Colorful Interiors Win

Not surprisingly, the boldest and brightest hues were winners last week in Benjamin Moore's contest for best use of color in architecture and interiors. A lifetime achievement award was presented to the NY design team of William Diamond and Anthony Baratta. Above, an entryway in Captiva, Florida, by Diamond Baratta Design.

Are you suddenly thinking of a tropical getaway? Or maybe a blue box from Tiffany's?

Packaging - Best in Show

Fall allergy and flu season sent me running out last month to stock up on tissues. I was looking for something a little more attractive than the shoe box size container covered in sad looking floral or wave motifs. A few new designs and graphics stood out on the shelves, including the surprisingly attractive and fresh triangular prism shapes in fruits and cheery colors. I was impressed.

Apparently, judges in the world of packaging design were too. I was tickled to see the slice of summer tissue boxes from Kimberly-Clark, won Best in the Show for this year's international packaging design contest from Pentawards. Click here to see all the winners, including the cool Coke cans of summer featured here.

Diminutive Designs in Cork

The Annual Champagne Chair Contest by Design Within Reach poses the challenge to create an original miniature chair using only the foil, label, cage and cork from no more than two Champagne bottles. The contest rolls around just before New Year's when you might be planning to enjoy a little bubbly. If you are not big on Champagne, they will also accept the recycled cork and foil set-up from any sparkling wine.
Three top winners were selected from the 2009 entries. The Kub Armchair (top) by Jesse Menayan was named as the Judges’ Pick. The Grape Divine Chair (just above) by Tony Nemyer was selected as the DWR Staff Pick, and Spring 2009 (below) by Gavri Slasky won the Popular Vote.
For more information on the contest and where to view a traveling exhibit of the top 50 winning designs, click over to DWR.

Images courtesy of Design Within Reach

London's Red Bus Goes Green

The iconic image of the Routemaster double-decker bus of London has been preserved and reinvented for the 21st century. The Mayor of London announced the winners of a design competition, A New Bus for London, sponsored by Transport for London. The competition, open to all interested parties, was seeking stylish (as good looking as the old favorites) and imaginative (green and greener) designs for a new and better bus for the city of London.

Well-known British automaker Aston Martin worked together with architects Foster+Partners on their winning entry pictured above. They share the top prize with the entry from Capoco Design Ltd., pictured below.

Upon its introduction as a prototype in 1954, the Routemaster was considered the most modern double-decker bus in the world. The Routemaster remained in regular service throughout the city until 2005. Vintage Routemasters can still be found on at least one heritage route in London. Of course, the beloved design image can easily be found on souvenirs all over the city.

Photos courtesy of Transport for London