From specs that fit all face shapes to sculpture-inspired perfume packaging, here are some things that made us say “That’s Interesting” in the studio this week.
So, we see eyewear designed to fill an inclusivity gap in the market, campaigns that celebrate post-lockdown freedom responsibly, perfume flacons designed by architects, and science making carbon fibre more sustainable.
A vision of choice.
Kimeze is a new eyewear brand borne of the founders’ frustration that most glasses are designed for Caucasian features, meaning that the rest of the population often finds spectacles uncomfortable to wear. Therefore, sisters Clare and Christina created a range of premium acetate sunglasses and optical frames in shapes and colours specifically designed to complement a broader range of facial structures and skin tones. The glasses are designed in London, crafted in Italy, and embody the duo’s British and African heritage. A fresh perspective helping to evolve the optical world to be more inclusive. For more examples and approaches to brand inclusivity, check out our A Different Voice article here.
See the change here
Safe to be free.
July 19th was dubbed “Freedom Day” in the UK, as most of the Covid-19 restrictions that governed our lives over the last year came to an end. To celebrate people reconnecting with their more uninhibited side, Durex launched a tactical billboard campaign across London featuring a giant condom wrapper branded “freedom” in the iconic Durex lozenge shape. A fitting, timely message that leverages the brand’s values of enjoying the pleasures of freedom… Responsibly.
Enjoy freedom here
Sculpted scent.
Louis Vuitton announced the launch of a new line of five fragrances in October, Les Extraits Collection. The flacons are custom designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, and feature curved bottles topped with sculptural, hand polished caps. “I wanted to approach the project from a sculptural point of view. To bring something different to perfume. It’s not a finished geometric form, it’s just movement,” Gehry said in a press release. To create the shape of the caps, a sheet of aluminium was crumpled like fabric to capture the sense of movement into an object of beauty that lasts forever, as the bottles are also refillable. How else can we leverage luxury and artistry to increase packaging longevity?
Coming soon here
Wonder material.
Carbon fibre is traditionally derived from fossil fuels, but scientists have now developed a method to make it out of biomaterials instead. Researchers at the German Institute of Textile and Fibre Research (DITF) are using lignin – a waste by-product of the paper industry – to engineer a bio-based fibre. From cars to buildings, carbon fibre plays a vital role in our structures: it is considered by many to be a wonder material because it is very strong and yet light compared to metal. An example of how the rising demand for fossil fuel alternatives is making sustainable innovations like this viable and affordable for application beyond the lab.
Better strength here