Advertising Scandinavian Aesthetics

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I’ve been looking at lifeiscarbon, from ad man Nicholas McLean, for a few weeks now. I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on there, but this post helps spell it out.

For less regular readers of lifeiscarbon® or those who may be new to the website, we thought it worth quickly restating what we do and why we do it. At it’s simplest, lifeiscarbon® is a way for us to raise awareness and interest in Scandinavian Aesthetics and particularly in the art, design, fashion and music from the region that we happen to love. Why? Partly because it provides useful research for a number of The Carbon Foundation’s own ventures (ie carbonislife® –retail concept, carbonphotography® – commercial photography, ordinaryeverday® – fashion brand and lifeiscarbon® – print edition) but more importantly because we want to help local talent. Sadly, we’ve had the privilege of knowing too many talented individuals and companies from the region who simply don’t get the critical and financial return that they deserve. This website is one of the many small ways in which we try to help them.

One reason I’m taking note of this is the geo-cultural nature of McLean’s focus. As the world becomes more global and exchange happens on the personal and community level, we see how important local culture is. That, in turn, says to us maybe our own local culture is also important, and worth supporting. What do you think, is your local culture worth supporting?

Top 22 Things You Can Knit – Purls of Creativity (SUPER GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) Knitting isn’t just for grannies who knit scarves and socks anymore. If you look at this Super Gallery of the top knit items featured on Trend Hunter, you’d realize some of this is way too cutting edge to come from a senior. On the other hand, if you do happen to have an ultra hip grandma that would…

Strap-On Choppers – Personal Libelula Rocket Helicopter (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) The Libelula Rocket Helicopter is a type of a strap-on chopper that was conceived by Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana. The concept contraction uses tiny rocket motors at the tips of the rotor blades which are powered by two hydrogen fuel canisters, thereby negating the need for a tail rotor.

It’s a…

Graphic Plays on Words – Scrabble Ads (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) These ads for Scrabble are quite clever, going to show how different people’s minds can create very different results from the same possibilities.

The first image shows the letter G, D and O and depicts a dog portrayed as if he were a god. Another shows an image of a Da Vinci-style art rat, and a …

Walking on Water Simulations – Arcstream AV Living Image (VIDEO)

(TrendHunter.com) The Science Museum in South Kensington, London has an interactive Living Image exhibit called The Arcstream AV. This fascinating installation replicates the impossible feat of walking on water using an overhead projector with sensors which projects the 1024 x 768 image of water on the floor. The dev…

Fashion For Human Rights – Darfur Organization Spoofs Louis Vuitton, Gets Sued

Danish artist Nadia Plesner is getting sued by Louis Vuitton for using the name and logo of the French fashion house in a defamatory fashion line. Plesner, who runs the Simple Living campaign in support of the victims of Darfur, sells products with images of a naked child carrying a Louis Vuitton-st…

Celebrity PSAs II – Will Ferrell & Jennifer Aniston for Burma (VIDEO)

(TrendHunter.com) “With great power comes great responsibility,” and that is true for holding celebrity status as well. Hollywood A-listers have a huge influence on people, so it’s great to see stars like Will Ferrell use their fame for a good cause.

The Anchorman star is known for his funny ways, but through these…

Body-Integrated Phones – Neonode N2: No Buttons, All You

I’m loving these “No buttons, all you” print ads for the Neonode N2 Mobile Phone which follows the iPhone’s formula in discarding all physical buttons.

The campaign shows you how the phone stops being an accessory and becomes an integral part of you, a part of your body. I particularly like the on…

Controversial Photo Exhibits – Jackass by Terry Richardson (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) NYC photographer Terry Richardson chose the guys from Jackass to pose as the ‘heroes’ of his most recent exhibit at the LaForet Museum in the Harajuku district of Japan, and let’s just say he wanted to feature them in all their craziest glory.

The poses range from mildly serious suit shots to total…

Microsoft Gets the Girl After All

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And by “the girl” I mean that sassy vixen Yahoo, which has been towing it mercilessly by the nose for the last three months.

Mood-Sensitive Wristbands – Robometer Measures Happiness

(TrendHunter.com) The robometer is a mood-sensing, wrist-mounted devise that measures your level of happiness. Has society really become so desensitized that we can’t tell when we are happy?

Pontification aside, the Robometer takes readings of of the surface of your skin to asses your mood.

This feature would be …

Liquid Cooled Clothes – The Cool Shirt

(TrendHunter.com) At first glance, I thought this shirt was designed to be a hydration system for racers. I was only half right. It’s meant for racers, but not the running kind. The Cool Shirt is supposed to cool down a very hot driver. It connects to an ice-water cooler and circulates the freezing water through its …

Mega Terminals – Beijing Terminal 3 is World’s Largest Building (VIDEO)

(TrendHunter.com) Beijing looks like they’re just about ready to host the Summer 2008 Olympic Games. At the very least, they’ve got the Beijing Capital International Airport ready to receive athletes, media and visitors from about the world. In fact, the new Terminal 3 building alone is reportedly capable of facilita…

Body-Integrated Phones – Neonode N2: No Buttons, All You (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) I’m loving these “No buttons, all you” print ads for the Neonode N2 Mobile Phone which follows the iPhone’s formula in discarding all physical buttons.

The campaign shows you how the phone stops being an accessory and becomes an integral part of you, a part of your body. I particularly like the on…

Foldable Multimedia Devices – Ori-Ori-Moshi-Moshi Concept (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) The Ori-ori-Moshi-moshi is a concept design by AntennaDesign slated to be used in the year 2014. The foldable concept gadget comes with a flexible OLED screen that can be used as a phone, for gaming and movie watching.

“The fact that it chooses various angles to fold-up truly portrays it as a…

Miley Cyrus Has Nothing on This Nubile Young Thing

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Yikes!

Miley Cryrus Has Nothing on This Nubile Young Thing

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Yikes!

Trapping Alcoholics in Glasses – Anti-Bing Drinking Campaign: Was It Worth It?

“It’s not the drinking – It’s how we’re drinking.” That is the message of a new anti-binge drinking campaign by The Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand.

Posting the question, “Was last night really worth it?” the campaign illustrates the social and health side-effects drinking too much can have…

Cuervo Looking to Mix It Up a Bit


NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Spirits giant Diageo has reached out to several roster agencies for ideas on its tequila brand Jose Cuervo, executives close to the matter say.

Mood Plants – The Flower Nurse (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) Designed by QianJun Gao, the Flower Nurse is an artificial potted plant where the flowers “express” their needs by changing color. In addition, when they’re feeling neglected, the leaves droop, just as a real plant’s would when it hasn’t been watered or has been kept out of the sun.

I am all for c…