible clients come in all shapes, but in the following video, it comes in the form of a suit-wearing businessman called Matt.
Sleep under the stars (literally) in Alps open-air hotel
There is no roof, there are no walls, and not even a bathroom (at least not one closer than a 10-minute walk).
Marou chocolate bars wrapped in handmade art
The National Gallery Singapore partnered with chocolate brand Marou to create artisanal chocolate bars.
Beautiful lip art from makeup artist Jazmina Daniel
Loved by Instagram's beauty community, this makeup artist creates colourful designs on her lips.
Life’s realities summed up in humorously honest illustrations
Mexican illustrator Eduardo Salles pokes fun at the realities of modern lives with brutally honest illustrations.
The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest winners
Chosen from more than 10,000 entries worldwide, these are the best travel photos of 2016.
Learn how to escape zip-tie restraints
With a little bit of practice, it’s actually fairly easy to escape from zip-ties. Find out how.
How to increase conversions on eCommerce sites
These factors help customers decide whether or not they’ll make a purchase from your website.
Create your own furniture using SPYNDI locking sticks
You can now build your own furniture in any shape you wish with locking wooden sticks.
Ad spoof features Ryan Reynolds hanging off a helicopter
The spoof ad parodies the creative process of the ad industry by giving viewers a behind the camera look.
Water completes these bronze fountain sculptures
For the past 30 years Malgorzata Chodakowska has been creating beautiful bronze fountain sculptures.
How to step up to seniority
It's never too early to be thinking about how to advance your career to a position of seniority.
Cheryl Lee’s magical forest inspired jewellery
Allowing our minds to escape into fantasy can be entertaining, distracting, frightening, or even arousing. That escape into our inner world allows us to rehearse the future and imagine new adventures without risk. Thus, it allows the mind to roam freely and aid creativity.
Out-of-this-world galaxy donuts are delicious
A recent time ago, in a galaxy not so far far away… arrived the latest Instagram food craze. Prepare to be starry-eyed with the latest addition to the galaxy confection craze: the galaxy donut.
Dry pool lets you float your workplace worries away
This dry pool allows you to float your worries away without the need to bring a bathing suit to work.
Dove ad highlights women’s beauty on their own terms
7 in 10 women believe they get more compliments about their look than their professional achievements.
The world’s longest invoice reveals what freelancers are owed
By inviting frustrated freelancers to contribute what they're owed, this invoice gives an idea of what's owed.
Pantone Café serves food inspired by colour
if perfectly colour coordinated, tasty food is what brings you joy, head to the pop-up Pantone Café in Monaco.
A blind artist creates a series of hypnotizing GIFs
This legally blind artist has raised the bar in the art of animated images with his ongoing series.
Celebrate Canada Day with interesting Canadian facts
Did you know that we produce more maple syrup than any other country? Learn more facts about Canada.
Memes that highlight the real struggles of designers
Working as a designer isn’t as glorified as many of us like to make it out to be. Sure we sit behind our fancy computers with huge screens, designing pretty images; however working in design can also be one of the most stressful, involving and cutting edge…
Psychological tips and tricks to get clients to buy your idea
As creatives who have to deal with clients, we all face one difficult and uncomfortable situation in our careers. You already have the project, so this isn’t about convincing them to pick you for the job. This is about guiding the client to accept that…
Discover amazingly delicate and detailed hand-cut paper art
I’ve previously posted about intricate hand-carved artworks made of paper before. However, this amazingly detailed hand-cut paper art from Japanese artist Mr. Riu is just as impressive, if not more.
Clear jelly flower lipstick contains real flowers inside
Kailijumei's clear jelly flower lipstick is all the rage and contains gold specks and real dried flowers.
Common Photoshop mistakes and how to avoid them
As the industry standard, Photoshop is a powerful image editing tool for designers. There are lots of Photoshop resources around to help us keep on top of thing, including handy tutorials. But in the wrong hands it can affect quality and make things less productive.