Genius: 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. Looking back on an intense 2017, we certainly had the perspiration sorted – particularly on those 30-degree July days.
But what about that 1 percent?
I’m glad you asked. Here's some of the most inspiring and exciting designs and developments we saw in 2017.
5. Here We Are
Living on Planet Earth, by Oliver Jeffers, was published in 2017 by Harper Collins. It’s easy to believe Jeffers wrote and illustrated the children’s book with his newborn son in mind, as the simplicity of the artwork and the prose captures the innocence and wonder of a child confronted with the complexity of our world – in a style reminiscent of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic, The Little Prince.
4. Aectual 3D printed floors
Aectual is a Dutch company that uses 3D printing to create customisable terrazzo flooring from a plant-based, recyclable bio-plastic. Promising to deliver at any scale and in any building, Aectual offers “endless possibilities to create personal, sustainable & beautiful building products”. After several years of experimentation and prototypes, it’s exciting to see 3D printing technology come into its own as a viable construction tool.
3. Pantone’s Color of the Year 2018: Ultra Violet
Pantone’s Color of the Year doesn’t merely reflect colour trends, but offers strategic direction for the world of design. Ultra Violet is said to communicate “originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking” – a forward-looking colour that suggests limitless possibility. We’ll be particularly interested to see its use in the beauty sector.
2. Waterdrop
Waterdrop, developed by Austrian water company KVELL, promises us a “new way to drink”: simply drop the compressed cube into drinking water to create a refreshing beverage. This ‘microdrink’ may sound like high-tech science fiction, but it’s actually driven by an ethos of sustainability. In fact, in 2017 the elegant, minimalist packaging, made of 100% biodegradable PaperFoam material, won a Dieline Award in the sustainability category. We love that Waterdrop has threaded its brand message through every aspect of its product.
1. Magic Leap
Mixed reality – the next big thing in digital – merges the real and virtual worlds to allow both physical and digital objects to interact with each other in real time. Magic Leap’s ‘mixed reality headset’ could signify a step change in immersive technology, reinventing the way people engage with computers. Looking a bit like a pair of goggles, the headset inserts digital content into the wearer’s view of the world using virtual retinal display technology. Can’t quite picture it? Take a look at Magic Leap’s homepage for a glimpse of this exciting digital future. We can’t WAIT to use this in our experiential campaigns!
Image sources: Harper Collins, Aectual, Pantone, Waterdrop, Magic Leap
