Sponge Art
-- The results of a contest sponsored by O-Cel-O brand of the 3M Home Care Division, St. Paul, Minn., were announced recently at the Parsons School of Design here. O-Cel-O challenged students to come up with "Innovations in Home Cleaning and Product Design." Student Zak Kamandy won the sponge pattern design award of a $15,000 scholarship for his sponge scrubber pattern, "Knives and Forks," featuring everyday utensils on a background of blue and white contrasting dots. The design will be manufactured and sold in stores next year. Seven students -- Youngjun Ko, Clio Lim, Jiyoon Jong, Lily Darragh, Sunsuke Takino, Susanna Wong and Jenny Wong -- together received a $20,000 scholarship for creating a biodegradable, one-time toilet bowl cleaner.
A Special Cut For New Year's
SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- The $75 million box office hit "Barbershop" will release on VHS and special edition DVD on New Year's Day. The release will be supported by a $3 million television and print marketing campaign, and a 45-day pay-per-view window. Extras on the $26.98 suggested retail DVD include four featurettes, as well as an audio commentary by the director, producers and writer. Other bonus materials include deleted scenes, bloopers and outtakes, an interactive game and a music video. The VHS version is aimed at the rental market and will be sold to retailers for $38 per copy, regardless of quantity ordered. The movie stars Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve and Cedric the Entertainer.
Intensive Redesign
NEW YORK -- The Vaseline Intensive Care bath line is getting a new design and repositioning. Unilever here has engaged design firm Raison Pure, also here, to revamp the line, which includes bath beads and a foaming cream bath. Four fragrances are involved: Gentle Breeze, Botanical Garden, Soft Petal and Peaceful Orchard. The new packaging will have colorful illustrations in blue, green, pink and orange. The moisturizing ingredients of the product -- vitamin E or aloe -- will be clearly noted on the front of the packages.
