Around this time the last two years I’ve put together a collection of the apps and tools I use on a daily basis. I didn’t see why this year should be any different. There are some old favourites and some shiny new toys in the mix. This is just a run down of the top five, because otherwise I’d end up boring you all to tears.

 

  1. Affinity Designer (Desktop & iPad)

Affinity has been my number one for a good while now. I love it on Desktop and now I love it on iPad too. I’ve done a full and gushing review on Affinity already so I’m not going to repeat myself here. But suffice to say that there’s a reason it’s my desert island digital creative tool. There’s nothing I need to do that I can’t handle (I’ve even found workarounds for mock ups) using it and it’s an absolute joy to work with, especially on iPad where you have the added wonders of the apple pencil.

 

  1. Procreate

When I first invested in my iPad, Procreate was the only drawing tool I used. It’s super simple to pick up and wonderful to draw with. I thought once Affinity came out that I would put Procreate on the shelf and never pick it up again. But that hasn’t been the case. It’s my favourite digital sketching tool still. It feels like a safe space to play around – a digital sketchbook if you will. So if you see anything on my Instagram you can almost guarantee I made it in Procreate.

 

  1. G Suite

Okay so this isn’t the sexiest recommendation, but it is certainly one of my most used. For some reason, until this year, I’d never really used Google Docs. Now it’s a key part of me making these blog posts. I write in docs because it means I can pick up a post across different devices, whether I’m at home or on my lunch break. I feel safe that I’m not going to lose any work. Plus their command+k link function has been such a time and tab saver. I love G Suite for sharing work between my laptop and iPad now as well. It integrates so well into the two tools mentioned above and makes sharing larger files with clients an absolute breeze.*

 

*Hey google, now I’ve given you all my data can you give me an SEO boost?

 

  1. Buffer Social

I realised in my blogging reflections piece when I hit the two year mark here that I needed to take social media more seriously. I’ve been trying to have a more structured approach to how I share my work and to be more consistent it. A big part of that change has been moving to Buffer. In the past I’ve used Hootsuite. There was nothing wrong with Hootsuite but I wanted a social tool that worked with Pinterest because that’s where I have the most reach, and I also wanted a change to help force a shift in mindset for me. So far, I’ve really been enjoying it. But I guess you’ll have to check back into the 2019 version of this post to see if it stands the test of time.

 

  1. Unfold

I’ve taken to starting to (at least attempt) to use Instagram stories. I’m not a huge fan of talking to camera, so Unfold has been helping me put together a narrative using still images that feels consistent and characterful without needing to turn into a vlogger. It’s still something I’m learning to use but I’m excited to do more, and show more of my process, in the future.

When you hear the word Tupperware, it’s almost guaranteed that one of the first images that come to mind is a group of prim and proper 1950s ladies gathered around a living room table selling each other the latest in airtight containers.

Even though no one I know has ever been to one, Tupperware parties still endure as such a clear cultural memory.

The Tupperware party was the brainchild of Brownie Wise, not Earl Tupper. Despite having the best product on the market, and some darn shiny catalogue photos, Tupperware wasn’t selling well at all in the late 40s. The housewives it was being marketed to, just didn’t engage with the way the product was being sold.

That was until Brownie Wise stepped in. “She took charge of the newly created division of the company centered around what [Bob] Kealing[, author of Life of the Party: The Remarkable Story of How Brownie Wise Built, and Lost, a Tupperware Party Empire ] calls “the home party plan.”” She saw that the way to sell Tupperware was to make it familiar and what could be a more effective way to do that, than have the women they wanted to buy the containers be their salespeople as well?

She created a way of selling products that was the antithesis of the testosterone fuelled mad men culture of adland at the time. Tupperware parties were social events more than anything else. She understood her audience and she made them part of the process. Alison Clarke, professor of design history and theory at the University of Applied Arts, Vienna, argues that Wise symbolised the real beneficiaries of Tupperware, women who would not have found it easy to enter the world of business – very often those from ethnic minorities or divorcees, like Wise herself, who needed the work.” Wise was the first woman on the cover of Business Week magazine in 1954.

But what about the product itself?

In the late 1930s and early 40s plastics were on the rise. The exciting new material had been used in the war for “everything from insulation for wiring to truck parts, but not for home use”. Plastic was strong and could be moulded into just about any shape but when it was “exposed to certain household liquids such as oils or vinegars, plastics were known to peel and even disintegrate entirely”.

In 1945, prolific inventor Earl Tupper was working at the DuPont chemical. DuPont found themselves with too much of ‘the material of the future’ Poly-T (polyethylene to you and me), which meant Tupper was able to buy a load of pellets very cheaply. He had been desperate to see what he could make out of the material. He knew there was money and fame to be had for whoever could find a domestic post-war use for plastics.

A few years later he had his breakthrough and he patented the now infamous seal to his creation. That seal first featured on the Wonderbowl, which was the “the linchpin of Tupperware,” [according to] Smithsonian curator Shelley Nickles.” The Wonderbowl was pretty wonderful as its name might suggest. Its seal, modelled on that of a paint can, was completely leak proof – there were a number of demonstrations of the product that featured it being flung across the room filled with liquid and not spilling a drop. It could be stacked easily in the fridge.  Its translucent plastic shell was food safe and came in a range of fruity and jewel tones. They were such a wonder to behold they were even marketed as art objects:

“Held up to the light, it becomes opalescent and translucent and has an interesting, new ability to transfer light. So these bowls look like art objects — even before you know what they do.”

They really are museum pieces now. You can find Tupperware in almost every design museum as well as the Smithsonian. You can also find Tupperware, or one of its later derivatives, in every home. Earl Tupper, thanks to the genius of Brownie Wise, got his wish to ‘tupperize’ the world with an invention that despite its size and simplicity really did change the world.

Inspired by the likes of Sophie from A Considered Life, I’ve been trying to be more conscious of what I consume. In my quest to reduce my waste and be kinder to the planet, I’ve been making some waste free swaps. When you move from using something disposable to something reusable, you’re obviously committing to having an object in your life for a while. So, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to invest in some great, ethical, design and I wanted to share some of the gems I’ve found with you.

Water bottles

S’well

I have and love a S’well bottle in a brushed silver colour. It’s been hard wearing and because it’s a thermos it keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold – so it means I can have an extra few cups of tea on an evening without venturing to the kitchen. It looks sleek but not flashy – but there are definitely some bolder colour options if that’s what you’re into.

Stay Sixty

Stay Sixty have solved one of the age old problems of how do you clean out a reusable bottle properly? The bottom section of their stainless steel bottle unscrews, so if you’re a fan of a shake or juice this could be a great option. Designed in London, like the S’well their bottle is double walled to keep your drink at the right temperature. Their bottles come in some lovely colours too – I might have my eye on the stone one.

BKR

If you’re not into metal bottles and prefer glass, I’ve heard great things about BKR. Their glass bottles are surprisingly sturdy – I’ve seen one survive a fall from a desk. They’re simple and easy to use/hold. Pretty much everything you’d want from a bottle if you ask me.

Coffee mugs

Keep Cup

The Keep Cup is probably the best known reusable coffee cup on the market. They claim to be the “first barista standard reusable coffee cup”. They also look absolutely adorable and come in every colourway and material you could imagine. If you’re feeling a bit creative you can even design your own.

Frank Green

One of my colleagues has the Frank Green mugs and they do look as lovely in person as they do in all of their photos. They’ve also got every conceivable feature you would want from a coffee cup: non-slip grip, non-spill lid, double walled design to keep your drink warm, plus if you live outside of the EU you can also use your cup to pay for your coffee using CafePay.

Stojo

If you’re like me and don’t have take out coffee all that often but still want a reusable option, the Stojo cup is probably your best bet. It folds down to be the size of its lid when not in use, so you can easily store it in your bag then unfold it when you need rather than lugging around a big mug you might not always need.

Old Brewhouse Pottery

There are lots of hand made pottery options out there too if you want something with a bit more character which supports a small business. In the UK, Old Brewhouse Pottery make some lovely unique mugs. (If you happen to live in Australia you are spoilt for choice so have a google!)

Cutlery sets

Joseph Joseph Go Eat

Joseph Joseph make some of the best designed bits of tupperware on the market, a market I am constantly searching by the way. This stainless steel spoon, knife, fork set is super compact. The innovative magnetic design of the silicone storage case, holds everything together really neatly and means you can pop them straight back in your bag without worrying about getting pesto on your laptop.

Spork

I used to work in a camping store and sold a Spork pretty much every day. It’s the all in one option if you want to keep things as simple as they can be. It’s a spoon. It’s a fork. It’s a knife. It’s everything you need to eat lunch on the go and you can pick it up in plastic free stainless steel.

OFUN

This is the set I’m planning on buying myself. It’s a reusable wooden cutlery set, finished with a food grade non-toxic wood oil which is BPA Free. I love that it includes chopsticks. Because it’s made of wood, not only does it look super classy (every little helps) it’s also going to be that bit lighter than carrying a full metal set.

Tote bags

Stay Home Club

I bought a Stay Home Club tote years ago and I still love it today. They have a much bigger range now though. They’re all wonderfully illustrated, as is everything they make, and perfect for the introvert in your life. I’ve got my beady little eye on the no new friends one by Baker.

 

Adam JK

I think I mention Adam JK in every one of these design favourites type posts, but I love his work and I don’t care. His totes are funny and wonderful and subtle statements and I just want two of everything he’s ever made.

Other honourable mentions

There are loads of other swaps you can make to help reduce your waste and look after the planet. One of the biggest is to swap out meat and dairy (oat is my favourite alternative) where you can. But I’d definitely recommend checking out A Considered Life, which I mentioned at the top of this post, because Sophie has some great advice.

Most of the design stories I share with you here begin with a clever person trying to solve a problem. Perhaps they want to satiate a young child’s impatience, help people cross the road, or just ensure workers trousers stay up, but they all have a purpose. That’s what design is right?

 

design (verb), as a discipline: plan the creation of a product or service with the intention of improving human experience with respect to a specified problem.

 

Today’s design story doesn’t start with a purpose, instead, it starts with play. An automotive engineer named George Carwadine lost his job when his company, the Hortsman Car Company, went bankrupt in 1931. Flush with time to himself, Carwadine did what any self-respecting tinkerer would do; he set up a workshop in his garden shed. For him, this career break was the perfect opportunity to play around with the theory of ‘constant tension’, balancing weights using springs, cranks and levers.

 

He had no purpose for his tinkering, he just wanted to see what he could make. What he made was a “supported and balanced by a sequence of springs, cams, levers and weights, [which] could be constantly repositioned”. This became the basis for the arm of a lamp, which could focus light in specific directions, yet remained perfectly balanced and stayed in the pose in which it was set.

 

Soon after his discovery, Carwardine struck up a fruitful partnership with spring manufacturers Herbert Terry & Sons.” They worked together to develop the lamp. Their first port of call was to the Patent Office to protect their design. Carwadine wanted to call their lamp the ‘Equipoise’. But their application was rejected. Equipoise already existed. So with a bit of teamwork, Carwadine and Terry came up with Anglepoise.

The first version of the Anglepoise lamp, the 1208, was produced by Herbert Terry & Sons in 1934 with four springs.”

 

This lamp was mainly intended for use as part of the war effort.

 

It was sold as a blackout companion. The Anglepoise’s closed shade and ability to direct light meant it could offer illumination without drawing wider attention. Plus it was compatible with low-voltage bulbs meaning it used very little energy. This idea of direct, low-voltage light was quickly adapted for bomber aircraft. One such lamp was found at the bottom of loch ness over 50 years later. With a new battery, it still worked. So I think we can safely add hard wearing to the list of the Anglepoise’s credits.

 

Due to the lamp’s popularity during the war, there was an appetite for a more domestic version. But there were two snags, the lamp was too large for homes and there was a fear that ladies’ hair would get caught in the springs. So, Carwadine and Terry simplified. They turned their four spring creation into a smaller 3 spring lamp. This was the 1227. That lamp is still being sold today. Most recently Paul Smith and Margaret Howell have added their own colourful spins on the design. But those 3 springs have remained the same.

But perhaps the Anglepoise’s greatest shining moment (humour me) was its personification in the two-minute film, Luxo Jr. Before Pixar was Pixar, they needed a way to show off their tech. So John Lasseter turned to what he could see on his desk,  a Luxo-branded Anglepoise lamp:

 

“I started working on doing lamps. I modelled one Luxo lamp, and then a friend of mine came over with his baby. And then I went back to working on the lamp and wondered what the lamp would look like as a baby. I scaled different parts of it down: the springs are the same diameter, but they’re much shorter. The same with the rods. The shade is small but the bulb is the same size. The reason the bulb is the same size is because that’s something you buy at the hardware store; it doesn’t grow.”

 

The film that came out of that experiment, just like the lamp that inspired it has lived on. Those 13 seconds at the start of a Pixar movie are some of the most joyous you can spend at a cinema.

 

A life-saving light source, a design legacy, and immortalisation in film, perhaps tinkering away in your shed isn’t all that unproductive after all.

Last year, towards the start of this design stories series I delved back into the history of the white t-shirt. So, I thought it was high time that I turned to fashion for a design story again and investigated the white t-shirt’s perennial partner the blue jean.

Levi’s are the name that we most commonly associate with jeans. In fact, they’re almost synonymous at this stage. So, that’s where we’re going to be focusing our attention today.

A lot of people think that Levi (previously Loeb) Strauss invented denim, but that isn’t quite the case. Similar fabrics had been used by sailors across Europe, particularly in Portugal, since the 16th century. Denim was actually accidentally discovered in the 18th century in Nimes, France when people attempted to replicate a sturdy Italian fabric which was known as serge. The fabric created by the people of Nimes was made of a mix of cotton and wool. It was first known as “serge de Nimes” but as it became popular its name shortened to be “denim” as we know it now.

So if they didn’t develop denim, what did they do? Well, I’m glad you asked. The story begins, according to Time magazine’s wonderfully written piece in 1950 like so:

When 20-year-old Levi Strauss sailed from Manhattan round Cape Horn to San Francisco in 1850 to seek a fortune in the gold fields, he carried a roll of canvas in his baggage. He intended to sell it to a tentmaker to get enough cash for a grubstake. But when he got ashore, the complaint of a friendly miner gave him a better idea. “Pants don’t wear worth a hoot up in the diggins,” said the miner. “Can’t get a pair strong enough to last no time.”

At what was the height of the Gold Rush miners were wearing dungarees, which as our friendly miner tells us didn’t “wear a worth hoot up in the diggins”. In particular, their pockets ripped out and seams tended to pop open under the stress of being worn for vigorous physical activity. So when Levi Strauss, a well respected wholesale dry goods store owner, came across a customer named Jacob Davis who had a proposal for how they could make the strongest overalls in the land he was all ears.

Davis had been a tailor in Reno. While working he started “placing copper rivets at “points of strain,” including pocket corners and the seam below the button fly, thereby creating a garment that could withstand the work life of miners and other hard laborers of the time”. He knew he was onto a winning idea. But he didn’t have any money to file a patent or any resources to mass produce his reinforced overalls.

That’s where Levi Strauss came in, and the pair filed a patent on May 20, 1873. As soon as they had that patent, they started manufacturing their waist overalls (aka jeans). Made by seamstresses in their own homes at first their first jeans came in brown and blue, and “featured a single back pocket with the soon-to-be-famous arcuate design, a back cinch and, of course, rivets at points of strain on pockets and the crotch.

As Davis had predicted their hard wearing waist overalls were an instant success.

By 1880 the pair had opened their own factory to produce their XX waist overalls. The XX in their name didn’t denote size but instead demarcated their extra-strong design, which was the precursor to the 501s we know and love now.

In 1886, the pair’s patent was nearing its end and Strauss knew there would be an influx of other jeans makers entering the market. So he decided they needed a way to mark out their product amongst a sea of competitors. That’s when the famous Levi’s patch was born. Strauss and Davis’s brand was all about strength so, Strauss had a patch emblazoned with two horses pulling at an unbreakable pair of jeans sewn onto each pair of jeans they made. The patch became so recognisable that they were known as The Two Horse Brand until 1928 when they officially became Levi’s.

As with the story of the white t-shirt the popularity of jeans owe a lot of their success to the rock n roll stars of the music industry of the 1950s and the ever charismatic figure of Marlon Brando. Once jeans moved from a workwear staple to a statement of youth and rebellion their fate completely changed. By the time that stonewashing technology revolutionised the manufacture of denim in the 1970s, jeans were a staple in almost every wardrobe.

Jeans have endured as an icon of design, even though their XX standard of strength has waned over the years the strength of their branding hasn’t. I, for one, do actually live in Levi’s.