Design with an Object in Mind
Written by Tara: Freelance Designer on Friday, 18 of May , 2007 at 7:32 pm
I was driving to a meeting a couple of days ago and a white van was driving the other way. On the van was a graphic of a tractor, nothing particularly exciting you’d think, but what I liked about it was that the wheel of the real van became the wheel of the tractor graphic. Unfortunately the van was going to fast for me to catch the company name.
I like the idea that a part of a product becomes a part of the design. It is all to easy (I know I am a victim of it myself) to see an object which you have to apply a graphic to, and “decorate it” rather than make the graphic work with the object.
Some examples I found which use the principle that a design should work with an object are some carrier bags. All of the designs use the bag handle in an innovative way.
Source of Images Flickr
I’d love to hear if anyone knows of any other designs which incorporate part of an object?
Category: General Graphic Design
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Comment by inspirationbit
Made Friday, 18 of May , 2007 at 10:08 pm
Here’s my find:
http://sherbsblog.com/photos/cleveradvertising.php
I also love those clever ad designs and commercials. As much as I hate commercials, some real witty ones I can watch over and over again.
Comment by LaurenMarie
Made Friday, 18 of May , 2007 at 10:51 pm
Those bags are awesome! I was amazed when I saw the necklace bag. I laughed when I scrolled down to the nail biter ones 
I’ll keep an eye out for similar designs and post them if I find any!
Comment by Paul Enderson
Made Saturday, 19 of May , 2007 at 1:07 am
Can’t think of any off the top of my head, but those are awesome concepts nonetheless!
Maybe you should offer a reward for the first person to tell you who the transit van belonged to? 
Comment by Tara1
Made Saturday, 19 of May , 2007 at 8:59 am
Hi Vivien,
Thank you for link, love that train station seat with the big hair!
Lauren,
that would be great thank you. The nail biter ones make me laugh too, probably because I am really bad about biting mine.
Paul,
I’d love to find out who the van belonged to - not sure I’d go as far as a reward though
Comment by matt mcarthur
Made Saturday, 19 of May , 2007 at 2:22 pm
Laughing my ass off at those bags!
Comment by johno
Made Sunday, 20 of May , 2007 at 10:36 am
The Nail Biter bags are great. What a brilliant idea. I’ll try to find something of my own was aimed at incorporating/involving the user…thought I certainly don’t have one that comes close to those bags
Comment by johno
Made Sunday, 20 of May , 2007 at 10:40 am
There was a design recently that I saw - building façades were painted onto the sides of buses/trucks and then parked in front of them, so that they became virtually invisible. I’m trying to find the site….ahhhhhh…
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Made Sunday, 20 of May , 2007 at 11:00 am
[…] of my my favourite posts this week is Design With an Object in Mind from the Graphic Design […]
Comment by Rebecca Caroe
Made Sunday, 20 of May , 2007 at 9:02 pm
I saw a bag from an arms dealership trade show which was a revolver pointing down - looked like you were holding it!
Sadly, can’t find the URL link….
Rebecca
Comment by Tara1
Made Monday, 21 of May , 2007 at 7:47 am
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for your comment. You can find the gun one here www.briefblog.com
It was referenced on the Flickr site.
Comment by matt mcarthur
Made Monday, 21 of May , 2007 at 9:10 am
Good lord, you’d want to be careful where you carry that gun bag…
Comment by Tara1
Made Monday, 21 of May , 2007 at 10:41 am
Hi Matt,
That’s why I didn’t post it. Its clever but not a good idea at the moment.
Comment by LaurenMarie
Made Monday, 21 of May , 2007 at 5:09 pm
Weird Al does a lot of this kind of stuff. Poodle Hat CD, Greatest Hits Cover, Amish Paradise Single CD. Enjoy!
Comment by Tara1
Made Monday, 21 of May , 2007 at 5:17 pm
Love that CD where it looks like he has got the midle of the CD in his mouth 
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Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 11:29 am
[…] to Mike, Charity, Tara, Lisa, David Zemen, Paul Johns and Paul B for some fantastic comments on my last […]
Comment by johno
Made Wednesday, 23 of May , 2007 at 6:26 am
I found some more over at Asgeir Hoem’s blog.
I like the bus! (third pic down).
I can see this post evolving into a collection of these…
Comment by Tara1
Made Wednesday, 23 of May , 2007 at 7:52 am
Thanks Johno
I was looking at these yesterday too. I really like the drain barbecue one.