Digests

Sainsbury’s has introduced a new recyclable plastic shopping trolley by Italian design group Comital. The new model aims to cure the steering problems of traditional metal trolleys.

Westminster City Council has launched an international competition to choose a range of contemporary street furniture for the millennium. The competition is co-sponsored by Grosvenor Estates and Howard de Walden Estates. Details are available on 0171-641 8034.

Graphic artist and film-maker Arnold Schwartzman has designed the poster for this year’s Oscars ceremony.

Market research agency Taylor Nelson Sofres has appointed The Workroom to produce its annual report, after a three-way credentials pitch.

Design group Browns has launched a second book, this time of Robin Broadbent’s photographs, as part of its commitment to publish creative work.

The Government-led Information Society Initiative has introduced a series of free guides, designed by Redhouse Lane, to show small companies how to benefit from new technology.

Furniture designer Ron Carter has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List for services to craft and design.

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants has teamed up with the Design Council in a three-year research programme called Accounting for Design. It aims to show designers and accountants how to meet creative and financial targets.

Lloyd Ferguson Hawkins aims to get away from the cold, clinical, medical brands that dominate the smoking cessation sector, with this NiQuitin packaging for SmithKline Beecham. The consultancy aims instead to reassure and empathise with consumers. It does this by communicating the transition from despair to hope using the images of the sun and moon and through calming colours, says an LFH spokeswoman. Meanwhile, the name was created in-house and is intended to look scientific.

Siebert Head aims to attract younger consumers through this new packaging for Polish mineral water brand Aqua Minerale. The client – the Polish arm of drinks giant Pepsi Co – briefed the consultancy to modernise the two-strong range, while retaining its core brand values of purity and quality. The resulting design uses an orange circle to draw your eye to the label, says a Siebert Head spokeswoman. The new-look bottles hit the shelves last month.