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.
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?
Revisit the 80s with Nike’s Stranger Things collection
Nike has looked back into its archives to create a collection of clothing and sneakers based on Stranger Things.
Artist turns dried leaves into delicate crochet artworks
These delicate crochet artworks pay tribute to the enduring beauty of nature.
IKEA wants to send you to Denmark for free to experience Hygge culture
IKEA wants to send someone to live in Copenhagen for two weeks to explore what makes its residents so happy.
Get close to wildlife in treehouses at this eco-friendly forest resort
The biophilic design of the resort integrates its infrastructure with the natural surroundings of the park.
Inventor creates taller glasses to help shorter people see above crowds
The One Foot Taller glasses work like a periscope so that the wearer can see beyond the crowd no matter their height.
KFC’s new vegan Imposter Burger tastes like chicken
The Imposter Burger is made from meat substitute Quorn and is coated in the Colonel's Original Recipe.
Detailed balloon sculptures by Masayoshi Matsumoto
This artist blows and twists balloons into a wide range of intricately formed balloon sculptures.
Instagram page shares amazing creations from designers
Topdezigners is an Instagram page that reposts gorgeous sleek, modern, and innovative designs.
Burnout is now a recognized medical condition by the WHO
Creative burnout can happen to all of us, even those who don't consider themselves naturally creative people.
Intricate, 3D lace-patterned sculptures of animals
These multilayered animal portraits look amazing in photographs, but are even more impressive in Facebook's 3D photos.
Coca-Cola transforms logo to point to recycling bins
Coke uses its logo to point people to the nearest recycling bin to place their bottles and cans.
21 places to get free tools and software for your startup
Wikibuy has compiled 21 free startup tools to get an idea of how your business can save on costs.
Apple kills off iTunes to replace it with 3 other apps
Apple has announced that iTunes is no more and its music library will be divided across three apps.
Artist uses graffiti to bring fine art paintings to the streets
Julio Anaya Cabanding takes well-known masterpieces and recreates them in urban environments.
15 simple LinkedIn profile tips to boost your career
LinkedIn is the key social media network to grow your career and these simple tips can help.
Pop culture-inspired lip art are amazing masterpieces
The immense talent of Ryan Kelly's lip art takes make-up to a whole new level.
No money to travel? Photoshop yourself a trip with ‘Fake A Vacation’
Fake A Vacation allows Instagramming wannabes to have a photo of themselves appearing like they're on vacation.
Outdoor chandelier collects up to 800lbs of rainwater
John Grade's latest installation, Reservoir, appears like a chandelier glistening among the pine trees.
Game of Thrones-inspired fire-breathing dragon lamp
Bring the GoT fantasy vibe to your home with a 3D-printed, fire-breathing dragon lamp.
Funeral LEGO kits helps children learn about death
Funeral Museum in Vienna decided to help their young visitors by introducing funeral LEGO kits.