Liquid Treat

Happy first official day of spring. Now that you're slowly emerging from winter hibernation—or smugly bragging that you live in a warm climate—we dug into the still semi-frozen tundra of the web for stuff to keep you current. This month Adobe Youth Voices and Worldstudio launch a feel-good project called Design Ignites Change, which encourages high school and college students to make the world a better place by designing public projects. Want to help? They're looking for creative professionals to mentor underserved high school students. Or you can just browse this cheery site for inspiring projects—from planting gardens to repurposing museum banners.

by Michelle Taute

Loads of "experts" send us trend reports, and most of them go right in the trash along with all the press releases from people who think they've reinvented branding. But Razorfish's Digital Outlook Report won over our cynical hearts with its depth and shrewd analysis. Read up on everything from the future of TV and mobile marketing to a phenomenon the company dubs Social Influence Marketing. You'll find contributions from movers and shakers at Google, Comcast, Microsoft and more. Just be prepared to put on your reading glasses: This text-heavy experience is worth the effort.

by Michelle Taute

Nothing makes our mouse-clicking fingers twitch like a good remix, and three in one week equals pure delight. First up, the meatloaf cupcake. Yes, this perfectly portioned comfort food cleverly replaces sweets with tasty meats. You won't get your mid-afternoon sugar fix, but you may discover that the next best thing to frosting is mashed potatoes. Please direct all thank you notes for this stroke of culinary genius to The Meatloaf Bakery in Chicago. They'll bake you a filling meatloaf cake or cupcake in a variety of meat/topping combos ... and there's even a vegetarian version.

by Michelle Taute

The Brush & Rinse Toothbrush has been around the online block a few times, but now—drumroll, please—you can actually order one up for your bathroom. To use, stick the backside of this brush under your faucet to create a delicate offshoot of water that resembles a drinking fountain. This allows you to rinse out your toothpaste-filled mouth without disposable cups or, ahem, lapping water from your hand. Pre-order now at Moq7.com to help reach the 50,000 minimum required for manufacturing ... if it doesn't happen by year's end, you get a refund.

by Michelle Taute

What exactly is a chaboo? It's a sweet little table from designer Ken Tomita named after the Japanese word for low table (chabudai) and what it's made from (bamboo). Even sweeter is that Tomita didn't keep this minimalist creation all to himself. He invited other artists and designers to put their touches on these tables or reinterpret the design from scratch. The results show just how much variation creative folks can produce on a single simple theme. And the online gallery might inspire a custom remix of your own.

by Michelle Taute

Don't you wish there was a little instruction book for saving the world? Maybe an actionable task list? That's how we like to think of the seven creative briefs up at Good 50x70. This nonprofit project works with major charities, such as UNICEF and Greenpeace, to highlight world issues ranging from child labor to climate change, then invites designers to respond with posters. The visual solutions go into a database charities can access for free, and the top 30 entries become part of a catalog and traveling exhibition. Deadline: April 1.

by Michelle Taute