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.
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.
Canadian sculptor takes 1st place at Texas SandFest
Canadian sculptor Damon Langlois was awarded first place for his sculpture, "Liberty Crumbling".
Adidas announces first 100% recyclable running shoe
The Futurecraft.Loop is Adidas' first shoe that can be completely remade into another high-performance shoe.
Burger King unhappy meals, because not everybody wakes up happy
BK has teamed with Mental Health America to release five unhappy meals called The Real Meal.
LEGO releases Braille bricks for visually impaired children
For children who are born visually impaired, Braille is a crucial skill to learn and LEGO has come up with a way to make it fun.
How to negotiate freelance rates like a pro
45% of Canada’s workforce will be freelancing by 2020, so what better time to discover your worth.
Giant mirror installation is a kaleidoscope of colour
The multi-coloured panels of the installation refract a dazzling kaleidoscope of light from the sun.
Customers are protesting McDonald’s new paper straws
Apparently people aren't lovin' it after McDonald's UK replaced its plastic straws with eco-friendly ones.
Embroidery tattoos look like they’re stitched into skin
Tattoos and embroidery, when combined, make for eye-catching 3D ink that doesn't involve a needle and thread.
An influencer’s nightmare: Instagram experiments with removing likes
Imagine influencers on Instagram when no one but you can see how many followers or likes you have.