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.
Deadpool presents a humorous testicular cancer PSA
Over the weekend the movie Deadpool brought in an estimated $150 million at the box office. And although this is the largest opening for a February movie, Ryan Reynolds—while dressed as Deadpool—took the time to talk testicular cancer.
The most bizarre hobbies from around the world
While the average people takes up a hobby like playing sports, baking — or even stamp collecting — there are a handful of unique individuals that consider these common pass-times mundane. So what do these people do instead? According to British website Gifts.co.uk, they enjoy…
Popular, yet controversial, upskirt umbrellas
Japan loves its animation and has a lot of anime merchandise aimed at the market there and around the globe. Hoping to establish the theme of Crazy Japan around the world, a designer collective called Million Girls Project intends to produce everyday products with a bizarre, controversial…
Learn some dirty talk you can use on designers
"Baby, you make my font go all cap lock."
Highly sexual words to add to your vocabulary
This list contains highly sexual words that describe naughty moments in life.
3 proven ways to prevent awkward conversations
Did you know that there are proven ways to prevent the conversation from turning awkward?
Interesting stats surrounding New Year’s traditions
How much do you know about New Year’s traditions?
Do you have a dark personality? Take this quiz to find out
Do you want to be a ruthless dictator? Psychologists believe the dark triad of personality — Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy – might help you succeed in life.
Introvert’s guide to being productive in the office
You may like your co-workers, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy for you to get things done when they’re around. If that sort of sounds like you, but you’re not sure, introverts are the quiet ones that tend to feel more energized from spending time…
Interesting Christmas traditions from around the world
This infographic lists the interesting types of food traditions, tree decorations, and gift-giving practices around the world.
Make words look good with Scrabble Typography
Winning Solutions has switched up the game of Scrabble by making Scrabble Typography.
Ad agency takes bad ideas, turns them into gifts to clients
When it comes to defining a problem, creating as many solutions as possible often leads to a few bad ideas. And while creativity is a trial-and-error process, sometimes good ideas come from the bad. At least, that’s what advertising agency Wax has discovered by brilliantly…
What your favourite Christmas cookie says about you
Do you have a special kind of Christmas cookie that you love to eat during the holiday season? If so, then what does that particular cookie say about you as a person?
Still cooking the same meals? Shake up your routine with Foodie Dice
If traditional cooking leaves you feeling uninspired in the kitchen, these Foodie Dice will help get your creative juices flowing.
How to survive the office holiday party
We’ve entered the peak of the holiday party season and most companies are gathering to celebrate the end of a hardworking year. This is the time of year when your colleagues get hammered and make complete fools of themselves.
Bacon up your Christmas tree with a bacon ornament
It’s a staple of many breakfasts and loved by meat eaters the world over. It has even been blamed for turning vegetarians into meat eaters. Yes, we’re talking about bacon.
Test your urinal etiquette with this online game
Most men are aware of the unspoken golden rule of urinal etiquette: if possible, never stand next to another dude when peeing.
An Advent calendar just for adults
When you were a kid, do you remember anticipating each new day in December leading to Christmas when you’d open up your Advent calendar to get a treat? Now that you’re an adult, wouldn’t you love to relive those feelings of joy and anticipation with…
Burger King launches illustrated Christmas packaging
With the Christmas season kicking into high gear, Burger King has announced their limited edition packaging for the festive holiday. The illustrated packaging features several colourful motifs.
What shoppers want and where they’ll go to buy it
This year, the hope is the lower Canadian dollar will help convince both Canadians and Americans that the best deals lie north of the border.
Powerful ads warn about the dangers of child neglect
Child neglect comes in many forms. Unfortunately, behaving negligent with a child also encourages bigger problems.
5 habits that make you look unprofessional
Do one or more of your colleagues behave unprofessionally at work, leaving you to question how they even still have a job? We’re all creatures of habit and it’s hard to change the behaviours we’ve become accustomed to. But like I’m sure your mother said, “There’s a time…
Purchasing habits of the wealthy and very rich
How much do you need to make in a year to be considered wealthy? While most Americans have varying ideas on the subject, most say you need to bring in at least $1 million per year.
Subtle body language tricks to make you instantly likeable
Verbal cues aren’t the only way that humans express what they’re thinking or feeling. In fact, we express a lot through visual cues given off by our body language. It also plays a large factor in the type of impression we make on others.
Get a scream out of the top designer fears
Design careers have their challenges just like any other profession. And while designers experience fear on some level, the difference between success and failure is how they deal with that fear. With Halloween coming up, Creative Market asked designers to rank the worst of their terrors, depending…
Become an advertising god with the Award Winning Game
Do you work in the advertising industry? If so, then you know how demanding it can be with very little praise—until you win an award.
Are they sex toys or dog toys? Can you tell?
With a wide array of dog toys on the market, they come in all shapes, sizes and colours for you to have some innocent fun with Rover. But with all those different shapes, they can sometimes resemble playthings that are much less innocuous.
Learn the reason why we pretend to be busy
Chances are that throughout your day someone has asked you, “hey, are you busy?“ And whether you were or not, your answer was probably yes. But why?
The differences between Canadian & US Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy food, friends, and family. As millions of Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving, I couldn’t help but wonder the differences between the Canadian and American holidays?
Curious dinner table customs from around the world
“Sit up straight, don’t put your elbows on the table.” If you’re like me, then table manners were something that we were taught at a young age. However, your dinner table etiquette at home might come across as unrefined, snobbish or even rude in other…
Snickers swaps out its name for hunger symptoms
You can now call out those friends who get irritable when hunger strikes by handing the a Snickers. Following the trend toward of personalized packaging like Coca Cola, Snickers is replacing its brand name on their packaging.
You can now bottle the scent of the dearly departed into perfume
Smell is one of the most powerful senses in the human body. In fact, it’s closely linked with memory and can spark vivid recollection of nostalgic moments from our past; scent can remind us of places, even people in our lives. Therefore, when we lose someone, belongings…
Office survival kit helps you destroy your bullying boss
Regardless of your industry, you’re bound to encounter a bullying boss who goes out of their way to make your life a living nightmare.
Miniature scenes of summer captured in jewellery
Labour Day passed, the kids back to school and summer is wrapping up. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take the memory of season and wear them wherever you go.
It’s time to play Ad Agency Bingo
There’s no need to be bored at work. If you’re tired of working long hours in temperature controlled rooms while tolerating the obnoxious nomenclature, you haven’t played Ad Agency Bingo yet.
Why you should wear the same thing to work every day
Throughout the work week we’re confronted with thousands of decisions, both big and small; whether its choosing between #0099FF and #3399FF, or deciding to entirely change careers. With every decision you make, you’re using up the finite supply of mental energy allocated to you each day.…
How big brands use colour to affect your emotions
More than just text and symbols, a logo has the power to create a lasting connection with consumers.
How career choices and your personality type relate
Have you ever wondered if your personality type affects where you land a job or end up in a certain field? Did you know that your personality type can predict how much money you’ll make, how many people you’ll supervise, even if you’ll like your…
Funny graphics of 2 cows explaining economics
Economics has become increasingly relevant in our globalized society. When we think economy, we think about everything from our personal finances to business and international trade deals. Economics deals with a lot of things including money and borrowing, production and consumption, trade, employment, and much…
Carlsberg’s limited edition, beer-infused grooming products
Do you like your beer? I find it especially good on a warm summer’s day. But would you swap your favourite shampoo for beer? That’s what Carlsberg is hoping with their new line of beer-infused male grooming products created at their Copenhagen-based Carlsberg Laboratory.
Clever ads show how smartphone obsession hurts those around us
According to researchers, the average person is so engrossed in their smart device that they can no longer accurately read how people are feeling. Those same people also have such an obsession with their devices that they’ve forgotten how to properly interact with people in…
This book shows you how to fold sex-themed origami
If you really want to impress people with artistic paper folding skills beyond making paper airplanes, origami is the way to go. Origami is the art of paper folding and normally features animals shapes, flowers, and other designs. However, if standard origami is a bit too boring…
What would life be like if office stock photos were real?
If you’re in advertising or design, chances are you’ve probably had to use office stock photos at one time or another. In fact, stock images are everywhere online; there’s the creative professional staring at a blank screen, the happy telemarketer flashing her brightest smile, and, who…
How to be the jerk on your design team
When you’re working on your own, there’s a sense of freedom to do things your way on your time. However, if you’re working as part of a design team, it’s easy for personalities to clash.
Infographic: What does your style of beer says about you?
As we head into Canada Day, with all the celebrations I thought that it would be a good time to talk about beer. Everyone has their own go-to brew. Whether yours is a light lager or a dark ale, your style of beer reveals more than…
What not to say on your first day at work
It's natural to want to fit in. However, many people end up trying too hard, and talk when they should listen.
The 2 types of email users: Which are you?
All email users have their own unique habits, it seems. I’ve known some who have to read every single email that comes through their inbox. And I’ve known others who have completely opposite habits, only checking what’s at the top… sometimes.
Analyzing the signatures of tech entrepreneurs
Your signature is unique to you. It’s a mark that represents you on important documents; something that allows people to trust that what it represents came from you. But did you know that signatures can indicate over 5,000 personality traits?
Learn how to swear like the British
Once the use of profanities in public was outright appalling to most in general society. Nowadays, swear words like fuck, shit and bollocks are just part of normal conversation. In fact, a recent study in the UK found that people are more comfortable with swearing on television…
Toothpaste campaign shows how a smile changes the story
A simple smile has more power than you might think. No matter where you are in the world, what language you speak, or social status, a smile will always be understood. And this is the focus of a print campaign by toothpaste brand Crest.