The rest of the world will find out in April when HOW Magazine publishes its 11th Annual Interactive Design Award edition, but YOU, dear Underground Blog Reader, get the low down skivvy on the inside tip:
WE WON! WE WON! WE WON!
(Not that we care about that kind of thing.)
But we are rather proud that StopSoot.Org - the video, website and ad campaign we created for EarthJustice - was selected out of over 700 entries to receive one of handful of merit awards.
Congrats to everyone who worked on the project and EarthJustice for a super successful campaign.
Above, an example of the nine-planet crest of the Hosokawa clan, as seen in the Asian Art Museum’s new exhibition Lords of the Samurai, via the museum’s excellent new blog. The exhibition, which I saw when it opened a couple weeks ago, is just fantastically cool, and the crest, which appears over and over again, is just a small part of it.
Now I know what you’re saying: “But Heath, how could this ancient crest depict nine planets when Pluto wasn’t discovered until 1930? Are space aliens involved? Or perhaps time-traveling robots?” This is Japan we’re talking about, of course, and one should not immediately discount science fiction-related explanations.
You’re also probably asking: “What exactly does this have to do with nonprofit communications?”
The answer to that second one is, of course, not much. But it’s Friday afternoon, and someone foolishly decided to leave me with the keys to the blog, so please read on for more examples of the crest, and for the truth about the time-traveling robots. Read the rest of this entry »
Regularity in effect. Underground promises, Underground delivers. Each and every day a little bit of somethin’ somethin’ to contemplate, peruse, perchance, perhaps - a tiny bite of je ne sais quoi to add to your daily thinking on things like the role of advertising to help non-profits achieve their goals, the resurgence of the handwritten letter as a form of effective communication amongst friends, the responsibility of co-passengers on public transportation to warn one another of unknown substances on plastic seats, or the underestimated role that something as seemingly silly as soot plays in global warming.
I’ve come across some amazing design innovations this week that I thought would be fun to share. It’s wonderful to see that product and package design are moving towards sustainability - and great to see that it’s being recognized!
Paper Water Bottle
The 360 Paper Bottle is a container that is versatile in its range of consumer applications. It is made from food-safe and fully recyclable materials. It strategically decreases energy consumed throughout the product life cycle without sacrificing functionality, and enhances everyday consumer usage by offering an environmentally friendly experience.
By Brand Image
Straw Straw, by Yuki lida (Japan)
The original meaning of the term “straw” was “wheat straw”. Wall art depicting people using straws of wheat to drink from have been discovered from ancient Mesopotamian ruins. Straws of wheat are forms created by nature; they are materials that return to the soil. There’s no waste in either the shape itself, or in its actual existence.
By Yuki lida
