The Donut Project

I’m a sucker for “year end” madness (and this year, we have even more lists with the decade ending! hooray for my organizational brain) so today I bring you Tiny Mix Tapes‘ choices for the best album covers of 2009. A lot of these rely heavily on surrealism (Piano Magic and Glen Johnson’s covers are so derivative of Rene Magritte) and drizzly, hazy psychedelia to stun you and most are completely devoid of lettering of any kind. Compare these to 2008’s choices if you’d like.

A short movie about the brand and design development for a San Francisco chocolate company, TCHO by Edenspiekermann.

The 3Fold bag by Hard Graft is one of the most gorgeous portfolio/laptop/overnighter bags I’ve ever seen. Designed to switch for your 3 major needs, this stunning leather piece transforms to fit your portfolio, your laptop and then your clothes. It’s beautifully crafted and for a mere 409 euro, it can be yours. I’ll just enjoy drooling over my keyboard for now. Buy your own here.

via notcot

Lovely Packaging shared these brilliant ‘rockstar’ packages designed by The Jupiter Drawing Room for Musica.

As music retailers face increasing pressure to find alternative revenue streams beyond the sales of CDs and DVDs, the opportunities have to lie in lifestyle products. Inside of everyone of us is an alter-ego who secretly wants to be a rock star, pop icon or jazz supremo. This was identified by The Jupiter Drawing Room (Cape Town) with our latest range of work executed for client Musica.
Conceptualised, illustrated and designed by the Design department of Jupiter; the packaging, in-store product stand as well as the writing of the copy communicates the in-your-face, anti-establishment rebelliousness of Rock music. And lets the user believe just for a moment they really could be a rock icon.

I don’t normally post a huge number of photos, but these are excellent… too good not to post. See them all after the jump.

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Dzmitry Samal created these geometric Coca-Cola cans. Dzmitry proposes to use impact extrusion to form the jagged-edged can. The change in geometry and minimalistic graphics make for an eye-catching design that would set any company apart from the rest on store shelves.

There are, of course, some limitations of this design that would have to be addressed if it were to become a commercial product. Nutrition facts, ingredients and other bureaucratic copy would have to exist somewhere. It’s doubtful that the cost-per-can to produce would be as low as standard cylindrical cans, so these would likely make more sense with a specialized product, as opposed to a mainstream brand like Coca-Cola, to make up the different in cost to produce the cans.

Limitations aside, it’s quite a sexy form that would get me to atleast try whatever drink was inside it. Check out Dzmitry’s other work at his site www.samaldesign.com.

(via The DieLine)

There are a lot of times I feel helpless in fighting against hunger, saving stray pets, reversing global warming and seem to use more often than I should, “But how can I make a difference?” This beverage concept from Yanko Design can solve that. Bottles pictured above are sold at full price, but half of the contributions are donated to worthy causes. The concept is so simple, but seems like a great resolve to the “How can I help” dilemma. I really REALLY hope someone picks it up! Read more about the project and see more diagrams of the process here.

via notcot

Ever have a strong craving for carbonated milk? Well your prayers have been answered by CocaCola. Introducing Vio, the world’s first “vibrancy drink.”

Vio is a combination of carbonated water, sugar, flavoring and a “hint of rBGH-free skim milk” and requires no refrigeration. The drink is available 4 flavors (peach mango, very berry, citrus burst & tropical colada) and comes in 8 oz. bottles for $2.50. It is making a test market run in New York City before possibly being released nationwide. If $2.50 for an 8 oz. beverage sounds a tad pricey, remember it’s being sold in NYC and a bottle of Pellegrino there goes for roughly $74 and a slice of pizza is $87.

Almost as remarkable as this odd product, is the language used to describe it. CocaCola must have purchased a stack of thesauri and hired the slickest bunch of marketers/copyrighters money can buy. This “vibrancy drink” is “so delicious and effervescent, you just have to try it to believe it.” The Very Berry flavor apparently tastes like a “birthday party for a polar bear” and another “tastes like a dreamsicle in technicolor.”

Interesting. I wonder if this will catch on? I’m sure they’ll sell plenty to curious first-timers, but will it have staying power? View the site at viovibe.com.

(via Quipsologies)

Great packaging from Help Remedies. Their simple design and teeny packaging is just so freakin’ cute! They are also making a fantastic effort towards environmentally friendly packaging:

Our packaging is made of molded paper pulp and a bio plastic made primarily of corn. We use these materials because they are interesting to look at, and they are compostable—which means one day, they might become part of a large tree. Maybe you can cut down that tree and make it into a speedboat.

See more after the jump and each package individually with it’s contents here.

via LovelyPackage

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Walmart has rebranded their in-house brand ‘Great Value.’ The original branding above screams “discount brand” while the new branding only whispers it. The new branding has to be viewed as a vast improvement over the former, but I feel that it’s still missing the mark a bit. Continued after the jump…

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Coca-Cola has released 5 new can designs for this summer. Coca-Cola continues to upstage Pepsi in graphic identity with these clean designs. Full-size individual cans after the jump.
(via TheDieline)

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