Retro Re-purposing

At a solo art show in 1997, artist Clark Wittington retro-fitted a relic of a mechanical pull-knob cigarette dispenser to vend his black and white photographs for $1.00 each. Thus, the Art-o-mat concept was born.

There are now 82 refurbished machines across the United States—often works of art themselves—selling the work of hundreds of artists. Work that is all 2 1/8″ x 3 1/4″ x 7/8″, the dimensions of a pack of cigarettes.

Revitalization

Like our pieces on Persephone books, or the Million Penguins wiki book authoring, new ideas and age-old icons are finding new life on the Internet.

To submit artwork for consideration, read the Art-o-mat guidelines. Visit their web site or find an Art-o-mat machine near you.

Poor Old Petrol

If you’re environmentally conscientious and clean with disposable sweeping cloths (think Swiffer), you may want to consider your options. Many disposable sweeping cloths are made from petroleum-based plastic and therefore not renewable, sustainable or landfill-friendly.

People Against Dirty

The self-proclaimed “People Against Dirty” folks at Method offer a cleaner, healthier, eco-friendly alternative in their omop line of products which includes a mop, cleaning fluids and omop disposable sweeper pads, fabricated from a corn-based cloth that’s compostable. Yes, corn.

Good. Clean. Fun.

The line’s industrial and graphic design aesthetics are very pleasing to look at. In fact, Method even goes so far as to refer to their mop as “sexy.” So you’ll look good cleaning, too. Do good, look good, feel good. That’s a win-win.

Green With Envy

With current consumer and corporate eco-awareness on the rise, Method’s green brand differentiates them from mainstream brands. But just as importantly, their marketing model is bolstered and stabilized by the decision to offer consumers a familiar convention, i.e., they didn’t look to reinvent the product genre as much as add tangible, smart value to it.

And better looking, earth-healthy design is something everyone can get behind.

Propagating Fields of Green

What Method may lack in traditional marketing muscle is offset by Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and viral-based Social Media Marketing (SMM), using a blog, online product advocates, and ecards to generate buzz.

Armed with the reach of online communications, Method can invest more readily in its brand, product, packaging, or creative communications without the costly overhead of national advertising.

Regardless of your company’s size, consider what SEO and SMM have to offer to your marketing plans.

For more on the omop line and Method’s personality-laden take on all things clean and green, click here.

via: Root Concepts

Click image for enlarged view

A Dichotomy

If you’re in a mood, but not certain which mood, the Psy-shirt from PA Design in Paris may best reflect your disposition. The Psy-shirt, designed by Rachel Pfleger, utilizes a clever bit of calligraphic art to manipulate the word “Love” to read “Hate” when reflected in a mirror.

A Peerless Resilience

May we all be as spry as Airstream after seven plus decades. This classic RV brand could have quietly ambled down a forgotten byway, coming to rest in a Smithsonian display of archetypical Industrial Age objects. Instead, they’re on their way to replicating Harley Davidson’s resurgent cachet.

A Stainless Brand Revival

Our piece on miniHome trailers revealed a company looking to reinvent an industry from the ground up. Conversely, the Airstream brand, like the reinvigorated Old Spice brand we recently featured, is at once saddled and blessed with its own aging brand equity.

So how exactly to best leverage Airstream’s long-standing brand equity, an equity steeped in astute design—albeit a design borne of World War II era riveted sheet metal aircraft fuselages, Cadillac tailfins and torpedo brassieres—into something of relevance today?

Bambi Steels for the Future

Enter the Airstream Bambi Series. The peerless shine and resilience of the Airstream brand is sporting a freshly buffed polish these days. The new Airstream still reflects the Airstream of old on the exterior but the interior shows little sign of looking back. High design and function reign supreme in this revamped series, take a look for yourself.

Sporting a Solid Brand Extension

And there’s more. The Airstream Basecamp model (pictured above) dares to tap a sportier, more adventuresome market segment. The Basecamp micro-site claims that it “Goes from kitchen, to chill pad, to toy hauler in under five minutes.”

With a completely new look and multi-functional intent inside and out that retains only the familiar Airstream signature metal detail, the Basecamp is a pretty good hedged bet should the Bambi series need some transition time.

It’s enough to make you grab your gear and head for a BASE jump cliff.

Retrofit Your Fuselage

Never discount the power of a familiar brand. Often beyond retro there’s relevance. And in relevance, there’s return. Take a look at your equity.

(The Articulated Antique Singer Insect—above)

We like Christopher Conte’s left brain leanings and right brain tendencies. His work fashioning prosthetic limbs coupled with his Pratt art degree, interest in biomechanics, and knack for sculpture combine for a singularly unique talent.

Opting to market his unique works publicly for the first time, Conte joined a select group of artists represented by agent Les Barany in 2007.

A Respite

Conte slows the maelstrom of crowd sourcing and social network concerns facing today’s brand agents to a painstaking, hand-crafted pace similar to that of Persephone Books, previously featured on .think.

Both demonstrate that despite all the measurement and marketing data available on customer wants and needs, inspired ideas, services and products always rule the day.

For more on Christopher Conte and his work, take a break and visit him here.