http://www.psfk.com Your Go-To Source For New Ideas And Inspiration Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:25:36 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/butcher-idol-to-run-on-bbc-three.html Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:04:33 +0000 Looking for a way to create social value from the fascination with reality talent shows, BBC’s youth-focused digital channel BBC Three are launching a programme called Britain’s Young Butcher Of The Year, that aims to celebrate the “the unsung young heroes of professions that don’t tend to attract public recognition”. According to the press release: The search is on for the UK’s top young butcher in this ambitious new format which celebrates the millions of young British workers whose skills aren’t the kind to win them a million-pound recording contract. Borrowing from the conventions of glossy TV talent shows, theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/lego-gets-digital.html Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:33:20 +0000 Globally loved toymaker LEGO has joined forces with Digital Blue to create a line of classic brick-themed electronic products for kids including digital cameras, MP3 players, walkie talkies and USB drives, as well as Boom boxes and alarm clock radios that feature over-sized LEGO elements. Due out this summer in both the U.S and Europe, the range looks as though it could be fresh out of a kit box. Unfortunately it is only a design theme and the products do not come apart, although enabling kids to build – and rebuild – their own gadgets would be the ultimate inRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/mcdonalds-goes-unbranded-in-japan.html Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:12:34 +0000 McDonalds recently launched a campaign to bring the quarter pounder burger to Japan, which includes the converting of two of their locations in Tokyo into exclusive Quarter Pounder shops, but in an interesting move they are positioned under a completely new identity and as such are missing the McDonalds brand. Instead of golden arches these restaurants have a sleek, minimalist black interior with Le Corbusier sofas, red and black packaging, and a style quite unlike any other of the company’s previous refits. The menu consists of single and double Quarter Pounders only, a new name for the Japanese consumer andRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/squatters-in-mayfair-create-art-installation-out-of-their-6m-home.html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:14:31 +0000 The guardian reports on a group of squatters who have taken up residence in one of London’s poshest postcodes. The group – an art collective who call themselves Da! moved into the property a month ago and so far have heard nothing from the owners, although that may change after tonight when the group turn the house into an art installation – with mandatory opening party! Behind the white pillars and imposing wooden door of the grade II-listed residence, the 30-plus rooms are now scattered with sleeping bags, grubby mattresses, rucksacks spilling over with clothes and endless half-finished art installations.Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/the-dark-side-of-disney.html Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:03:32 +0000 Goths, ghouls and zombies, the dark side has most definitely returned – but this time it looks like it may well stick around a while longer than Halloween.  From the surprise UK TV hit Dead Set to the packed-out launch of fabulous new book Hell Bound: New Gothic Art by Francesca Gavin (visual arts editor at Dazed & Confused), our love for the macabre has re-emerged, and apparently it’s women who are growing a hunger for horror. A perfect time then to invest in a wickedly luxurious cashmere jumper from London Denim’s collaboration with Disney. The collection features three ofRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/psfk-at-the-salon-del-mobile-part-five.html Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:03:07 +0000 In this final installment of new and exciting products showcased in Milan, we bring you some of our favourite discoveries from around the fair – ideas and innovations to watch out for: The Chankley Bore prototype by Maarten Baas for Established&Sons ‘The Salone del Mobile will see the launch of three Limited edition pieces by Baas. Each piece of the collection is work in progress, and gives an insight into the Maarten Baas exhibition being held at the Established & Sons LIMITED gallery during Frieze Art Fair in October 2008′ Established&Sons D/A Clock by Alvin Aronson ‘This object plays onRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/psfk-at-the-salon-del-mobile-part-four.html Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:49:36 +0000 Part four of our highlights from the Salone del Mobile focuses on some of the most innovative and exciting storage solutions that we found: ‘A pile of suitcases’ by Maarten de Ceulaer for Casamania ‘A modular system rich in poetry. the suitcases combine to form a complete wardrobe system created to safeguard garments, shoes and accessories in style . the various ‘suitcase’ modules are covered in precious leathers. a pile of suitcases is a nod to the elegance of by-gone eras with a modern and fun twist.’ Casamania Treecabinet by Lotte van Laatum ‘The treecabinet is made of Dutch elm.Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/mcdonalds-gets-a-fashion-makeover.html Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:44:10 +0000 First it was new designer chairs and muted colours, now McDonald’s in the UK have decided that the staff themselves need a design overhaul and have replaced the brightly coloured uniforms of the burger-flippers of yore with a smarter, sleeker range of designs by UK design institution Bruce Oldfield. From Brand Republic: McDonald’s is providing its staff with a new range of uniforms designed by Bruce Oldfield, famous for dressing Princess Diana, Jemima Khan and Sienna Miller, in an attempt to appear more upmarket. The old outfit’s bright colours have been replaced with more subtle shades of black, beige andRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/psfk-at-the-salon-del-mobile-part-three.html Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:31:45 +0000 In this third installation of our pick of the products on show in Milan, we bring you the most exciting lighting designs on display: Design Virus Light Blubs by Pieke Bergmans ‘A series of unique crystal lamps by Pieke Bergmans, with Royal Leerdam Crystal and Solid Lighting. You may wonder: What is a light blub?? The answer is simple: it is a light bulb that has gone way out of line. Infected by the dreaded Design Virus, these Blubs have taken on all kinds of forms and sizes you wouldn’t expect from such well behaving and reliable little products. Nevertheless,Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/psfk-at-salone-del-mobile-part-two.html Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:51:58 +0000 In the second of our round-ups we give you a selection of our favourite tables on display in Milan last week: Ivo_03 Table by Asymptote for Meta ‘This elegant and unique table features slumped glass suspended across a contiguous and abstracted alloy surface of diamond-shaped facets. the table’s architecture is the result of an asymmetric metal topography of mathematically delineated folds and crevices that create a powerful and sensual curvature. The undulating troughs and peaks give way to the perception of an arc when the table is viewed from the side, a purposeful refinement by Asymptote reminiscent of the accumulatedRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/new-graffiti-sticks-to-the-streets-of-san-fran.html Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:58:29 +0000 We spotted this on the ground at Washington Square during our recent trip to San Francisco – no idea who created it or what their motive was, but the handwritten messages on sticky tape definitely put a smile on our faces. A daily dose of positivity and reality as you cross the road!]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/psfk-at-salone-del-mobile-part-one.html Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:56:10 +0000 PSFK headed to the craziness of Milan last week for the sights and sounds of the Salone del Mobile 2008. With the fairgrounds and ever-increasing number of surrounding satellite shows attracting over 250,00 attentive visitors, the streets were filled with an orgy of creative ideas, innovative products, and lots of free-flowing alcohol! Despite the lure of the overwhelmingly impressive number of parties on offer, we were intent in our task to vigilantly scour the city for the newest, most exciting and thought-provoking products on offer. In this first selection, we show you our pick of the latest chair designs fromRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/glastonbury-loses-its-cool.html Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:55:47 +0000 Unlike previous years where tickets have sold out within seconds, this year’s Glastonbury festival has been a much slower sell, with some tickets still available three days on. Blame has been apportioned on the weather (Glastonbury’s reputation as a mud-bath limits the appeal to hardened festival-goers only), the line up (the headlining act this year is Jay-Z?!) and the price (tickets are now £155 for the weekend – £10 more than last year), but the biggest dent to Glastonbury’s crown has to be from the rise in smaller, local festivals both in the UK and in sunnier European climates. WithRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/keeping-couples-together-asda-lets-shoppers-watch-football-from-their-shopping-trolley.html Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:28:22 +0000 Brand Republic reports on a new scheme being trialled by UK supermarket chain Asda and mobile network Orange that allows live streaming of football matches to handily kitted-out shopping trolleys equipped with mobile phones. Currently only available in the Wembley store although potentially to be rolled out further soon, the scheme highlights Orange’s deal to be the first mobile operator to offer live coverage of every Barclays Premier league game. The press release details a report commissioned by Orange to highlight the strain that saturday shopping trips can put on a couple with apparently 30% of men interviewed saying theyRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/architecture-as-art-shigeru-ban-under-the-hammer.html Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:31:22 +0000 Yesterday saw an auction of Japanese art and design in London, held by Phillips de Pury & Company. Among the 195 lots sold was this Paper Tea House by Shigeru Ban, the master of architectural creations in paper. A stand-out piece among the paintings and figurines, and a surprising choice by the architect himself; forsaking his use of tubular cardboard construction for an interlocking square structure, it’s not often you can buy an starchitect-designed building- and take it away with you! This one however is only for indoor use, making it an art investment rather than a practical piece, asRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/ted-baker-offers-the-services-of-friends.html Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:18:37 +0000 High-street clothing brand Ted Baker have opened a new concept store in the heart of London’s financial district to appeal to local time-poor, bonus-rich trader boys. The store aims to be a one-stop-shop for the modern man, offering an array of services alongside their clothing ranges including an in-store barber courtesy of King of Shaves Pro, a tailor for any immediate alterations, a pay-as-you-go concierge service from Cushion The Impact available through the phone boxes dotted around the store, and a shoe shine service from social enterprise Street Shine which gives people who have experienced homelessness a chance to earnRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/pay-per-view-funerals-bring-mourners-online.html Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:49:03 +0000 From tomorrow Southampton Crematorium will be offering a “pay-per-view funerals” service, allowing family members who are unable to make it in person the chance to watch the service online. The Guardian reports that for £75 a family will be able to purchase a password that will give them access to a live webcast of the ceremony. Critics believe the webcasting of ceremonies from a suburban crematorium in the UK to the world is macabre. But from tomorrow, Southampton crematorium will begin the £75-per-family service. The crematorium manager’s, Trevor Mathieson, said he was keen to lay to rest the pay-per-view label.Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/frank-gehry-to-design-serpentine-pavilion.html Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:23:51 +0000 London’s Serpentine Gallery has finally disclosed the name of the architect for this year’s Summer Pavilion. Following on from last year’s highly successful collaboration by Olafur Eliasson and Kjetil Thorsen, Frank Gehry will be building his first ever structure in the UK, and keeping the collaboration in the family he will be working alongside his son, Samuel Gehry. The gallery explains more about the intended structure: The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2008 will give London the first example of Frank Gehry’s spectacular architecture. The highly articulated structure – designed and engineered in collaboration with Arup – comprises large timber planks andRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/pot-noodle-goes-posh-with-the-help-of-harrods.html Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:38:17 +0000 Pot Noodle, the instant noodle snack known for it’s dirt cheap price and cheeky advertising campaigns including the line ‘The Slag of all Snacks’, is aiming for the luxury market with a limited edition ‘ Poulet et Champignon’ version in association with over-priced department store Harrods. Adding an extra £29 to the usual price, the £29.95 dish will come in a limited-edition case complete with your very own fork and table linen, with all proceeds from the sale of the 100 Harrods-branded bargains will go to Action Against Hunger- if there’s anything left after the hand-flocked and gold-leafed pot isRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/diesel-aims-to-create-largest-outdoor-gallery.html Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:32:51 +0000 As the outdoor advertising backlash rages and cities look to ban billboards, Diesel are stepping up their outdoor art campaign with the launch this year of Diesel Wall in four new destinations: Manchester, Barcelona, Zurich and NY. An art competition on a monumental scale, the company offers budding artists and designers from all over the world the chance to exhibit their work on the side of buildings and giant walls in the city centers. Their manifesto states: In any given moment in our daily lives we are bombarded by messages we didn’t ask to see. A never ending stream ofRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/advertisement-against-reality.html Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:35:26 +0000 Advertisement Vs Reality is the name of a project by Pundo3000 that has photographed and compared the images on food packaging with the actual products inside. It’s no surprise to anyone to find blatant mis-advertising on food, and this site created by German journalist Samuel Mueller shows 100 of the worst in what he explains is a true light, with no additions or alterations to add effect. See some of the most unappealing items on this video. via: Consumerist]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/forget-superyachts-here-come-gigayachts.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:03:16 +0000 Ever wanted your own floating estate? The perfect toy for those in the billionaires club, the newest design from Monaco based Wally Yachts is in a class of it’s own- the newly termed ‘gigayacht’. For roughly £100 million the lucky buyer will surpass the league of the mere megayacht to become the exclusive owner of the largest private vessel known to man. At 59ft across and 2,730 tons at half load, the aptly named WallyIsland will have everything the super-rich could ever dream of (a tennis court, pool and five accommodation decks including a main saloon, dining room, library, cinema,Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/the-end-of-london%e2%80%99s-superclubs.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:07:33 +0000 With three of London’s biggest nightclubs already having closed down this year to make way for redevelopment and the legendary Turnmills throwing its final party last weekend, the Financial Times magazine reports on how superclubs are being priced out of the city and replaced by million-pound apartments and over-priced ’boutique nightclubs. One of London’s largest and best-known nightclubs, Turnmills, which has a capacity of 1,100, will close its doors for good this weekend with a final Easter blowout. It has enjoyed 23 years of hard clubbing in the lower floors of a converted gin distillery in east London – fromRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/guerrilla-restaurant-operates-one-day-a-week-only.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:37:39 +0000 Jean Snow points us on his blog to what may be the next step in guerrilla retail extremes: restaurants serving on one day only. Vegie Shokudou is open for lunch and dinner – but only on a Wednesday: Néojaponisme contributor Dwayne Dixon and amazing vegan chefs Yoyo and Yuka offer up the tastiest vegan lunch in Tokyo on Wednesdays at Vegie Shokudou, a renegade restaurant inside of a bar in Koenji. Note that the restaurant operates ONLY ON WEDNESDAYS. There is a break period from 3pm-5pm, and the restaurant will be closed. Eats start at 1PM. Jean Snow.net: Vegie Shokudou]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/world-pillow-fight-day.html Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:56:08 +0000 We’ve covered pillow fights and urban events aplenty, but had to mention the official World Pillow Fight Day this Saturday with feathered fights taking place in over 25 cities around the world. Conceived by The Urban Playground Movement, a loose network of urban events organisers across the globe who all share the same mission of injecting fun and play into the urban architecture, the event will spread from Beijing to Seattle across the course of the day making it’s presence felt by taking over key landmarks including Union Square, Sydney Opera House, and the Arts Institute of Chicago. “One ofRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/community-regeneration-through-creativity.html Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:21:15 +0000 The Public is a new creative centre designed by Alsop architects and due to open this summer – in West Bromwich. Not the first place you would expect to find one of Britain’s largest cultural buildings, the £40 million space encompassing a gallery, theatre, event space and cafe on the outskirts of Birmingham hopes that by becoming a creative landmark it will inspire the local community and encourage social and economic regeneration. According to the architects: The Public represents a radical gesture for community architecture, born from the conviction that architecture can be a catalyst for regeneration and renewal. TheRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/pacemaker-dj-system-on-and-offline-music-sharing.html Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:18:31 +0000 Tonium, makers of the as yet to be released Pacemaker portable DJ MP3 player, have just unveiled their new online community DJ mix portal  along with a free Mac/PC music editor. The new site allows anyone to create DJ mixes of their own music collection using the Pacemaker music editor software, and then upload the mix to the Pacemaker online community, where the mix can be streamed by anyone. If the Legal section of the Pacemaker Web site is any indication, Tonium have taken great pains in making sure the music sharing service is airtight. Along with agreements Tonium hasRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/medical-breakthroughs.html Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:42:28 +0000 On their blog, Frog Design have a slideshow summary of some of the most amazing recent medical breakthroughs from labs around the world, including whole organ decellularization and customizable bacteria, as well as details of the newly-established Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) at Kyoto University. Writer Anna Kardaleva explains the amazing process of whole organ decellularization: University of Minnesota researchers recently announced that they have created a beating heart in the laboratory. This may sound like the stuff of a Philip K. Dick science-fiction novel – but it’s a real breakthrough in regenerative medicine. The researchers used a detergentRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/design-of-the-year-category-winners-announced.html Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:17:14 +0000 The category winners from the Design Museum’s first Brit Insurance Design of the Year Awards, the not so warmly received new awards programme calling itself the ‘Turner Prize of International Design’ that has replaced the controversial Designer of the Year Awards, have been announced. 100 projects were nominated by ‘a group of internationally respected design experts, curators, critics, practitioners and enthusiasts’ (including Rolf Fehlbaum, Lars Muller and Antonio Citterio) and divided within seven categories, with the winners of each going head to head for the ultimate Designer of the Year title on 18th March. Dezeen gives the lowdown on theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/03/bbc-news-school-report-encourages-and-enables-citizen-journalism.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:27:31 +0000 News School Report is the BBC’s initiative to encourage 11-14-year-olds to become interested in journalism and the news. The BBC offers children from UK schools the chance to make their own video, audio or text-based news at school and to broadcast it for real, with the website becoming a live channel for one day. Launched last year with 120 schools and 3,000 students participating, the successful initiative streamed nine hours of school-based activities and pupils’ news reports, and this year has involved more than 10,000 students from over 250 schools across the country who are all readying themselves for theirRead more...]]>