DESIGN DISPATCH

Kanye West Is “Reimagining” McDonald’s Packaging, and Other News

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Image courtesy @kanyewest

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Kanye West is teaming with Naoto Fukasawa to remagine McDonald’s packaging.

“Kanye is teaming up with Muji’s industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa to “reimagine McDonald’s packaging,” according to his latest Instagram post. Ye has taken to Instagram Stories to share a cryptic post of a McDonald’s sandwich, with the words “next week it’s the fries” written below. While this is certainly not confirmation of any McDonald’s collabs or meals from the artist formerly known as Kanye West, who has a deeply profound poetic history with the brand, it’s still raising a few eyebrows.” [H/T Complex]

The star photographer Gered Makowitz may turn his pictures into 3D works of art.

“British photographer Gered Mankowitz has an archive that spans 60 years, capturing an extraordinary array of stars that include Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Slade, Elton John and Kate Bush. Now, he hopes that vast treasure trove will be given a new lease of life after selling the lot to a company that plans to use digital technology to turn the images, among other things, into three-dimensional works of art. Mankowitz is the latest high-profile photographer to sell the rights to his images, after a similar move by well-known musicians: Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen are among many who have sold their recording and songwriting rights for large amounts of money.” [H/T The Guardian]

Cabins at Camp Lakota reimagined by Perkins & Will. Photography by Here and Now Agency

Perkins & Will creates A-frame cabins for a California campground destroyed by fire.

“Perkins & Will has used prefabricated components and mass timber to create a series of A-framed cabins and a dining hall at a California campground that was partly destroyed by fire. Camp Lakota is located in the mountain community of Frazier Park, which lies about 70 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Operated by the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, the 57-acre camp is part of Los Padres National Forest and features hills, pine trees and open fields. After the camp was partly destroyed by a fire, Perkins & Will’s LA studio was tasked with designing new sleeping cabins, restroom facilities, and a dining hall.” [H/T Dezeen]

Ukrainian artists turn Russia House in Davos into a showcase of recent war crimes.

“As the world’s wealthiest descend on the Swiss ski town of Davos for the annual World Economic Forum, a group of artists are ensuring that the mounting human cost of the war in Ukraine is placed firmly at the center of this week’s proceedings. Typically during the summit, which runs until 26 May, Russian delegates stay and host parties in a building known as Russia House. This year, with no Russians invited to the conference amid widespread sanctions against the country provoked by its military aggression, the house lies empty. Making use of this opportunity, a number of Ukrainian artists and art workers have rented the building to stage the exhibition Russia War Crimes House (until 26 May) that focuses on alleged war crimes being committed by Russia in Ukraine.” [H/T The Art Newspaper]

Balenciaga’s spring 2023 runway show at the New York Stock Exchange. Images courtesy of Balenciaga

Balenciaga stages its first runway show outside Paris at the New York Stock Exchange.

“On Sunday, the last day of the seventh straight week of a tumbling Dow, as titans of industry and finance gathered in Davos, Switzerland, for a delayed World Economic Forum, a different gathering took place in front of the New York Stock Exchange. There was screaming. There was jostling. There were gathered police officers and barricades. They weren’t there for Occupy Wall Street redux, or any sort of protest about the current markets. They were there for the Balenciaga spring 2023 show, the brand’s first show being held outside of Paris, which also happened to be the first show ever held on the trading floor of the symbolic beating heart of American wealth creation and destruction.” [H/T The New York Times]

Bentley’s first electric car can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 1.5 seconds.

“Bentley’s first full-electric car will offer up to 1400 horsepower and will be capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 1.5 seconds, CEO Adrian Hallmark said. But acceleration will not be the model’s main selling point, Hallmark said. The main attribute of the new EV will rather be the car’s ‘effortless overtaking performance from a huge amount of torque on demand,’ Hallmark said.” [H/T Automotive News Europe]

Image courtesy of Burger King

Today’s attractive distractions:

Astronomers are honing in on the mysterious Wow! Signal first detected in 1977.

The artist Brian Mock upcycles used scrap metal into adorable animal sculptures.

California homeowners will soon be able to buy solar panels from their local Ikea.

Burger King launches a limited-run burger series for bizarre pregnancy cravings.

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