No smoke, all mirrors

Posted 18 Jan 2012

Clothing, Design, Places | 4 Comments 

I saw this bathroom of a coffee shop in Chicago. There are a lot of things I look for in a bathroom. At the same time, I can think of plenty of instances where a room full of mirrors might be handy (trying on clothes and taunting James Bond come to mind). I’ve never imagined those two worlds colliding.

What do you think possessed the owner to fill a bathroom in a coffee shop with mirrors? A interior decor ploy to give the impression of more space? A way for customers to analyze their performance? I’m just thankful none of them were carnival fun house mirrors.

Visual taste buds

Posted 12 Jan 2012

Design, Food | 2 Comments 

Have you ever had food that was too beautiful to eat?

Russian Dolls of the West?

Posted 11 Jan 2012

Daily Life, Design, The Little Things | 1 Comment 

Are the towers of plastic containers, stacked in descending volumetric order, that sit in kitchen cabinets across America our modern adaptation of Russian Nesting Dolls?

World’s Worst Brand Names

Posted 4 Jan 2012

Design, Language | 9 Comments 

I was walking through a discount grocery store the other day and the placed was filled with fake brand names such as “Ireos” for cream cookies. Seeing such clear cases of copy-catting, I started thinking about brand names. There’s no end to rip-off brand names but maybe we can take it one step further.

So today’s post is more of a game: Can you come up with the world’s worst brand name for the following items?

Just to get you started off, one idea I had for bottled water was “Dysentery”

• Shirts
• Bread
• Chocolate
• Milk
• Underwear
• Pencils
• Laptop
• Restaurant
• Department store
• Car
• Toothpaste

Obviously, we at CMD would never presume to limit your creativity so if there are other items and brand names that you think of, please do share.

Utensils? Right away, sir.

Posted 21 Dec 2011

Design, Food | 2 Comments 

The above photo was taken at a noodle bar in Chinatown in Chicago (Chi-town in Chi-town?). Each table has a drawer for napkins, utensils, sugar packets, etc.

As we sat down, I couldn’t help but think that this is an awesome idea. How many times have I sat down to eat and then realized I forgot to bring something I needed to the table?

Now as I think about it, I don’t know why this idea is so ingenious. It’s no more innovative than, say, the stationary drawer in my desk. But I still find it awesome.

Any input from people who share my fascination would be most appreciated.