Ben Jackson, a farmer from the NSW town of Guyra, felt helpless when his much-loved aunt died in Queensland and border closures meant he couldn’t attend her funeral. He came up with a touching way to honour her by getting his flock of sheep to form the shape of a love heart on his farm. The sheep art has struck a chord with Australians who have had to come to terms with saying goodbye from afar as the COVID-19 pandemic keeps families separated. The video was played at Deb Cowdery’s funeral alongside her favourite song, Bridge Over Troubled Water. https://www.instagram.com/p/CS7nqwKhkFV/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=1d02eff3-abaf-4f93-9486-9a5c379e4e08

Art in vending machines has been popping up all over the world but was first brought to the forefront in 1997 by Clark Whittington, in a small coffee shop in North Carolina. He repurposed a cigarette machine to sell 12 of his photographs, calling it the Art-O-Mat. The owner loved the idea she asked to keep the machine and continue to sell artists' works. This is when the Artists in Cellophane, a collective encouraging art consumption “by combining the worlds of art and commerce in an innovative form”. There are more than 100 Art-O-Mat’s all over the world. https://artpharmacy.com.au/journal/the-art-vending-machine-revolution-dispensing-more-than-just-art

Zoe Brand makes her provocative jewellery from a small village called Majors Creek near Canberra. Her pieces use jewellery archetypes, ready-mades and text to explore the performative nature of jewellery as a device for communication. “I am concerned with finding language that can describe both the object or the idea of the object, as well as the person who might wear the piece”. http://www.zoebrand.work/about

What a great concept! This backpack features a built-in water-resistant hoodie that stows away to look like a normal backpack. This means you never have to make that risky decision between taking your hooded rain jacket or leaving it at home when you go out for the day. If it starts raining – or you need some extra warmth – just unfold the hood. The hood folds up and tucks into a hidden pocket near the top carry handle, concealing under the straps. To bust out the hood, just pull it out and unroll it. https://spy.com/articles/gear/accessories/backpack-with-hood-waterproof-champion-173767/

The Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games got social media talking. A highlight was a group of performers acting out shapes. They became known as the 'pictogram sequence'. Pictograms were first introduced at the 1964 Tokyo Games as a means of transcending language barriers. They were used to represent individual sports, as well as services that would help visitors get around. Designers for the '64 Games revolutionised the idea by creating symbols that could be used non-verbally without confusion. They even helped to create what are now universally used to distinguish between gendered toilets. https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/pictogram-dance-sequence-at-olympic-opening-ceremony

Benches that you can rotate using the handle so you can sit on a dry area if it has rained. One of the best innovative ideas on this list! This is something that people could benefit from everywhere!