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05 17 14
Starwood is introducing a major brand refresh for its Le Méridien properties that carries the theme “Destination Design,” which includes a comprehensive new advertising campaign, marketing initiatives and a visual identity system that launches new design approaches to hopefully deliver a new perspective of global travel and hospitality. The Le Méridien brand, which has a portfolio of more than 120 hotels in 50-plus countries worldwide, was established in 1972 by Air France “to provide a home away from home for its customers.” The featured video depicts the design team’s inspiration, approach and process. It is interesting to see their influences including cinema, architecture and newer editorial content and design. Overseen internally, the rebranding also includes menus, business cards, brochures and stationery. The rethinking of the brand also ties back to the hotel and guestroom design. All in all, it is a deep dive into a big rebrand and shows the importance of research, exploration, strategy and execution. Making us all crave a summer trip to the city of light…
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05 16 14
Art SPOTTED. Christopher Williams | The Production Line of Happiness | The Art Institute of Chicago; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Whitechapel Gallery, London. With a career spanning 35 years, Christopher Williams (born 1956) now stands as one of the leading contemporary artists engaged in photography. Deeply invested in the techniques and history of photography, Williams is just as profoundly committed to contemporary art as a forum for intellectual inquiry and thoughtful opposition—resisting, for example, a capitalist society in which photographs typically act as agents of consumer spectacle. Through exacting mimicry—and stunningly beautiful images—Williams’s work has subtly questioned the conventions of photojournalism, picture archives, fashion, and commercial imaging. This exhibition, Williams’s first retrospective is definitely one of the more important shows of the year. Wrapping up in Chicago this weekend, catch it in New York or London if you can…
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05 15 14
Wit, humor, design & burrito. The new Chipotle Cultivating Thought packaging curated by renowned author Jonathan Safran Foer and featuring influential thought-leaders, authors, actors and comedians. Cheers…
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05 15 14
Packaging SPOTTED. Cultivating Thought | Chipotle. The fast-casual burrito brand famous for their un-branded advertising introduces its new packaging curated by renowned author Jonathan Safran Foer. The new literary packaging—bags and cups printed with new writing from ten celebrity authors, comedians and thought-leaders including Malcolm Gladwell, Sheri Fink, Toni Morrison, George Saunders along with comedian Sarah Silverman, director Judd Apatow and SNL star Bill Hader. “We live in a world in which there is shrinking space for literature and writing, and less time than ever for quiet reflection,” said Foer. “The idea of expanding the space and time, of creating a small pocket of thoughtfulness right in the middle of the busy day, was inspiring to me – particularly given the size and diversity of the audience, which is America itself.” The stories are paired with commissioned illustrations and graphics that support the themes in each story. Major points for distinctiveness here. Enough with the branding to death and promotional wasteland. Watch for copycats or imitations. Yes, the highest form of flattery…
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05 15 14
