Matt's Site

Jan 14, '08 12:55 PM
for everyone

Link: http://www.etcgroup.org/gallery2/v/nanohazard/

Because it's important, people!

Or at least, fun.

Whatever little competition this is seems to be run by some sort of ecological group... but whoever they are, I don't think much of their graphic design nouse. Their selected finalists are, frankly, rubbish. With the possible exception of the buckyball, although it looks kind of fiddly for putting on small stuff, and is also not very scary.

In a fit of extended, finger-twitching boredom, I trawled through the entire archive (coz that's the sort of sad person I am), and thought these were much better: too bad you can't vote for them any more...

(this one in particular looks to me like something it would be unwise to gargle with)

(yeah, maybe a little too friendly, I dunno).

via Bruce Sterling.

Tags: graphic design

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15 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded

halfsure wrote on Jan 14, edited on Jan 14

I agree, the lot are rubbish (I do, though, kind of like the thinking that went into the rough orange one here):

Reasoning, maybe if I walked into the side of a truck labelled with this I'd have the sense left to walk away.

The others fail simply for having too much detail to be understandable if grimed.

drcurry wrote on Jan 14

Agreed about their total lack of taste, but not really seeing how nano-technology poses an identifiable hazard that isn't covered by one of the conventional hazard warning signs (especially the biohazard sign). If it does, I would think something like the following...

moominply wrote on Jan 14

drcurry said

not really seeing how nano-technology poses an identifiable hazard that isn't covered by one of the conventional hazard warning signs

Me neither, now you mention it. Would the ability to turn your house into a vat of chicken soup require a warning symbol, maybe?

donethat wrote on Jan 14, edited on Jan 14

may I usurp this moment to complain about some nanotechnology that has my hackles upraised? Thanks . I absolutely hate hate hate the teflonshit they put in the fabric. Stain defender indeed! now you've got perfectly nice cotton pants that resist water and attract every particle, mote and fibre in the room. The look is horrendous. That is all thank you.

I designed a nanoteflon warning but I'm not sure how to paste it here. will be back with a link.

donethat wrote on Jan 14, edited on Jan 15

I hope this explains it

zentom wrote on Jan 14

Looks like "Trousers Prohibited"

zentom wrote on Jan 14

Biohazard and Nanohazard might require slightly different cleanup methods - a biohazard might be cleaned up with lots of boiling water (so might the equivalent nanohazard, but who knows)

I think the chosen design should share the three-pointedness of nuclear and biohazards, and I quite like the nut/bolt idea - only it's not scary enough. It's difficult to make a hexagon scary - As with so much in life, it needs more skulls.

halfsure wrote on Jan 14

Capri wearers will be cut off at the knees.

donethat wrote on Jan 15, edited on Jan 15

that's as big as pc paint will allow. it does say teflon nanotechnology.

boy nothing defuses a good techno rant like stubborn old techno

notmarkflynn wrote on Jan 15

Well, once someone dies a nano-related death after ignoring the unassuming warning, it'll become scary, because everytime you see it you'll think about that guy that got reconstructed into pinballs at his wedding.

drcurry wrote on Jan 15

Every time domeone dies of a virus, it's a nano-related death.