NYC Garbage Art

Here's where package design proves it's worth in the world.  A fabulous package design can sell anything, even trash and Justin Gignac (jee-nak) proves just that.  Oh, and he thanks the NYC population for littering...

Gignac began selling garbage in 2001 after co-workers challenged the importance of packaging design. To prove them wrong, he set out to find something that no one in their right mind would ever buy, and demonstrate the value of packaging by making what he found desirable. Looking around the dirty streets of Times Square, garbage was the perfect answer. Nine years later, over 1,300 NYC Garbage cubes have been sold and now reside in 29 countries around the world.

What I find even more amazing, is that these little cubes that started off as a mission to prove the gold that lies in package design, they were selling at $10 a piece.  But now that they have become art pieces - carefully arranged plastic cubes full of the stuff, certified never to leak or smell, each one signed, numbered, and dated, brings them up to $50 - and they continue to sell like hotcakes.  His friends must be kicking themselves.

PLUS, as a true artist Justin expanded his creative path into creating special edition cubes.  A brilliant idea considering the events that are constantly held in The Big Apple.  Some past editions have included Opening Day at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, New Year’s Eve in Times Square and Obama’s Inauguration - each one selling for $100.  Smart thinking Justin!

Want your own cube?  Buy it here.  Want to see more of Justin's work?  Check it out here.