Amazing opera stage at Bregenz Festival

Floating above the water on Lake Constance, Austria, is one of the most amazing opera sets. The set is from the opera André Chénier, by Italian composer Umberto Giordano. Set against the background of the French Revolution in 1789 the story is a historical drama as well as a human tragedy. The central character is the eponymous French poet who got caught up in the turmoil of the revolution, first as a supporter and then mercilessly persecuted and finally sent to the guillotine.

Director Keith Warner and set designer David Fielding have chosen The Death of Marat, an iconic painting by Jacques-Louis David as their basis for the Bregenz stage set. It towers 24 meters high above Lake Constance and is built on a fixed 'concrete core' that is anchored in the lake.

Photo credit: Bregenzer Festspiele / Karl Forster
via [MY MODERN MET]

Facelift for Coca Cola cans

To celebrate the 125th anniversary of Coca Cola, Peter Gregson designed a series of 6 Coca Cola cans.
"We used old Coca-Cola ads and posters (from 1930’s, 1940’s) and implemented them in order to create the can that would remind of the Coca Cola’s longevity and, at the same, be something completely new."

Loving the retro look!

The mind-blowing world of 3D printing

"Just as nobody could have predicted the impact of the steam engine in 1750 - or the printing press in 1450, or the transistor in 1950 - it is impossible to foresee the long-term impact of 3D printing. But the technology is coming, and it is likely to disrupt every field it touches."
The Economist, in a February 2011 leader

Even though engineers and designers have been using 3D printers for more than a decade, I'm still amazed by the possibilities. 3D printers have mostly been used to make prototypes quickly and cheaply before embarking on the expensive business of tooling up a factory to produce the real thing. As they have become more capable and able to work with a broader range of materials, including production-grade plastics and metals, the machines are increasingly being used to make final products too.

Here's how it works:

 

 This could be a really good Christmas present...

Tolo Toys fit out in Hamleys

Another part of the ever expanding range of creative services that we at Mako Creative offer is retail development and design. We were briefed to give a strong in-store presence for Tolo featuring their new Dinosaur range for the 1-5 age group. We designed the area to include an illuminated acrylic diorama which showcased the dinosaur range and printed backdrop and base. All the models had to be fixed securely into position with invisible fixings. We designed and produced the column graphic featuring large friendly dinosaurs which the children could easily identify with, and replicated the design onto the model diorama cube base, which was also designed to merchandise the largest set in the range.

We designed the overhead light-box graphic and produced the shelf strips to make sure the whole site was fully branded and more importantly identifiable and had a great "easy to find" factor.
We also installed a mini TV unit on shelf (securely fastened by a steel cable!) which ran a 2min loop of the Dinosaur range. Just in front of the wall bay unit we installed a play table which had a train track and other models affixed in place. The little train whizzed around the track and whistled when you pressed the train drivers head, (who said designing and installing shop displays wasn't any fun!!)

Then to set the Tolo display off, we designed and produced a floor graphic which really stood out from the rest of the other toy manufacturers. After all of that we merchandised the whole stand with the product stock and stood back to admire our handy work just as the store was opening on Sunday lunchtime. The children literally rushed up to the second floor and couldn't wait to play on the play table and gather around the model box to see the dinosaurs.
So there you have it, lights, colourful fantastic graphics and attractive fun displays all professionally designed created and installed by the Mako Creative in-store Squad

If you have a product to display - and no one else can help - hire the M Team!

"German Tuesday - Deutscher Dienstag" Part 9

It's inspiration time again and this time we'll take a look at an advertising campaign from 'Bella Italia'.

This campaign was designed by Legambiente PIM for the protection of the environment. The project was named “Under the Carpet,” and features the tagline “Stop hiding problems.” It's an environmental ad which is trying to convey that we should stop hiding problems of waste and find ways to solve them.

Community Renewable Energy Event in Gresford - Saturday 27th August

We hear a lot about climate change, rising energy costs and the need to use renewable energy. But what is renewable energy? Where and how do we get it? What does it cost? What is the benefit of using renewable energy? Basically… what’s in it for me?  

We are helping out promoting the Community Renewable Energy Event, organised by IMAGE community group, which is designed to provide practical information on the technologies that domestic consumers can install in their homes as well as incorporate into community projects.

Entry to the event is free and open for all to attend, it is not intended to seek or make a profit. It is solely for the purpose of providing information. 

Logo Designs R - S

More logo designs from the shark pen we'd like to share with you for your delectation and delight .

riceclinic logo

sospan fach logo

stubbs parkin south logo

Supporting Advice Ltd logo

System Electrical Ltd logo

"German Tuesday - Deutscher Dienstag" Part 8

With summer finally here (did it just start to rain?) it's the perfect time to spend some time outdoors. So how about a visit to the zoo? Zoos need to attract visitors and what better way than doing it with funny vehicle wraps. And as we have designed some vehicle wraps in the past I'm always interested in funny and innovative ideas.

Danish advertising agency Bates Y&R created the illusion of a huge snake crushing a Copenhagen city bus as part of a campaign for the city zoo. It won a Gold Creative Circle Award - Outdoor in 2010. It has  been such a success that agency turned four subway cars into a rolling zoo as well, with snakes on the floor, monkeys hanging out the windows and lions climbing the seats.

Copenhagen city bus

Four subway cars as rolling zoo

Lions climbing the seats in the subway cars

Another idea I really like is the commercial titled VACUUM ELEPHANT. It was done by Euro Rscg Dusseldorf advertising agency for Zoo Krefeld (for Mobile Advertising) in Germany.

"Visit me after work - in the Zoo Krefeld."