Fun with Camper

Fun with Camper
Originally uploaded by raondo

I was reading this nice article in Metropolis Magazine describing the Camper brand & design-thinking. It was cool to hear about they're trying to keep it a family business - even globally - and how they taylored the design of each store to reflect & enhance the area it's in (not some cookie-cutter franchise).

I was amazed when I saw the Camper website!! ... I was laughing & wanting to dance (as much as you can in an office chair). Their site has so much fun energy – a celebration of life & personality – playfulness with color & objects. I can really feel the Spanish culture influencing this design, which I love about it! Their animations are well done & playful/entertaining. It reflects their thinking that design can be fun & not-so-serious. The objects they chose to include are fun combinations and the animations with the shoes do a great job of reflecting each shoe's personalities.

I enjoyed looking at the different Camper store designs that are uniquely suited for the area it's in. I think that's an awesome idea, and they've done a great job at the environmental design of each store. I like their randomness too. I think it's cool how they taylored the London store to have random stories of Majorcan donkeys ... since the British seem to like to read a lot, why not give them something fun to read about? In Germany they encourage visitors to write on the wall, which I would think would be really fun. In Madrid they came up with this idea of a "info-shop" where the decoration would be random images & information - that would be a cool store to visit. Their Camper for Kids section is also a playful way to communicate why kids might like campers & all their different uses.

I really love this site. I'm amazed at how much joyful life it carries in the design, the art & the ideas. I think their could be some minor improvements, like the transitions between different sections. It did take me a little bit to discover the useful parts of some sections ... but I think it goes perfectly with the idea that everything doesn't have to have a point, a meaning ... sometimes we just need to take in life & enjoy the moment!

It also reminded me of the beautiful, joyful illustrations of Spanish artist Catalina Estrada, which I admire also.

[For those people in Austin, I have seen Camper shoes & that same fun/playful design-sense at Creatures Boutique on South Congress.]

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop

Way cool video. :)
"can't stop the spirits when they need you.
this life is more than just a read-thru."

[inspired by the "one-minute sculptures" of erwin wurm]

{a prelude to the coming season??}