Box Bottle Bag

I want this book! It's by Andrew Gibbs, founder and editor in chief of The Dieline.com. The book is hardcover with a matte varnish, the letters are diecut, and the barcode has a glossy spot varnish. Too bad it doesn't come out until March. You can pre-order on Amazon.

The Dieline's top 40

The Dieline has named their top 40 package designs of all time! I really like their choices, but I think it would have been awesome if they included designs that weren't pretty much all contemporary. There has to be some really cool vintage packaging out there.

Hara Design Institute Nippon Design Center

Check out this website design by Hara Design Institute in Tokyo. It's clean, fresh, sleek, and professional. I especially like how it loads, and I really like the ample space surrounding the main content.

Turn this room into an outfit

I was reading about Domino's column called "Turn this room into an outfit" on Design*Sponge and decided to try it myself. Here's the outfit I put together using The Stanton Social, a restaurant in the lower east side of Manhattan, as inspiration. Purse, belt, and dress are from Urban Outfitters. Boots, bracelet, and scarf from Anthropologie. Check out other examples of this idea here.

Pantone color report

Subtle contrasts, like those found in a painter’s masterpiece, make up the diverse color palette for fall 2009. Designers play with a broad spectrum of unique color combinations this season, resulting in distinct, yet cohesive color palettes. “The fall 2009 palette is more unique and thoughtful than the typical autumnal hues of years past,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Designers recognize the desire for fundamental basics that speak to current economic conditions, but also understand the need to incorporate vibrant color to grab the consumers’ eyes and entice them to buy.”

VIEW THE FULL REPORT HERE

New web project

I'm designing a promotional website for a sports journalist and I've put together this color palette. In an effort to communicate his feature, in-depth writing style that differs from a play-by-play of what happened in the game, we wanted a color palette that stood clear of the typical red, blue, and black that so many sports teams and sports publications use. We wanted a color palette that communicated athletic, but with more style and personality, something that was a little bolder. What do you think?

Book smart

It's genius. A rubber band bookmark with a small indicator arrow that tells you what line you were on. It's the classic, "why didn't I think of that?"

By Propaganda.

Via Moco Loco

Origami

I love this package design by Nathalia Ponomareva from Russia! How fun. I don't think this product is on the market, but the origami is a cool idea. It would be great for special events.

Via Packaging Uqam