A few of our favourite things...

1. NEW knog lights for my bike
These babies are the shiz. They are so bright, keep me a-light during the night and best-of-all they - don't run on batteries. USB rechargable all the way! Genius, amayzing, made my freakin' day. Got these babies mine from Deux Ex Machina on Oxford St for $65 each, not on the cheap side but so well designed, it's making Apple a little jealous... just kidding!

2. Pocket Bar
This is my new fav drinking hole. Seriously, this is where the cool kids are at, but it doesn't feel pretentious or too cool for school. But, a great casual small bar. Just what we need on a friday arvo post-work. It's on the corner of Crown and Burton St... a stone's throw from Oxford St chaos. Try the fries, to-die-for!

3. Red Oak
Drinking seems to be the theme here, but just so you know - there's no drinking n' riding, full stop! This little gem on Clarence St, brews a whole heap of beers, it's one of those small pubs. Red Oak definitely knows how to make great beers - being more of a cider drinker, I got into the Red Oak Summer Lager - went down a treat. Too good, in fact. There's a lot to try, so take your time and pace yourself.

The future of point of sale?

This is pretty amayzing. With 3D technology now hitting shops, we have no doubt that this technology will soon be seen in your supermarkets, 7-elevens or even in licensed bars and clubs - like mini TVC's playing everywhere you turn.

Like it or think its a little O.T.T. it may be where we are heading very, very soon.

Dreaming of Jardan

I don't know about you, but regardless of all the stuff I have accumulated... I still want more. More tops, more dresses, more homewares, more pens, gadgets and the list goes on and on. As an ode to our lovely Creative Director Rach, who has just bought a new house, here's a little something you may like to add to your new "digs" that has been on my eye for a very, very long time.

I want so bad.
But, cannot have.
Ahhh... one day!

Meanwhile, here it is so you can appreciate it for yourselves... Jardan extroadinaire. And, proudly Australian designed and made. So effortlessly timeless yet so Scandinavian at the same time.

Black is out... Paper is in!

Love paper, think that paper is the shit?! 

Well sign up to the Paper Convention.
Right now.
Yep, click here!

The very talented and passionate Lisa Loxley, has an obsession with paper. So much so, she has her own stationery label, Lox & Savvy which have the most graphic cards, paperblocks, paperchains and envelopes that you can think of. Think fluoro, stripes and bold shapes - there's nothing like it on the market.

Back to the Paper Convention, A4 its first convention is in the making, getting planned and there are heaps of great sponsors on board - K. W. Doggett, Sydney Morning Herald, Finders Keepers and the list goes on. It's a paper celebration. There's gonna be paper installations, paper workshops, artists talks and more at various locations around Sydney.

It's due very soon, so keep updated via Twitter here.
Bye, bye emos, black is completely out and paper is so in!

Post its?!

We've been watchin a lot online these days at 31stHQ. We are so amazed by all the creativity and talent. This totally crazy and visually amazing video makes you want to "do something" with that utiliarian piece of office equipment - the Post IT. Create a whole wall, cover a door or simply stick one to the back of someones back or head, whatever takes your fancy.

Like us, you'll be addicted to watch the second episode straight after.

Creativity in crisis

It's been a weird year. At every turn, something seems to be going wrong. The floods in Queensland, to the disasterous earthquake in Christchurch - then the Japan earthquake that resulted in the most devastating tsunami, which happened the day after I landed in Osaka (which luckily was not affected, but thank you for all the messages of concern).

Then today, we saw another earthquake in Vanuatu.

So 2011, hasn't started that well. But with all this going on around us, we thought we would give you something to make you smile and appreciate how in these disasterous times, our creativity can shine. And help others.


Make sure you turn that frown upside down AND please don't forget to donate by clicking on the links above, if you can to the Red Cross appeal to help rebuild Northern Japan.

Wake up Jeff!

Quite often enough, blogs are categorised into: food, fashion, beauty, design and it goes on and on and on. This blog, asians sleeping in the library defies the lot, and just makes me laugh so freakin' hard as I can fully see where it's coming from (ya, I'm yellow too!).

The blog spiel even cracks me up... enjoy!

The creator of this blog is a handsome jew who also likes to sleep in the library. This blog is not meant to be discriminatory, mean spirited or malicious in any way, shape or form. it is meant to celebrate, not berate, the hardest workers at our universities. 

 

Passionate Technology

Not only is the presenter passionate and inspiring the technology is amazing!

Video Viewing

Here's a couple of videos that have caught our attention of late. We are so saturated with images, animation, work and life that it's hard to just relax and watch a video that will make us laugh, appreciate the simple things in life or just be impressed by it.

1. This video is via what katie ate. It made us appreciate the process and practice some patience, the old saying, "good things take time" came to mind. Also, it was so super cute. Ahhhh, the music, colour and composition. Love.



2. This video is from the 'No Home' fashion and film project recently launched at ACMI. Fashion labels and filmmakers were asked to create a short film, a complete free-rein brief and this film caught my attention. It's beautifully shot, with amazing angles and contrast. It's shot on a Nikon D700 - what the?!

tweet tweet time!

If you haven't heard tweeting is the new facebook. Twitter is a new form of news, social networking, marketing and all round tweet-talking really.

Here's a quick lesson on tweeting and twitter ettiquite:

1. Set up a profile. Write a brief blurb about yourself or your company.

2. Follow people. It's as easy as searching through categories like 'art & design' or 'fashion' or 'food' - whatever you're interested in, you can find fellow twitterers to follow. You only see tweets from people you follow, and vise-versa only people following you will see your tweets.

3. Tweet as little or as much as you like. Tweeting consists of 140 characters and you can say whatever you like. Talk about what you're eating, where you are, who is annoying you... use it as your boxing ring to let out your frustrations or talk sweet nothings... the world is your oyster in twitter-land.

4. Remember it's a public forum on the world wide web. So be polite, don't fight or be bitter and twisted as it's logged and everyone who is following you can see it! But don't forget to have an opinion, that's what twitter is all about.

Some other tips will be coming during the week, so try it out and follow us people @31stsecond, we need you!

Back to the Future on Friday afternoon

You've got to admire the dedication to the theme that photographer Irina Werning displays in recreating these old photos with the same clothing, settings and even textures matched almost perfectly to create a beautifully nostalgic photo essay.

The the brothers' dedication in recreating their pose in the bath? Well, that's a little creepy...

Dave

Design second: I love dust

It's nice to see other designer's work, it not only inspires us but it also keeps us in check - making sure we create the most innovative, creative and functional work for our clients.

Lately, we've been loving ALL the work from East London's 'multi-disciplinary design boutique' I love dust. They are ticking all the right boxes, hitting every design mark spot on and seem to be two steps forward onto every design trend.

Thank you for sharing your work with the world, that's what design is all about.

PS - we are having major office envy

Hello Sandwich, Hello Japan

Ever wanted to go to Japan to experience the weird and wacky, cute and kitsch? Well, believe it or not, I've been 3 times - yep - big 3! And I'm going to Osaka next week! Thursday to be exact.

Don't worry too much. It's a short 4 days of food eating, fixie searching and relaxation - amid a little shopping at my fav Comme de Garcons. Lucky for me the trip is a cheapy. Only $438 return, courtesy of Jetstar with the hotel paid for on points - how lucky am I?!

I've been doing my research and if you haven't heard of hello sandwich, start reading it now! Former Vogue Living art director Ebony Bizys has been obsessed with Japanese culture for longer than she can say "Hai", blogged about it for years before making the big move to live in Tokyo last year. It's fascinating to see such a vibrant city through her eyes, and also see the amazing journey she's living day-to-day. If you are thinking of going on a holiday to Japan, buy Ebony's tokyo zine here to find out the hot spots to eat and visit - rather than all the touristy things. Also her craft tutorials videos are so cute to watch and so easy to make too.

Definitely bookmark it. It will make you want to take a quick trip there (it's so affordable, go on, do it!)

To shake or not to shake?

Recently, on a trip to NYC we discovered the Shake Weight in a pharmacy. It made us stop and pick it up. It wasn't the packaging, it was more of a who-would-even-think-of-this type of moment. And more so, would you really actually go ahead and make it?!

It was intriguing. We laughed it off, then discovered the commercial. A must watch! 



This comment on Youtube make us laugh even harder... They should really advertise the cooling cream that squirts out after the workout, its very refreshing.

Hmmmmmmm... Okay, the ad made us laugh uncontrollably. And yes, we watched it over and over just for kicks. We are kind of shocked over the idea - a 6 minute workout?! But considering it has sold millions in the United States...

Should be really be laughing? Or is it a case of great marketing?
You be the judge.

Retail second: Cool Hunting

Inspiration can come from anywhere, walking down the street, the world wide web, day dreaming whilst on a lunch break from 31stHQ. Lately our inspiration has come whilst we are shopping; shop windows, fitouts, interesting displays and colours - what is it that makes us stop and go in?

It got us thinking and there's a few similarities between how these shop windows look aesthetically and function and what we do on a day-to-day basis for our clients.

When we design; 

We are part organisers moving images and words around so it's easy to read and beautifully presented. 

We are part interior designers, matching colours and altering pictures, so it seems harmonious or so it contrasts or so it's eye-catching. 

We are part filler-inners, adding quotes, break-out areas, suggesting imagery or illustrations, so that everything makes sense and flows.

It's part and parcel of life as a designer at 31stsecond. It seems these 3 things are also what happens in a retail store, its creating a brand in a set space whereas we often create a brand within a set page size or brochure. Funny how all things in life are connected?!

Well, Coolhunting is dedicated to shops and other things at the moment it's keeping us inspired, well since we can't spend any money even though we still want to S.H.O.P! 

A few of our favourite things...

Trawling around the world wide web means that we are constantly shopping, well just world wide window shopping really... here's hope to keeping the credit card under the ice!

1. Greenhouse by Joost
Wowzas! Can this pop up restaurant stay forever? An initiative by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and Joost. Think food, vertical greenery, a mural by David Bromley and amay-zing food by chef Matt Stone from the permanent Greenhouse in Perth. It's bound to get over 1000 visitors a day and lucky for us Sydney-siders it open till midnight everyday of the week. All-together-now... YAY!!!

TOP IMAGE FROM THE DESIGN FILES

2. Wally One
Meet Wally from woolly pocket. He's your step into an indoor or outdoor vertical garden. We've been overly obssessed about vertical gardens for so long. Wally's your man, so easy to install, so easy to water, so easy to sit back and watch your garden grow!

3. Materriashop's Recycling Frame
Sometimes it's the simplest things that make us think, "Why didn't we think of that?". This is one of them, a wire frame that makes those shopping bags turn into an instant recycling bin or trash bin. Stylish and functional - just the way we like it. We're putting this one on our Christmas list for 2011 (it's not too early to start people!).