collectible cushions

How about... collectible cushions that have been designed to represent oversized real world objects?

• Bottle tops:
  Make a cushion that represents an oversized bottletop sporting the brand's design. Bacardi Breezers have that wonderful bat image and come in a range of flavors (which are of course represented by different 'bright' colours). Imagine how these would look in a trendy pub or club or just scattered over a lad's bachelor pad?
  
• Icons:
  Make a cushion that represents an oversized icon - the type you would find on your computer's desktop. To really make these collectible, create an entire range. For example: Microsoft Office - Outlook Icon, Word Icon, Excel Icon, PowerPoint Icon. Add to the range by offering cushions that look like pointers (the little white arrow or an hourglass). Imagine how these would look in the waiting area along a couch in one of Microsoft's partner buildings?
  
• Groceries: Make cushions that represent oversized grocery items. Add to the collectibility of the range by making novel attachments. A can of Heinz baked-beans - allow the tin to have a pull off (soft) lid and fill the inside with large orange baked-bean cushions; A tube of Aquafresh Toothpaste - make it so the top can screw off and you can pull out a 'squirt' of toothpaste in that oh-so-iconic swish sidewards 'S' shape; A box of Swan Matches - allow the cover and try to slide in/out and have one or more matches loose. Big brand names should be encourage to sponsor the designs, or at the very least release the copyright in lieu of a few cushions for the marketing department. Imagine how these everyday brand products would look in a funky studio apartment or in a merchandiser's waiting room?
  
• Sweets: Make a range of cushions that look like sweets. M&M's, Licorice-Alsorts, Kit-Kats, Jelly Beans... These can be done without infact using brand imagery possibly getting around any need for licensing. Imagine a kids bed covered in his favorite sweets?
  
• Gadgets: Make a range of cushions that look like mobile phones, PDA's, Apple iPods, Memory Sticks, and other modern-day gadgetry. Add a bit of clear-but-soft plastic to make the screens really come alive - but don't do the whole cushion in plastic. Add some quirks to the designs. Make the batteries or a stylus detachable, add a phono-socket or even allow the screen to be changed (maybe the customer can flip the screen over, use velcro letters to make TXT messages, etc.). Imagine how well these cushions would go down in posh gadget shops, trendy ad agencies or highstreet computer stores? I know I would have one in my office.

These should be quite sort after items, possibly part of a limited edition range, a bit pricy, quite a statement! All items should be made of soft fabrics. Very little screen-printing should be used, rather the cushions should use applique all the way through, right down to the really tricky details. Where possible the cushions should have that little extra that the owner can discover and enjoy showing off to his/her friends. Bits like the hidden baked beans, matches or the velcro TXT letters. Cushions should be washable - but hey, they're posh, if they have to be dry cleaned then so be it.

If you are interested in following through with this venture please get in contact as I have sketches and more ideas I can share with you. Ideally I would like to retain some ownership of this idea - possibly crediting me on the labels and a share of the profits.

All correspondence by email please: matt@cranialscratch.com
© Copyright 2005 - CranialScratch/Matt Jones
All rights are reserved - intellectual property rights and copyrights - by Matt Jones t/a CranialScratch. United Kingdom.