Mouse sitting No.474q

The oft-heard trope "never work with animals or children" may be somewhat extreme but it must be said that when animals are used in advertising, agencies do not always achieve the desired effect. The ploy not only leads to a great deal of speculation when it comes to the animals' emotions (which in turn results in an adherence to clichés) but at times such commercials can even become rather preachy; as evidenced not only by cheetahs, walruses and sharks but chimpanzees too.

During imm Cologne, the Museum für Angewandte Kunst opened a special kind of exhibition: “Isn’t it romantic? – Contemporary Design Balancing between Poetry and Provocation”. An homage to the longing for a world that isn’t always perfect.

Hand-crafted porcelain: obscenely expensive, decorative items for the glass cabinet, figurines ... we know the kind of thing only too well. And then you find yourself taking part in a guided tour round the Nymphenburg porcelain manufactory and you rediscover a world long thought to be forgotten, full of craftsmen who are proud of their work and pieces which breathe life.

The Kram Weisshaar office has designed a limited edition for porcelain manufacturer, Nymphenburg.