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.
Baker creates geometric pies with patterns and colour
When we think about beautifully designed desserts, cakes often get all the credit. But you can’t underestimate the power of creative pies. Lauren Ko is a Seattle-based baker who got her start after her Instagram account of pies with unique geometric designs went viral.
Russian start-up plans to deploy space-based billboards
A Russian startup, StartRocket, plans massive billboards to beam advertisements to Earth from space.
How to avoid burnout as a small business owner
1 out of 10 businesses fail because of lack of passion, and it’s estimated that negativity costs businesses $3 billion in productivity every year.
Artist swaps paint for needle & thread to create embroidery landscapes
From billowing clouds to rainbow-hued sunsets, Russian artist Vera Shimuniu has definitely mastered the art of landscape embroidery.
Nestlé says goodbye to single-use plastic
In a recent press release, Nestlé stated that it will begin eliminating all plastic straws in its products.
The top 10 freelance side gigs to earn some extra cash
Freelance side gigs are one of the best ways to earn some extra cash or stay creative if your day job isn't stimulating you anymore.
9 logo trends to keep an eye out for in 2019
A new year brings new opportunities, a fresh start, and new logo trends.
McDonald’s loses Big Mac trademark case to Irish fast food brand
McDonald’s registration of the trademark was lost because they had not proven genuine use of the term Big Mac as a burger or restaurant name.
Don’t like tying your laces? Check out Nike’s self-lacing basketball shoes
Nike's Adapt BB are an auto-lacing, app-controlled basketball shoe that's loaded technological advancements.
Handmade paper toys you squeeze, drop or tap for a fun surprise
Haruki constructs his whimsical creatures with a paper twist, and each figure’s movements are prompted by human touch.
Adult-friendly LEGO kits to build a mini Leica camera
Designer Chris McVeigh and LEGO have teamed up to create a Leica M model kit. Each set lets you build your own toy version of the iconic camera.
7 web design trends that could shape 2019
2019 web design trends are expected to see aesthetics and technology come together like never before.
Matthew Shlian turns paper into stunning geometric art
Combining a talent for sculpture with a knack for engineering, artist Matthew Shlian takes simple paper sheets and creates amazing geometric sculptures.
McDonald’s introduces its first vegan-friendly Happy Meal
One third of McDonald’s UK customers polled said it was important to them to include more meat-free meals.
For designers on the go, iPad finally gets a full version of Photoshop
Adobe’s premiere image editor, Photoshop remains the industry standard because of how the software can assist photographers and graphic designers in doing their jobs. It is, however, about the get a lot easier for Apple users. This year Adobe is finally bringing Photoshop CC—a fully…
Surviving life as a freelancer
Freelancing can be a great option whether you’re looking for more flexibility or control over your work.
The important meaning behind Pantone’s 2019 Colour Of The Year
Following 2018's intense and dramatic Ultra Violet, this year's colour is a life-affirming shade of orange with a golden undertone that's decidedly more natural than last year's choice.
The 2018 National Geographic Photo Contest winners
The categories for the 2018 National Geographic Photo Contest include Wildlife, People, and Places.
Tiffany & Co. releases what’s essentially fancy LEGO for US$1,650
Did you love LEGO as a kid, but feel that it's not luxurious enough now that you're older? Well, Tiffany & Co. has just released a more opulent version that's the perfect gift for your inner child.
Spice up the holidays with the KFC fire log
Forget pine and cinnamon. Maybe Christmas should smell like crispy fried chicken.
The #InstaGiftGuide, based on popular 2018 hashtags
The #InstaGiftGuide matches six popular hashtag trends from 2018 with gift-worthy products.
McDonald’s releases McNugget Christmas ornaments
One of the world’s largest fast food chains is sprucing up the holiday season with some signature Christmas ornaments. McDonald’s UK has just rolled out two variations of ornaments. Celebrating the almighty Chicken McNugget, you’ll want a full box of 50.
Pantone unveils 2018 Holiday Gift Guide for designers
Trying to find the right gift can be especially challenging when the person you're shopping for has refined tastes and a good sense of design.
Email phrases that seem polite, but have different meanings
We receive plenty of work #emails the begin with phrases that sound polite, but they often have a passive-aggressive tone.
Creative bookends that you have to see up close to appreciate
It’s easy to get lost in a good book; they can transport you to another place, another time, and even other realms. Tokyo-based designer, Monde, has found his own way to take book-lovers to another world with a whimsical art project called Bookshelf Dioramas.
Starbucks to ban porn in its stores, so YouPorn bans them from offices
Apparently Starbucks doesn’t want its customers using their free WiFi to look at porn. Enough Is Enough, a nonprofit dedicated to internet safety, created a petition calling for the coffee chain to block access to explicit materials.
World’s first fully 3D printed electric motorcycle
BigRep, one of the leading companies in large-scale industrial 3D printing, has demoed a stunning new concept to show off their manufacturing prowess.
Fashion retailer sells twigs for US$50 leaving Internet speechless
If you visit the website of fashion retailer Anthropologie, you’ll see a product called Birch Branch Bundle. Exactly what the name implies, this bundle of decorative twigs is not much different from what you’d find in your own yard.
Designer shares animated Illustrator cheat sheets for creating icons
Icons and symbols are powerful tools that have been used by humans to communicate ideas for over 100,000 years. Computer-based illustration tools like Adobe Illustrator have made creating icons easier than ever.
Pantone’s new colour finder helps you find the right hues
Pantone has been a colour leader for a while now, but as designers, there are great many advantages of using Pantone as a colour guide. Designers routinely undergo multiple handovers each time they work on a project, and earlier this year, the company promised to simplify work processes for…
Add dimension to your projects with 2600+ free Photoshop textures
You probably have an archive of typefaces, actions and other resources to add a little something-something to your projects. But what about Photoshop textures? They are an awesome resource for designers who want to play around with different looks—especially because you can download thousands of…
Adobe sued over bug that deleted freelancer’s work
One of the most important things to remember in design is to back-up your work. That being said, sometimes even the those files can be vulnerable to bugs. That’s the case with a freelance videographer who recently filed a class action lawsuit against Adobe.
BK uses actual photos of car crashes to encourage home delivery
Some people are so hungry for a Whopper that they don’t just go through the drive-thru, they go through the entire restaurant. And that’s what led Burger King to create this campaign by Lola MullenLowe, promoting home delivery with images of real car crashes that occurred…
Scents to help you work
Everywhere you look, it seems that there is a new suggestion or idea on how to increase your productivity and efficiency at work. This isn’t surprising, since cracking the code of how to stay on top of your tasks and truly shine in your work…
Winners from the 2018 Siena International Photo Awards
Whittled down from 48,000 entries from 156 countries, judges had a difficult time deciding the winners of the 2018 Siena International Photo Awards.
Dubai Police begin training on futuristic Hoverbikes
Here’s one more sign that the future is catching up fast: Dubai police officers may soon be patrolling the streets with flying Hoverbikes.
Volkswagen’s ad about avoiding advertising bans ironically gets banned
Volkswagen’s “Too powerful for TV“ commercial was, apparently, too powerful for television in Australia. The humorous commercial was banned in the country for breaking advertising codes of conduct and for being “unsafe”.
Norway’s banknotes get pixelated nature-inspired design
Back in 2014, creative agency Snøhetta and Metric Design won a competition to redesign Norway’s banknotes. Finally, all of the country’s paper currency has been redesigned and nearly all entered into circulation.
Up your gaming interior with Sony Playstation furniture
If you’re wondering what to get the gamer in your life for Christmas, how about official PlayStation furniture like a branded bean bag chair?
Most frequently used typefaces of hundreds of brands
It’s true that people don’t look like their Instagram shots, or they’re not as happy as their Facebook profiles try to convince us. It’s also true that designers don’t use all those trendy font combinations you might think.
13 psychological pricing tips to help boost sales
You’ve likely figured out best practices for mobile marketing, design, and internal communication for your business. It seems like you have a pretty good system in place, but it gets a little tired. You find you and your team are stuck in the monotony of…
How to get more positive online reviews for your business
Positive online reviews can tip the balance in your favour when it comes to consumer decision making. So if you think online reviews get lost in all the Internet noise, think again.
Organ donation ad featuring Jesus at the crucifixion sparks controversy
An Australian group has released a new ad to promote organ donation. And as they point out in the ad, organ donation can save lives. However, the number of people who register for organ donation remains relatively low.
Art Institute of Chicago releases thousands of hi-res artworks for free
A city steeped in art and culture, Chicago boasts one of the oldest and largest museums in the United States: the Art Institute of Chicago. While visiting this historic institution should be on any art lovers’ list, a recent website redesign has made experiencing its collection as simple as a…
Chinese city wants to replace street lights with artificial Moon
The largest and brightest object in the night sky, the Moon has long inspired curiosity and wonder. And landing a man on the Moon is still considered one of humanity’s greatest achievements.
Oreo tries new flavours by debuting seaweed cookies
Oreo keeps trying to create new flavour innovations to entice consumers—which can be both good and bad for cookie lovers.
Write people up for design offences with the Typographic Ticket Book
Is someone using terrible kerning, stretching type or did you get a client brief in the dreaded Comic Sans? Don’t despair. The next time someone commits design offences, you can write them up with this Typographic Ticket Book.
Top 10 winners of the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition
Now entering it’s 44th year of celebrating the beauty of a microscopic world, Nikon has announced the winners of its 2018 Small World Photomicrography Competition.
Eco-friendly dog house design boasts impressive features
Showing that eco-friendly building concepts are applicable to even our canine friends, California-based architecture and interior design firm Studio Schicketanz has designed a dog house unlike any other.
KFC embraces zero waste movement with edible wrappers
3.5 million tons of plastic and other solid waste are generated each day across the world, according to researchers. Yet, there are a growing number of companies and people who are joining the zero waste movement.