Something for the Antarctic Explorer who has Everything

February 2009 / Product Design

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Fortnum & Mason recently ran a design competition (part of the D&AD Student Awards 2009; view brief) to design a product for an Antarctic Explorer which fits with the brand values of Fortnum & Mason, Picadilly, and could be sold there. This seems like a bit of a crazy brief: people go to Fortnum & Mason for very traditional English food to serve at fancy dinner parties; Antarctic explorers need high-tech, lightweight equipment.

Working with my friend Cecilia Tanure, we created a product designed to appeal to the kind of eccentric who picks Fortnum & Mason to supply his Antarctic expedition: a bespoke ice sculpture which can be erected right at the South Pole.

"Make your mark at the South Pole with your very own ice sculpture, completely custom-made for you by Fortnum & Mason. Our expert staff can create any form, from a traditional portrait to an abstract representation of your momentous journey. Our lightweight and ingenious invention allows you to erect your sculpture right at the South Pole, leaving an arresting mark on one of the world's wildest landscapes".

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