Pete Bingham

Lovely to dip in and out of for inspiration, or just for pretties... Sainsburys Archive via @sainsburys sainsburyarchive.org.uk/catalogue/high… #design #inspiration #vintage

I’ve made a short film. Look at the things around you: doors, bins, staircases, furniture, railings, doorhandles, windows. Do you like how they look, or not? Modern design has become boring, but it doesn’t have to be this way. The word “beautiful” is overused. We don’t need “beautiful” lamps, bus stops, and water fountains – we just need lamps, bus stops, and water fountains that are interesting, that actually mean something. Or, at the very least, not boring. Because the aesthetics of architecture and urban design aren’t just a bonus; they totally change how we think, feel, and behave. Boring environments make us more stressed and less productive; they erode our sense of community; they make us sadder, less trusting, and lonelier. A boring world is one where we spend even more time online and where our addictions are even harder to battle. The Problem There is global, widespread dissatisfaction with how the world looks. In this film, and the series it will lead to, we want to investigate that feeling and give it a voice. The point isn’t that we should return to the past or get rid of modernism. It’s about learning from the past in order to improve the present, and about giving the public what they very clearly want, which isn’t the eradication of modernism but the co-existence of modernism AND traditionalism. Just look where tourists go, where they take their photos, and that tells you everything you need to know about what most people find interesting or beautiful. And look at where people go on holiday. It’s always to cities filled with old architecture and design, with churches and mosques and palaces, with charming little alleyways and stone staircases and wrought-iron railings. Of the world’s fifty most visited buildings, only four were made in the 20th century, and they’re all museums or memorials. There’s a reason why posts about this go viral online all the time. Regardless of why the change happened, it is clearly the case that we no longer make things how we used to. People are rightly confused by the fact that old lamp posts (to take the example we focus on in the film) are usually so pretty, while modern ones are usually so boring. Some people say this is just an example of survivorship bias… and they’re mostly correct. But that’s the whole point! Saying old buildings are usually prettier than modern buildings is not to say that architecture used to be better, or that the past was better. It is simply to say that certain kinds of buildings, because they have been preserved, are good examples of what people like most. In which case... shouldn't we try to design at least some buildings in a way that we know people like? A Unifying Cause Everybody, from all sides of the political spectrum and all backgrounds, stands to benefit from a world that is designed more thoughtfully and imaginatively. The world could be such a colourful, meaningful, and thrilling place! So this isn’t about left versus right or conservatism versus progressivism; it’s about making our world a more interesting and meaningful place to live in. This should be a unifying cause, because everybody loses out when our homes and cities are badly designed. I want this film to unite people who think they’re on opposite sides, and to create a consensus that we need to change our approach to how we design our buildings and the objects – benches, bus stops, bins, lamp posts, aircon units – that fill our cities. The Importance of Details We are incredibly rich and have a sprawling choice of shows to stream, phones to buy, or shoes to wear… but everything feels more and more generic all the time. If you want to understand a society, don’t listen to what it says about itself – look at what it creates. You can learn everything about the Victorians – the good and the bad – just by looking at their lamp posts. And what do the ordinary details of the modern world say about us? That we are technologically advanced, very efficient… and care more about making money, about making things as quickly and cheaply as possible, than making our world an enjoyable place to actually live in. It’s important to learn about why and how things have changed, but that’s for another time. The first step is establishing that the public aren’t happy with modern architecture and design, and that something needs to be done. But what we need isn’t a total revival of so-called ‘traditionalism’; the truth is that traditionalism and modernism can (and should) co-exist. The trouble right now is that we only have one, and that people are tired of it. The Power of Noticing But this film (and the series it will, all being well, lead to) is about more than the specific argument it presents. Above all it’s about a way of seeing the world around us, a way of noticing and thinking. “How you do anything is how you do everything.” That is probably true, and it also applies to whole societies, not just individuals; a single doorbell implies everything else about the whole socio-economic and political system that gave rise to its creation. And, beyond being merely “useful”, the ability to notice details makes the world a richer place to live in, and life a richer thing to lead. This is what the film is about, more than anything: the power and joy of noticing. A Bigger Project This short film is just the beginning. We want to make a full series about the history of art and architecture, both for their own sake and also to see what we can learn about life in the twenty-first century and how to improve it. To keep updated you can join our email list over at our website, linked in the reply below. Final Words You can watch the film here on X, or over on YouTube, also linked in the reply below. So… this is where the dream begins, the dream of a new series and the dream of a more charming, more interesting, more meaningful modern world. Spread the word.

Zelda Williams has made a statement asking people to stop sending her AI videos of her father, Robin Williams: “Stop believing I wanna see it or that I’ll understand, I don’t and I won’t. If you’re just trying to troll me, I’ve seen way worse, i’ll restrict and move on. But please, if you’ve got any decency, just stop doing this to him and to me, to everyone even, full stop. It’s dumb, it’s a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it’s NOT what he’d want. To watch the legacies of real people be condensed down to ‘this vaguely looks and sounds like them so that’s enough’, just so other people can churn out horrible TikTok slop puppeteering them is maddening. You’re not making art, you’re making disgusting, over-processed hotdogs out of the lives of human beings, out of the history of art and music, and then shoving them down someone else’s throat hoping they’ll give you a little thumbs up and like it. Gross.” (Source: variety.com/2025/film/news…)

“The same chunk of money is being energetically passed back and forth between these closely related companies, all of which claim it as investment, as an asset, or as revenue (or all three).”

AI is the asbestos we are shoveling into the walls of our society and our descendants will be digging it out for generations: #class-war" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">pluralistic.net/2025/05/27/ran… 11/

“Google is now pursuing two opposing paths, creating a clear division between organic Google, which wants more quality content, and AI Google, which assumes fair use of that content. This model is unsustainable.”

Struggling to find your place in the market? Niching down might be the secret weapon your ecommerce brand needs. Check out how focusing narrower can grow your business bigger: boom-online.co.uk/blog/the-power… #digitalmarketing #eCommerce

Marketing your product globally? Nuance is everything. What works in France won’t necessarily land in the UK. From language and regulation to tone and values — every market has its own rhythm and context. Catch the latest #Room301 now: thedigitalmaze.com/blog/room-301-…

We're about to kick off (and with a packed room) – it's Room 301 Live! First up Leo Worsley talking Google Ads on a budget. Let's go! #Room301Live

What's Google up to now? 🤯 Where should I spend my ad budget? 💰 How do I optimise my site for 2025? 📈 If you & your marketing team are stumped trying to figure out where digital marketing is heading next you should join our next webinar. Sign up: thedigitalmaze.com/resources/what…

Need to get something off your chest? We're looking for guests for our digital marketing #podcast Room 301. Get in touch to banish your marketing nightmares. Drop us a comment if you fancy it. #room301 #digitalmarketing

Have a very merry Christmas from everyone at Boom! 🎄🎅🎁 ...and a happy new year! 🎆

Great to see so many of you out on a cold November evening last night. If you missed it, you missed out! BUT don't worry, we've dropped the speaker slides on our event page PLUS we'll be back in the new year with another event. #Room301Live #Derby thedigitalmaze.com/about/events/r…

#Room301Live Let's go!

It's tonight! 💬 🍕 🍻 Two industry speakers, plenty of free food, free drink and a chance to learn, chat and banish your marketing frustrations into Room 301. 🚪3️⃣0️⃣1️⃣ 📍 6pm–8:30ish, Upstairs at The Greyhound Pub, Friar Gate, Derby Sign up: thedigitalmaze.com/about/events/r…

We’re absolutely delighted to see Sheffield has been listed amongst the Best Christmas Markets in the UK by @IndyTravel | @Independent 🙌 View the article here: independent.co.uk/travel/uk/best… 🎄✨ For more info about the @sheffcitycentre festive market visit: welcometosheffield.co.uk/ChristmasMarke…

A great shop window display draws you in... And that’s exactly what a good eCommerce category page should do too! Turn those casual clicks into add-to-baskets with the right layout, content, design and SEO tips. Sorry about the Christmas photo... boom-online.co.uk/blog/what-make…

I invited a live HeyGen AI avatar to a Zoom meeting with the instructions that it run the most stereotypical corporate Zoom meeting ever. What have I done.

More thoughts on Gen-AI from my free newsletter, in case you missed it. accidental-expert.com/p/here-eat-this

On this day in 1997, Netflix was founded. Netflix website in 1999 #InternetHistory

We’re never going there. Creativity is made, not generated. You can read more at procreate.com/ai ✨ #procreate #noaiart