Today Google released the Chromebook, a new kind of computer built for the web. No programs, no desktop, nothing to start-up. It's faster, simpler, cheaper, and more secure than ordinary computers because you can do everything on the web. Check out the video. Office collaborated with Google's Creative Lab to design the Chrome logo.

We feel pretty lucky to live and work in an amazing design city. So in honor of SF Design Week, we'll be posting some of the things, places, spaces, and experiences that inspire us. If you're interested in checking them out, follow us on Twitter or friend us on Facebook. And let us know what inspires you in SF -- tweet and tag #eyespydesignsf to join in.


READ MORE >

Cloud computing -- accessing data and applications through the internet rather than keeping it on your workstation -- is quickly becoming the new model for smarter IT.

As part of its vision to help build a Smarter Planet, IBM highlights examples of the power of cloud:

"The city of Wuxi in southeastern China developed a 'cloud services factory' to provide computing resources to local companies. Software developers can access new resources in minutes, and new businesses can hit the ground running. Wuxi now has the potential to provide services to hundreds of small and medium-sized companies, which represent the future of a city that sees itself as an engine for growth."

"Thanks to a private education cloud, the 12-year-old computers of the Pike County Schools System in eastern Kentucky now behave more like 2009 models. That has enabled the county to cut 62% of its schools' end-user support costs, while providing equal access to education content across 27 schools. Most importantly, Pike's 10,000 students can now access new courseware instantly—something that used to take more than a year."

"Following Hurricane Ike in 2008, Houston was plagued by downed trees and power lines—but the nonprofit human services agency Neighborhood Centers Inc., with its system data backed up in a cloud, didn't suffer a single business disruption at any of its 20 facilities. Following the storm, the agency was back in business, providing support to families in need."

Office created an icon to visualize smarter cloud computing, which appears in IBM's print advertising and on its Smarter Planet website.

Shanghai-based Choi's Package, which showcases the world's best new graphic design, featured the eBay box as an example of cutting-edge creativity. Office worked with the eBay team to develop the box as part of a program to help encourage greener shipping.

Photos courtesy of Disney Dan and amz_n

Inspired by language-based experimentation and how it can unlock new avenues of cultural expression, Getting Upper curator Amos Klausner asked 26 designers, including Office, to re-imagine a letter from the alphabet using the deconstructive nature of graffiti as a starting point.

Office reinterpreted the letter "J," inspired by grandma's crocheted doilies. "I've always been drawn to the contrast between organic/handmade and geometric/symmetry. And we gave it a splotch of pink punctuation," says Office founder and creative director Jason Schulte.

The 26 screen printed posters are now on display at the Pasadena Museum of California Art, and limited edition prints are available for sale at the museum store and online.

“Some [designs] look like traditional letter forms. Some used the idea of deconstruction theoretically rather than literally. Yet all show an interest in reconsidering language, meaning and how we communicate,” says Klausner.

The eBay Box was awarded the prestigious silver CLIO award for design excellence. “Making the CLIO Awards Shortlist is a massive compliment and achievement for individuals in this evolving industry,” said Nicole Purcell, Executive Director, CLIO Awards. “In today’s media landscape, creative professionals have to work harder to engage people, and this year’s Shortlist really reflects the most innovative work we have seen to date.”

As part of a pilot program to encourage greener shipping, eBay distributed 100,000 boxes to its top sellers, with the idea that they'd be passed along and re-used. Office designed the box with friendly illustrations that emphasize the potential benefits: If the boxes are used five times, it saves 4,000 trees, 2.4 million gallons of water, and enough energy to power 49 homes for a year.

Each box is made with 100 percent recycled content, printed with water-based inks, and made to require a minimal amount of tape. And when the box reaches the end of its useful shipping life, recycling is encouraged. From the box's fine print: “Don’t worry, it will come back as something nice, like a birthday card or movie theater popcorn bag.”

The One Show Design, which honors innovative design worldwide, recognized Office's work in its 2011 awards competition. Our "Stag" holiday art print received a merit award and will be published in the One Show Design Annual out next year.

If you'd like a Stag of your own, the print is now available for purchase in our Shop.

As the world becomes smaller, smarter, and more complex, adapting to change is no longer optional. IBM is helping companies manage change, leading to transformation and innovation. This is the discussion during IBM's Impact2011 conference this week. Office created an icon to represent IBM Business Agility, which is now on IBM's website and Twitter account @ibmbizagility. It's part of Office's partnership with Ogilvy New York on IBM's Smarter Planet campaign.

Today Copenhagen-based Carlsberg Group launches a new global positioning and visual design for its Carlsberg beer brand, which will be rolled out across more than 140 markets around the world.

Office partnered with the Carlsberg team to develop the brand's design strategy, visual identity system and iconography, new packaging, and point-of-sale concepts. The rebranding reflects Carlsberg's trusted 163-year heritage, while connecting with today's active, adventurous generation of beer drinkers.

"[The repositioning] is the largest and most significant move by Carlsberg in my time at the company," said Carlsberg Chief Executive Joergen Buhl Rasmussen, who has been at the helm since 2007 and with the company since 2006. "We have the company ambition to become the fastest growing brewer in the world, and this is a means of achieving that."

"It is time we take Carlsberg to the next level," said Khalil Younes, Senior Vice President of Global Sales, Marketing and Innovation, Carlsberg Group. "Once this roll-out is complete, all packaging and associated marketing communications will not only reflect the brand's new positioning, but will provide us with a uniform, distinctive, and appealing look and feel across all our markets."

1 in 7 Americans live in poverty. And 80 percent of the world's population lives on less than $10 a day.

To address the issues associated with global poverty, today eBay Foundation is launching The Opportunity Project, a social innovation initiative that aims to help people provide for their families and build stronger communities.

“For more than 15 years, eBay has been fostering economic opportunity by providing millions of people the chance to build online businesses and participate in the global economy,” said John Donahoe, President and Chief Executive Officer, eBay, Inc. “The Opportunity Project extends our belief in creating opportunity and making a difference in the world by supporting social innovations in vulnerable communities.”

Through its first global competition, The Opportunity Project will award $250,000 to help spread social entrepreneurs' most promising solutions.

Office partnered with eBay Foundation to create The Opportunity Project's visual identity, and to design its website, theopportunityproject.org.

Fanta's new bold, distinctive identity and packaging is now launching in India -- focused on "masti" [fun].

Office created Fanta's global visual identity system, which has rolled out to more than 180 markets around the world, including a global design strategy, identity, branding elements, packaging system, point-of-sale marketing, and detailed guidelines.

The launch of the new visual identity system coincides with a new advertising campaign, created by Ogilvy & Mather.

According to Srinivas Murthy, Marketing Director-Flavours, Coca-Cola India, “Fanta is known for its distinct ‘orangy’ taste and for providing fun-filled, exuberant experience to all its consumers. After realizing that the consumers today have forgotten how to have fun amidst several tensions and are unable to strike a balance between school, career, friends, family, and oneself, Fanta decided to re-introduce the elements of masti in their lives."

FANTA and the FANTA Splash Bottle are trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company. Copyright 2008 The Coca-Cola Company.

Office worked closely with Google's Creative Lab to redesign the Chrome icon, which debuted today. Chrome is Google's fast-growing browser, with more than 120 million users.

"Since Chrome is all about making your web experience as easy and clutter-free as possible, we refreshed the Chrome icon to better represent these sentiments," said Steve Rura, Google designer. "A simpler icon embodies the Chrome spirit — to make the web quicker, lighter, and easier for all."

Beginning today, eBay's more than 16,000 global employees can use their iPhones to catch up on the latest news and messages from CEO John Donahoe, check the company's current stock price, and see what's for lunch at campus cafes.

Office collaborated with eBay to extend the design we created for The Hub, the company's corporate intranet, to the development of a mobile app that would help employees do their jobs better – from anywhere.

That's the question asked by Internet Retailer in a recent piece on the convergence of fashion magazines and online retailing. As print stalwarts such as Elle launch digital apps to help their readers find and buy products featured in the book, retailers are likewise moving into the online magazine space to help provide their customers with tips before they buy.

It's this trend, says Internet Retailer, that has led eBay, Gilt Groupe, and others to create web magazines that tie back to their commerce sites. Office helped eBay in this effort by undertaking a complete redesign of The Inside Source, the company's digital style magazine that aims to position eBay as a destination for style-savvy shoppers.

According to Internet Retailer, The Inside Source is delivering on its goal of driving users to ebay.com to purchase items featured in the editorial. Since the redesign, traffic to the site has nearly doubled, and 18% of users click through from The Inside Source to eBay.com.

« Older Posts | Newer Posts »