The new growth area in packaging

Soon we might be throwing our old packaging on the garden as fertiliser.

In the world of packaging, it's hard to avoid polystyrene because it can be made cheaply in whatever shape you need. Unfortunately, it comes at a price – it's made from petroleum and doesn't biodegrade, making it one of the biggest forms of pollution on the planet. In the US it makes up about 30%(!) of all landfill.

Now two young New Yorkers have developed a way to grow packaging which does many of the same things as polystyrene. It uses agricultural byproducts such as rice husks and cottonseed and binds them together with mushroom roots. This is all grown in moulds to create an infinite variety of shapes.

The result is compact, light and can resist extreme temperatures. Best of all, it's fully biodegradable and its manufacture takes about one tenth of the energy of polystyrene. Learn more about it on their site.

Eben Bayer, one of the twenty-something brainiacs who came up with it, says the long term goal is to "replace all plastic and foams and mitigate their environmental consequences." Here at Oblong we'd love to see him succeed, and quickly.

MAPS for Artists

MAPS for Artists is a support management service for artists involved with producing independent works at Brisbane Powerhouse and Metro Arts. MAPS is dedicated to helping raise the bar of Brisbane’s new creative works to an international standard. After the success of Lisa O’Neills ‘The Pipe Manager’ in November, it’s clear they are already reaching their goal. Due to MAPS helping hand for artists, Brisbanites are able to see more and more progressive and dynamic performances in our city - cheers to that!

We at Oblong had the rare opportunity to work with MAPS to create a new, easy to use website www.mapsforartists.com.au. We have since become inspired by the range of works spawned by this innovative service and are looking forward to a provocative season of events in the new year.

Just rewards

Oblong had a pretty good showing at the 35^th Annual 2009 Brisbane Advertising and Design (BAD) Awards recently, picking up two bronze awards for corporate identity and self-promotion.

Black Sheep Coffee won it for us in the corporate identity category. Their logo was designed to give them their own distinctive, cheeky personality in a traditionally cluttered and serious market. It’s worked well so far.

The other award was for our little Oblong ice cream truck do-it-yourself postcard model. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback for this piece and really enjoyed putting it together.

We love what we do, and it’s good to see that it’s reflected in the final product. Nice work, us!

BITS Festival 2009

The Brisbane Independent Theatre Sampler (BITS) Festival 2009 is a raw and rapid one day event showcasing the most exciting acting talent this town has to offer.

The festival is a 'sampler' to test the waters for a fully blown Brisbane fringe festival for 2010 and participants only get 10 minutes to show what they can do, so it is destined to be a whole lot of chaotic fun.

Oblong thought it was such a great idea we offered to do all the design work and a website for it. BITS Festival 2009 will be held at four different locations around central Brisbane including The Fringe Bar, The Joynt, Book Nook and Top Floor.

Registration closes November 10, and the event is taking place on one action-packed day on November 28.

For more information on BITS Festival 2009 visit bitsfestival.com

We love our Nanna

It's a proven scientific fact that nannas are the most resourceful and intelligent people on earth. These freaks of nature are part of a super breed of humans who can make, fix, mend, grow or bake anything they choose.

In a world where consumerism rules and wasteful living is an afterthought to convenience, a couple of inspired Australians have created 'Nanna Techonology'. This online resource paves the way for a better future by channeling nanna skills and applying them in a modern day setting.

Nanna Techonology draws from lessons learnt in simpler times like growing your own food, sewing to repair clothes, and saving and reusing household items.

It sounds simple, but it works.

The blog relies on reader ideas and contributions so give your nanna a call for some tips and get cracking!

www.nannatechnology.com.au

Oblong + Sons + Daughters

In the immortal words of Sister Sledge, “We are family. I got all my sisters with me. We are family. Get up ev'rybody and sing.”

Yes, Sister Sledge, we are family and we do like to get up and sing here at Oblong. We are a family bound not by blood but rather by a burning desire to design stuff and be creative.

Our little Oblong family has changed shape lately as we said 'bon voyage' to designer Thom Stuart as he sailed off to old London town and 'bongiorno' to Emma Harrison.

Emma is not Italian, but she is a talented designer. Up until recently she was an actor plying her trade in Sydney, until one day she realised that graphic design was the best profession in the world. So she changed careers accordingly.

Emma won’t just be limiting her talents to design, she will also be liaising between Oblong and our clients to make sure everyone is happy.

Thanks for the memories Thom, and welcome to Oblong Emma.

The guilt filter

As you are probably aware by now if you've read a few of our posts, Oblong likes smart ideas which are good for the environment, and conversely, dislikes dumb ideas which are bad for the environment.

Scientific terminology aside, how good is this smart idea which is good for the environment!

It's called 321 Water and it's an extremely viable alternative to the evils of bottled "spring" water (see a couple of posts down for more on the evils of bottled water).

But it's just tap water in a container I hear you say? Kind of, but you filter out the impurities through a cool plunger mechanism which means you never have to buy bottled water again! It'll pay for itself after just one week!

And if you purchase them directly off their website, you get a handy little discount.

Do something great for yourself, and the environment with 321 Water.

www.321-water.com