DESIGN / Packaging / Lucky Strike Cigarettes

Lucky Strike is a famous brand of American cigarettes, often referred to as 'Luckies'.

Although I'm not a smoker myself (Lucky Strike is a brand favoured by my boyfriend) I do find the logo design and layout used on the packaging very attractive. Apparently Ray Johnson, a Pop-era artist, was also keen on the logo, it became a prominent fixture in his collages (for example, James Dean (Lucky Strike), Ray Johnson, 1957). The Lucky Strike logo was designed by Raymond Loewy, an industrial designer who also created the logos for Exxon, Shell, AT&T and Coca Cola.

The logo itself is very simple, consisting of just four concentric circles of four colours - red, white, green and black. The concentric cirles work to focus our attention and emphasise the brand name "Lucky Strike", and the brands slogan "It's Toasted". The circles are also suggestive of a lit cigarette viewed end-on. I'm sure it is also relevant to the brand that circles are symbolic of infinity, protection and security.

The font used on the Lucky Strike logo is FuturaBT-ExtraBlackCondensed Bold, slightly modified.

Source : Lucky Strike, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Strikes

Google's Tetris Logo

Google are well-known for redesiging their logo to commemorate special calendar dates or anniversaries. All Google's logos are very well-designed but I think their Tetris inspired logo (displayed today, June 6th 2009) is possibly my favourite so far!

This Google logo has been designed especially to mark the 25th anniversary of classic computer game 'Tetris'. Tetris is a puzzle video game originally designed and programmed by Alexey Pajitnov. It was released on June 6, 1984.

DESIGN : Flip Clock Screensaver, "Fliqlo"

I love vintage flip clocks! I can remember gazing up at one particular flip clock as a little girl when my dad would take me to the building society. I was fascinated by the apparent simplicity of the technology, the bound and determined moving parts, and the loud clicks as the numbers snapped precisely into place.

I don't own one myself just yet, so instead I make do with this digital version - "Fliqlo". Fliqlo is a free screensaver for Windows or Macs which imitates a flip clock. The time can be customised to display in 12-hour or 24-hour formats. You can also customise the zoom using the up and down arrow keys.

My only complaint is that it does not 'click' - oh well, I guess you can't have everything!

Download Fliqlo for free!

ART : Fine Art Degree Show 2009, 'Colliding Spaces' University of Cumbria

Final year Fine Art degree students from the University of Cumbria will be unveiling their degree show, entitled ‘Colliding Spaces', on the Lancaster Campus this June.

The Private View is to be opened by Lancaster artist Chas Jacobs and celebrates the end of the students three years of study at the University of Cumbria.

The students will also be offering up free wine and nibbles. :)

I will be going, and I hope to see you there.

Exhibition runs from:
17th June to 25th June

Mon-Fri: 09:00-17:00 Sat-Sun: 10:00-16:00

PRIZE DRAW WINNER: Black Acrylic Anchor Necklace

This months prize draw winner is Antony, who wins this cool Black Acrylic Anchor Necklace.

Next months prize in our monthly draw is a Black Monster Necklace, to be in with a chance of winning simply sign up to our exclusive mailing list.

RPF // redplasticfactory.co.uk

DESIGN INSPIRATION : Three Bauhaus Links

1. I love the simplicity of this black and white Table Clock by Marianne Brandt.

2. This Table Lamp by Wilhelm Wagenfeld and Carl J. Jucker succinctly expresses the essential Bauhaus idea that "form follows function".

3. Johannes Itten was a master colour theorist of the Bauhaus school. His Color Star is a valuable asset to any artist or designer.

How to Care for Your Acrylic Jewellery

1. Always remove your jewellery when showering, bathing, swimming or washing your hands

2. Never leave jewellery in extreme heat or sunlight as over a long period of time these conditions could cause colours to fade.

3. Do not spray perfume or any other beauty products on to your jewellery. The alcohol content in some products could cause costume metals to tarnish and acrylic pieces to crack.

4. Do not wear jewellery anywhere it may get knocked or crushed as some pieces can be fragile.

5. Store each piece of jewellery in its original box.

6. In a similar way to glass, fingerprints and dust will show on acrylic. You do not need to use harsh chemicals to clean your acrylic jewellery, a simple solution of mild soap and lukewarm water is all that you need. Dry your necklace with a clean soft cloth to prevent streaking.

7. Minor scratches can be removed from acrylic with a soft metal polish (such as Brasso) and a soft cloth. Simply dab a small amount of polish onto the soft cloth and rub into the scratch, keep on rubbing until the scratch disappears. After you have removed the scratch spray a small amount of furniture polish onto the area and polish as normal. If the scratch is deep enough for you to feel with your finger nail then you are unlikely to achieve an 'as new' finish, but the scratch appearance may be improved.