TEDxThessaloniki
TED is a nonprofit organisation devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. In April 2011, the second TEDx event of Thessaloniki was carried out, bringing to Greece and the world (as all talks are recorded and broadcasted online), leading local and international thinkers and practitioners. For this event, which has the theme "Why not?", I joined the TEDx team designing the gift bags, pens and badges.
As the essence of TED is spreading ideas, the thinking behind the design of the bag is inspired by the TED values. The concept stems from the design of a unique bag, primarily used in Greek grocery stores, and which is now becoming obsolete. Therefore, an iconic object is now taken out of context and introduced in a formal event like TEDx; instead of fresh apples you receive fresh ideas in a bag. All the graphics and slogans play on this particular theme but instead of being printed they are impressed on the bags by a series of rubber stamps. Encapsulating the unity in collaboration among the TEDx team, each bag is stamped individually by us and is therefore unique. Moreover, the concept is demonstrating that one can be innovative with a very low budget and can come up with inspiring outcomes, a fact quite important in these times of economic recession.
As the essence of TED is spreading ideas, the thinking behind the design of the bag is inspired by the TED values. The concept stems from the design of a unique bag, primarily used in Greek grocery stores, and which is now becoming obsolete. Therefore, an iconic object is now taken out of context and introduced in a formal event like TEDx; instead of fresh apples you receive fresh ideas in a bag. All the graphics and slogans play on this particular theme but instead of being printed they are impressed on the bags by a series of rubber stamps. Encapsulating the unity in collaboration among the TEDx team, each bag is stamped individually by us and is therefore unique. Moreover, the concept is demonstrating that one can be innovative with a very low budget and can come up with inspiring outcomes, a fact quite important in these times of economic recession.