Archive for September 2004

Want to understand the materials, products and processes that are redefining our physical environment? Transmaterial is a 185 page PDF based on a compilation of Blaine Brownell’s “product of the week” electronic journal that includes hot materials such as Ultraperforming, Multidimensional, Repurposed, Recombinant, Intelligent, Transformational and Interfacial.

Transtudio Site
Transmaterial 185 Page PDF
via Josh Rubin

Superbrands have announced the UK’s coolest brands. By the look of it they’ve chosen brands they shop at, they read, they wear, where they studied or where they lunch at: Selfridges, Dazed and Confused magazine, Agent Provocateur, Hakkasan and Goldsmith’s Art College. Super-brands? What do they really mean to the public? Do all these brands really offer a valuable and valid relationship?

Oh well, we suppose that it will help the book sales ayway. Check out the laughable ‘cool’ survey results there too (The London Eye is the coolest thing to do in London apparently! Time to leave).

Press Release
Check Out What They Think Is Hot And Spicy In India

Luxury fashion brands have lost revenue over the last few years and are struggling to find new, innovative ways of breath life into their brands. A report by BrandChannel analyses the trend for Luxury Brands to offer junior versions of their range to capitalise on their customers’ habit to produce offspring and then pander to them.

Michael Silverstein of Boston Consulting Group is quoted as saying, “Mom buys functionally-oriented value merchandise for the child. Grandparents and friends buy the indulgent outfit. They are buying a gift to celebrate a birth or birthday.”

BrandChannel Report

Just after the launch of the new Firefox browser, rumour has it that Google are following up the Gmail launch with a browser to challenge IE called (possibly) Gbrowser which will utilise their AdSense technology. The Unclespam blog cites what they say are “some fairly solid evidence” including Google’s registration of the domain gbrowser.com and hiring many people involved in the creation of browser-centric technologies.

Google
Unclespam Blog
Gbrowser.com

Put something before us and it seems that it’s likely we’ll gobble it up. By the looks of it we’ve eaten all the fish in the sea and now it looks like we’ll eat anything a fast food restaurant or confectionary manufacturer will offer us.

Of course there has been some worry about all this and on the heels of McDonalds, confectionary giants in the UK have pulled their supersize-me ‘King Size’ chocolate bars for the health of the nation. And perhaps to stem the flow of government regulation on what we are offered as food.

With the news that we’re all now rejecting the idea of ‘diet beer’ (thank goodness) PSFK wonders if we’ll see some legislation making us all drink sugarless and tastless beer sometime very soon. Nothing will much change at my local then.

Reuters Article on the King Size Pull
Telegraph Report on Decline of Diet Beer

In order to satisfy the demand of about 3000 people globally Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has signed a £14m agreement which will see ‘Virgin Galactic’ take these fun-seekers into space using five “spaceliners”. Within the next 3 years people like you and me will have the opportunity to pay about $100,000 to pop into space. Zoom.

BBC Article

We believe that the concept of a retail environment as a Style Editor is a growing trend. Harvey Nichols does this on a grand level in sophisticated department stores across the UK. Now stores like G.Room offer an edited selection of products on a micro level.

Opened recently on the London’s revitalised Carnaby Street, G.Room focuses on ‘male grooming’ mixing ‘beauty’ products such as shaving soap, moisturisers and aftershave with a select range of shirts, suits, cuff-links and even CDs. The use of Ian Flemming books scattered around the store makes it a perfect haven for any would be Mr. Bond.

PSFK agrees that we’ll see a growing trend where store owners, like G.Room’s Michael Pike, will offer a range of products around a demographic lifestyle rather than a product line but we wonder whether ‘male grooming’ as a main focus will be as attractive to men as the G.Room perceives. Don’t believe in the existence of ‘Metrosexuality’: The decision making process to buy ‘beauty’ products is often a difficult and procrastinated one for many men and is heavily influenced by girlfriends and wives who may be less drawn to the heavily male G.Room environment. Nonetheless, we think the store looks great and wish Pike the best of luck.

G.Room Site

What’s next in cars? Motoring File have a couple of examples of the possible designs for the new concept behind the next Mini Cooper.

Motoring File Article

If you’re a frequent jetsetter around Europe, like us here at PSFK(?!), you’ll be thankful of this great new watch that actually knows what time it is. Yeah yeah, we know, that’s what all watches do. But this one actually knows what country and what time zone you’re in, automatically switching between zones whenever apparent. Whether in France, Spain, England or anywhere else in Europe, jump off the plane and the new G-Shock by Casio will be there ahead of you with the current local time. No more wondering whether your behind, ahead and by how many. Prices start from £79.99.

Casio