How do you reinvent a classic such as champagne, the bubbly beverage long associated with celebration and happiness? A similar question faced by the French champagne label Piper-Heidsieck. However, instead the usual round of seeking right marketers, Piper-Heidsieck thought outside of the box and left behind the usual route. Instead, it enlisted the assistances of Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, the Dutch fashion duo and the creative forces behind one of the most talked about label, Viktor & Rolf.

The result is a limited edition set, in which everything has dual purposes and turned upside down, quite literally. The traditional ice bucket can now be utilize as a small container. What was once a regular champagne flute, flip and it is now martini glass. The bottle and its label can be turn a full 180° as well. The Piper-Heidsieck Rose Sauvage set by Viktor & Rolf are currently available at selective fine retailers worldwide.

» Colette
» Viktor & Rolf
» Piper-Heidsieck

By now, we all have heard, if not use, something called “user generated contents” (YouTube is the perfect example). How about “user generated advertisements”? That is the concept behind Absolut Vodka’s new global advertising campaign, In An Absolut World… In it, the Swedish spirit label asked its consumers to re-imagine the endless possibilities of what an new world would be like if they have their ways or says. Meanwhile, it also asked for entries to it next advertising images - those famous vodka bottle silhouettes already made famous by the likes of Lenny Kravitz, Stella McCartney, and Andy Warhol. Simple design tools are built into the web-based submission site, making it possible for anyone to enter their ideas. And similar to any “user generated…” site, each idea is judged not by a marketing guru, but by other users.

» Absolut Vodka

Aside from the time between 1942 and 1943, New York City always welcome the new year underneath the New Year Eve Ball at Times Square since 1907, when the descent of the lighted ball signal the count-down. This year in celebration the 100th year of this long held tradition, an alliance of private corporation and public organization created a new New Year Eve Ball.

With a diameter of approximately 6 feet and weigh around half a ton, the new New Year Eve Ball reflected the changing of times while keeping with old crafts. Famed crystal manufacture Waterford created 672 crystal triangles, each cut and shaped on both sides to maximize the light refraction For this new New Year Eve Ball, . Dutch electronic giant Philips then provided 9,576 Luxeon LEDs in place of the traditional 600 incandescent and halogen bulbs. By doing this, the new ball has twice of illumination, an ability to create 16,000,000 colors and infinite amount of patterns. Furthermore, it ensure environmental friendliness. The total power consumption of the new ball will only be equivalent to 10 average toaster ovens. To insure both components work to their fullest potential, lighting design specialist Focus Lighting added the programming and necessary controls.

The fully operational new New Year Eve Ball was put on display temporary at Macy’s Department last month, where it dazzled the holiday shoppers for a few weeks. Catch the new ball’s premiere at New Year’s Eve live telecast on TV or the Internet.

» Times Square Alliance
» Waterford
» Philips
» Focus Lighting

For any creative minds, a short trip or a long voyage can reinvigorate the soul and inspire the creation of new ideas. Exactly what happened to Jeremyville as the Sydney-based artist visited New York City recently. The outcome, Sketches From New York, a book composed of 22 postcards. Each detachable postcard featured his signature doe-eye caricatures in scenarios that can only happen in NYC.

A great coffee table book for the holidays. Currently available at Concrete Hermit.

» Concrete Hermit

» Jeremyville

For any artist, there is always a drive, a believe, something that is intangible to most. For WK, it is about capturing a glimpse of New York street, that motion, that action-reaction, that vision with all of its emotional baggages. It is a view most will miss because it happens so fast. It is a glimpse that WK, however, has perfected on capturing.

En Avant recently had the opportunity to chat with this great artist about his latest installation, The Trail, at Brooklyn’s Espeis Archetype Gallery.

Espeis Archetype Gallery
90 Wythe Avenue | Map
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Exhibition Date: November 30th (Friday) - January 13th (Sunday)

» WK INTERACT

» Espeis Archetype Gallery

» Philippe Starck