bloom's blog

Riding High

There’s been a bit of a change in the reading material causing a stir in the Bloom office this week. Instead of the usual copies of Design Week and Creative Review, we’ve all been pouring over the April Issue of Horse & Rider. That’s because this month’s issue features our very own Account Director, Francesca Newman.

The six page feature shows Francesca, a seasoned competitor, demonstrating the tricky art of dressage riding. 

 

 

Olympic Torch gets gold

Fittingly the 2012 Olympic torch,has been awarded Design Museum’s ‘Design of the year’. Our congratulations go out to the London based pair of Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby who were given the challenging brief to design the torch. Simple, functional and elegant each torch is perforated with 8,000 holes representing everyone of the torchbearers who will carry the Olympic flame around the UK.

Design Museum director Deyan Sudjic said the torch was "a triumph of symbolism and beauty". He added that it "demonstrates how design can celebrate traditional qualities in a modern manner".

Cycling to work

Since over a third of our staff here at Bloom cycle to work everyday it would be a shame not to dedicate at least one blog to the noble bicycle.  We've had a look at what's hot in the world of two wheels and selected a top 5 to share with you.

1. Another use for your iPhone 

This white horn is a nifty little iPhone 4/4S accessory that will blast out your favourite tunes or read you  directions whilst you are out and about. Not only this but it also provides an entirely washable, dirt, scratch and splash-proof protective cover for your iPhone 4. Unlike headphones this accessory doesn’t isolate you from other surrounding sounds, although you may get a few strange looks depending on your music taste.

2. A manifesto for living life to the fullest, on bikes

Holstee is a lifestyle goods company with a conscience. The founders, brothers Mike and Dave Radparvar, have created a nice manifesto to live your life by, which ties nicely back into the brand. 

The Holstee Manifesto is a call to action to live a life full of intention, creativity, passion, and community.  "Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating,", its about "making real, creative contributions to the world". This manifesto neatly communicates the idea of personal freedom through a series of people on bikes, transportation's symbol of freedom both in the open countryside and built up cities. 

 

 3. The city bike - Philippe Starck

The latest city cycle project was recently unveiled in France in collaboration with the legendary French designer, Philippe Starck. Starck was asked by the City of Bordeaux to develop a ‘Bike of the Future’ which will eventually become the new model for the city’s bike sharing program.

Starck’s design is a hybrid of a bicycle and scooter. A foot plate is integrated into the frame in front of the pedals providing riders the ability to safely push start the bicycle.

Bordeaux has seen a threefold increase in the number of bike riders in the last 15 years and is now one of the world's leadng bike friendly cities. 

4. Cycling in any weather

If a little rain doesn’t deter you from taking to the road, a rear mudguard is a must for keeping your bum dry as seasoned cyclists will know. Full Windsor’s Quickfix, is a clever little gadget that can be swiftly attached (and removed) with a couple of snaps-no tools required.

 

If you're a night rider, or simply want to have the coolest bike in town why not make your whole bike glow-in-the-dark as illustrated by the Blackberry Bold 9900 advert.

 

We've had a look online and the DIY experts recommend phosphorescent paint for a lasting glow. You won't fail to be noticed. 

 

5. The London bike map

London has been busy building bike-lines in recent years to coincide with the Boris Bikes pay and ride scheme. The city has even built bike "superhighways" to easily zip cyclists from the center of the city out to the peripheries. But the city has lacked a detailed and helpful bike map...until now.

Simon Parker has attempted to codify the various bike routes of London, which he found to be confusing and poorly marked. It's inspired by the iconic London tube map, which is credited with making the tube more accessible and increasing ridership.

Parker has created various routes, which he's color-coded and numbered. There are five possible colours - orange, red, cyan, navy, and green. 

Now all that's required is for the City of London to adopt it. There is a petition to get the City to do just that which could make our journeys both easier to navigate and safer.

Happy Cycling!

Lucozade in F1

We were very excited to see the new Lucozade marque, designed by Bloom, now gracing the Formula One stage. Lucozade recently signed up as one of the team sponsors for Vodafone Maclaren Mercedes with the marque making its first full race debut at the Singapore Grand Prix last weekend. 

We wish Maclaren, Jenson, Lewis and Lucozade all the success in the remaining five races. Bloom will be following you closely...

 

 

Bloom in the community

On Tuesday evening a couple of our team joined a local charity run around Clapham and Battersea to raise money for the shopkeepers affected by the riots a couple of weeks ago.  Around 300 runners, braved the rain to take part in the event organised by the Clapham Pioneers running club. The 5.2 km course took the runners round Clapham Common down Northcote Road and through Clapham Junction, the scene of the riots. Ally Watson and Max Spiegelberg both completed the course in respectable times and were rewarded with millionaire shortbread handed out by a local caterer at the finish. Thank you to the organisers and well done. We are pleased to say that the event raised a whopping £1,500.

 

 

London Marathon Exhibition

This week saw the premier of the new marque we designed for Lucozade at the London Marathon Exhibition at the ExCel centre.  Thanks to Fast Track for implementing the marque so well - it certainly had impact!

Check out the new Lucozade ad here.