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.

6 ways to prepare your eCommerce site for the holidays

If your eCommerce site doesn’t run smoothly over the holidays, it's sure to spell trouble for your sales & reputation

Eco-friendly pasta straws are a popular alternative

Pasta straws are an alternative to paper that is also eco-friendly and has a low cost of production.

How would you like to get paid $6,800 a year to try on slippers?

Thanks to Bedroom Athletics, you can wear slippers while chilling at home — and get paid doing it.

Get wings delivered weekly with KFC’s ‘Seasoned Tickets’

KFC's fried chicken-scented Seasoned Tickets come just in time for football season.

Thought-provoking fragmented sculptures pop up across Venice

These sculptures resemble incomplete human forms that blend into their locations.

Adobe shares its design system and UI/UX assets

Adobe shares the components that make up its design system, comprising of over 100 tools.

FOX rebrand features a chunky new abstract logo

FOX has rebranded with an abstract logo reflecting the changing landscape of the entertainment industry.

French company releases Star Wars-themed cookware line

Le Creuset is a cookware favourite among chefs and foodies alike. Their latest line, however, caters to Star Wars fans.

Top design trends expected to take 2020 by storm

By knowing what is trending in the design industry, you can meld current trends with your personal style.

Elegant zero-waste bottles made from soap

Since only 1 in 5 people consistently recycle items from their bathroom, these bottles are a sustainable solution.

10 impressive back tattoos that are utter masterpieces

The back is one of the favourite canvases of tattoo artists. If you're thinking of getting one, here's some inspiration.

KFC is throwing chicken-themed weddings in Australia

If you’ve ever dreamt of marrying the one you love at a fast-food restaurant, here’s your chance. KFC Australia is offering a wedding package to couples to legally tie the knot Kentucky Fried Chicken style. The fast-food chain is organizing and paying for six chicken-themed weddings for couples…

Natural pigments created from fruit and vegetable waste

Nicole Stjernswärd has created a colour-making system that transforms plant waste into natural pigments.

The best of the 2019 Astronomy Photographer of the Year

Discover the beauty of our universe with the winners of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.

Photoshop unveils new content-aware options for precise removals

This new upgrade works with the help of Adobe Sensei to be more accurate and seamless than ever.

BK misses the deadline, so they ask fans to complete it

BK recently published an unfinished ad, calling upon fans to make improvements on it.

Yahoo reminds us they still exist by redesigning their logo

The redesign signals a strategic change for the company as it prepares to introduce other products and services.

The macro beauty of nature seen through water droplets

This photographer's macro adventures reveal a deeper understanding of how everything works.

Descriptive vs non-descriptive logos: Which works best?

Abstract logos like McDonalds or descriptive ones like Burger King each have pros and cons to designing.

Facebook considers hiding Like counts

Facebook could soon start hiding the Like counter on News Feed posts.

PANTONE’s 2020 colour forecast includes natural blues & greens

Expect various shades of greens to dominate the 2020 colour forecast, as well as oceanic and mineral blues.

Doritos campaign removes logo to appeal to Gen Z

Doritos has made the unprecedented decision of dropping its name, logo and tagline to appeal to Gen Z.

Yelp 101: A guide to Yelp for small business

The meteoric rise of Yelp has given nearly every customer a way to share their experiences with the world.

A limited-edition bicycle made from 300 recycled Nespresso coffee pods

These limited-edition bicycles use the aluminum garnered from used Nespresso coffee pods.

This colour-reflecting survival jacket is made of 2 billion glass spheres

Mimicking the adaptive skin of a squid, this jacket can reflect colours when exposed to light.

Amazon criticized for new non-recyclable packaging

Environmentally conscious shoppers have started complaining about Amazon’s use of plastic packaging.

The creative winners of the 2019 A’ Design Awards

Winning submissions include industrial design, architecture, product design, and more.

Instagram hack supposedly fools the algorithm to boost engagement

if you’re not happy with the reach your photos receive on Instagram, try this rumoured hack.

UK regulator banned Volkswagen ad for being ‘sexist’

Commercials from Volkswagen and Philadelphia Cream Cheese have been banned by new UK regulations.

Keep cool on the go with Sony’s wearable air conditioner

About the size of a small wallet, this portable device will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Adieu Smalls: The world’s first cat-inspired font

Adieu Smalls is a cat-inspired font created as part of a campaign for natural cat food subscription service Smalls.

Digital megaliths rise from ruins of a Japanese bathhouse

Megaliths in the Bath House Ruins is comprised of column-like structures that appear to burst out of the floor.

New Zealand City Council defends $98K smiley face rebrand

The Porirua City logo is described by the Taxpayers' Union as a "limp and childlike smiley face."

These Converse shoes start changing colours in sunlight

The UV-activated sneakers have the same classic Chuck Taylor All-Star design you'll recognize.

12 fun pet side hustles for pet-preneurs

Did you know that you can make a surprisingly decent amount of supplementary income working with pets?

Handcrafted beach jewellery made from sand and resin

Using real beach sand and blue resin, each piece looks like a tiny, wearable beach that wearers can take with them.

How to find clients and get noticed

Here are five tips to help you find clients, with some help from industry pros thrown in for good measure.

Famous creatives lesser-known hobbies & side gigs

Many famous creatives have side gigs or hobbies to help them relax and be more creative.

Washington’s Metro launches ad about manspreading

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority asks manspreaders to think about the comfort of other passengers.

Surreal plant sculptures look like a garden of death

Life-like sculptures created with a combination of faux greenery and real natural elements.

Instagram influencers are upset after Likes display is disabled

Instagram's hiding of Likes will allow users to focus on quality as well as what they really want to post.

Reusable mesh produce bags are a sustainable shopping alternative

Reusable mesh produce bags are a sustainable alternative to plastic produce bags.

Burger King’s 50/50 menu has you guessing if it’s meat or not

Is it meat or not? BK is playing roulette with your taste buds by giving you a 50/50 chance at eating meat or plant.

Graffiti artist transforms buildings into surreal 3D art

Using a variety of shading, gradients and shadows, static buildings become visually-striking optical illusions.

KFC Russia introduces a fried chicken bucket hat

If you ever wished you could wear a KFC bucket on your head, now you can with KFC Russia's bucket hat.

Amazing sculptures made out of driftwood by Jeffro Uitto

Jeffro Uitto is able to bend wood to his imagination in such a cool way that it doesn't begin to compare to others.

Instagram model’s bottled bathwater sells out

NSFW cosplayer decides to make money by selling her fans her own bathwater.

Adobe’s new AI can detect Photoshopped faces and reveal the original

Adobe is outing its own software with a new AI that can detect Photoshopped faces in photographs.

Handy skills you might need to future-proof your career

By 2030, about 800 million jobs around the world will be replaced by bots. Is your job secure?