Hill+Knowlton Strategies

3D printing has long been a hot topic in the tech industry, with investors and consumers closely following the evolution of this exciting technology. The prospect of being able to design and print 3D objects or being able to doodle into thin air (something which 3Doodler is fast turning into a reality) has captured the imagination of the general public as well as technological innovators.

3D printing is already a relatively established technology in industrial manufacturing but now we are seeing the technology becoming more readily available to individuals and small businesses.  This begs the question…could 3D printing for the consumer be just around the corner?

There have been some amazing stories in the media recently illustrating how 3D printing technology could have a profound impact on healthcare; take the 3D printer which produced a jaw bone for a transplant patient, or the news that donor organs could soon be printed on demand.

The fashion industry has also followed suit, with Dita Von Teese stepping out last week in the world’s first dress produced with a 3D printer. It seems like almost everything from organs to clothing, and even garden gnomes like these showcased by Makerbot last week at SXSW, is within the realm of possibility.

Excitement around this phenomenon has reached an all-time peak, but tongues are wagging as experts question what such a shift could mean for both intellectual property rights and public safety.

Firstly from a copyright perspective, there has been concern that ability to share and print digital files will make Intellectual Property regulation almost impossible.  There are worries about the implications in terms of the repercussions for businesses; what impact could 3D printing have on the economy if we can print off products on demand?

Moreover, in the face of the recent US gun crime debate, concerns have been raised that one day it could be possible for people to download files for weapons. CNET reported that Alice Taylor, CEO of Makie Labs doesn’t believe the dangers are imminent.  She said “I feel like it’s going to be easier for at least a decade to go and buy a gun off the shelf…I think this is a problem of the future, but it’s a long way away.”

The general consensus on 3D printing seems to be – as with many technology innovations – although there are risks and challenges, the pros outweigh the cons.  The move of 3D printing to a more consumer market could help to empower entrepreneurship, innovation and creative thinking and there could be huge potential health benefits. Although there are certainly substantial flaws which need to be ironed out and regulations which will need to be introduced, we’ve already got our thinking caps on in the office as to what we’d like to try our hand at printing!

As the world’s most stylish people descended upon Somerset House for London Fashion Week, the past week has seen London submerged in a sea of designer talent, supermodels and fashionistas. Recognised by a global audience, London Fashion Week is renowned for its edge, individuality and inventiveness. So we thought we’d take a look into how London Fashion Week has inspired the world of Food and Drink.

Shoe Bar at The Mayfair Hotel

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Fall head over heels for London Fashion Week with iconic shoe inspired cocktails at The Mayfair Hotel. Effortlessly combining the two loves of any fashionista; their expert mixologists have unified six classic shoes with six classic cocktails. If you see yourself as the next Anna Wintour then think of The Devil Wears Prada and go for the Red Stiletto, a frozen raspberry vodka laced with cherry liqueur and charged with champagne. Or if you’re more of a Manolo Blahnik girl think of Carrie Bradshaw and indulge in the Strappy Sandal with the girls.

The Hummingbird Bakery backstage at Matthew Williamson

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Fashion loves a Cupcake and these pretty little treats never miss a chance to get in front of the camera often appearing in magazines and ad campaigns. This time however, they’ve been spotted mingling backstage at Matthew Williamson’s pre show at The Royal Opera House. Opting for Mini Delights, smaller (and of course lighter) cupcakes were devoured backstage in Williamson’s signature colours whilst red velvet, fought with chocolate and vanilla for the limelight.

Reed Krakoff for Laduree

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It wouldn’t be fashion week without a collaboration. Following in the footsteps of Marni, Christian Louboutin, Lanvin and Matthew Williamson, Reed Krakoff has created an exclusive box of black chocolate Macaroons for Paris pattieserie Laduree. These simple yet stylish, matte black indulgences are a winner this season.

Molly Bakes fashion Inspired Cake Pops

Image via http://bit.ly/15MxvZB

Fancy taking a bite out of Karl Largerfeld or Donatella Versace. Well now you can with these fashion inspired Cake Pops. The pops are made of little balls of cake mixed with icing sugar dipped in candy and come fresh out of Molly’s East London Bakery. The range includes many faces of the fashion elite such as Victoria Beckham (quite literally is a head on a stick), Vivienne Westwood, Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Tally.

The Beauty and Grooming team here at H+K Strategies HQ has to admit that we are style obsessed and couldn’t resist the opportunity to take a deeper look at what designs and trends would be influencing the wardrobes of the men in our lives this Autumn / Winter 2013. So we asked H+K’s best dressed man, Mr Callum Powell, to give us the low down from this week’s London Collections…

From Saville Row and classic quintessential British brands such as Burberry and Hackett to Vivienne Westwood and Topman; London is a city rich in fashion heritage. This Sunday saw our Capital city once again kick-start the menswear fashion calendar with London Collections: Men A/W13 (LC: M).  Since its launch last June, this bi-annual showcasing of British fashion, talent and creativity has become a world stage in which designers deliver next season’s must-have looks and trends. If we had any fear of LC: M living up to last year’s standard we needn’t have worried!

David Cameron (in a classic blue Richard James suit and Oliver Sweeny shoes) welcomed the fashion elite and key industry commentators into his home to celebrate the launch of the second LC: M. British designers such as Jonathan Saunders, Lou Doulton and Patrick Grant mingled with international greats such as Tom Ford and Tommy Hilfiger. The party was complete with the arrival of Tinie Tempah and David Gandy. Sadly, our invite got lost in the post.

Day 1

On Monday we saw Topman Design throw up an unlikely must-have for autumn 2013 – the hiking boot, teamed with a classic Parka jacket featured in a selection of autumnal colours. Elsewhere designers looked to the classic English gent; Marquees of Bath exhibited sharply tailored suits whilst shrunken waistcoats were a highlight of the Meadham and Kirchhoff show. These sharp looks were complemented with even slicker hair – side partings were a hit at Lou Doulton and Hackett while Topman Design opted for a cropped Caesar. Models at Richard Nicoll sported slicked back wet look styles to compliment the futuristic style of the designs.

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Launching the world’s first snore absorption room; creating the world’s biggest shave; reinterpreting art with technology; revealing the best place in the UK to bring up a family… As 2011 draws to a close, we take a look back month by month at some H+K Strategies campaigns and work throughout the year.

January: City & Guilds Million Extra

You're hired: Karren Brady+ City & Guilds' Chris Jones

To start the new year, preparations to launch City & Guilds first ever Apprenticeship Summit went underway early on. The aim of the campaign was to help ensure one million Apprenticeship starts by summer 2013.

In January, we commissioned a report to identify the barriers employers face in hiring apprentices with the findings discussed by key political and business leaders at the Summit, hosted by Apprentice star Karren Brady.

Nearly 100 pieces of coverage resulted from this campaign as well as a request from Professor Alison Wolf to receive a copy of the full report after seeing the articles to include in her Government review of 14-19 education.

February: Intel Remastered

Shortlisted for various industry awards, our Technology team created an exciting art campaign- Intel Remastered to showcase the creative application of Intel technology. The project saw 13 modern artists reinterpret iconic masterpieces using digital technology and techniques.

Pushing the boundaries of art and creating one of the most talked about art events on the year, the stories and inspiration behind classics such as Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ and Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ were retold and presented to a digital-savvy audience.

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I’d thought about trying to compose something pithy and insightful for the opening section this week, but frankly all I can think of is the upcoming 4-day weekend. It’s times like this that I’m particularly grateful to Jesus for riling up the Romans and getting himself nailed to a tree (as with all the good stuff on here, that line’s courtesy of someone better than me – in this case, the late, great Douglas Adams). Freedom, webmongs, sweet freedom (or at least the transitory illusion of freedom, which frankly is pretty much all any of us can hope for, with our useless arts degrees and a future of interminable wage-slavery ahead of us). To celebrate, I give you THE LIFE OF CHRIST IN CATS (one of the finest things ever to appear in Viz):

A plate depicting the life of Christ through the medium of cats. No more, no less.

Anyway, feline frippery aside, here’s this week’s offerings…:

[NB - if you're strapped for time, can I just suggest that you go straight to the last video and watch it. 23 seconds you won't regret. Obviously if you've got time then read everything as it's all...well, pretty mediocre, frankly]

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