If the Do LaB prove anything, it's that creativity can pay--and explosive creativity at that.  The radical art collective, based in downtown Los Angeles, have inspired the minds of thousands across the globe through their otherworldly creations, and have racked up a number of high-profile clients in the process.

Since making their work known through the Burning Man Festival, Do LaB has also created wondrous art experiments for major corporations like Red Bull, Lexus, Ford, American Idol, Coachella Music and Arts Fest, and E! Entertainment just to name a few.  The reason for that?  The collective has made it known that they are only ones capable of such extraordinary visions.

The above is a shot taken from the group's most recent event, "Lightning in A Bottle," a festival that took place in Santa Barbara, CA this past May.  Plant life is a common theme in Do LaB's work, but the epic sizes, aesthetic sense, and functionality of it is what really makes it unique.  Part of the experience of their work is watching it seemingly come to life.  Some of these larger than life flowers they create actually move and appear to grow, and according to one source, are capable of even more.  Jessica Kelly of WeEarth frequently attends the annual Burning Man festival, and described her experience.

"This enormous flower would actually blossom, and then the leaves would drop water for people to cool down under," she said.    

Judging by the photos on their website, it's clear their magnificent creations would never be possible under the work of one person.  It just goes to show how far the positive forces of teamwork can go.  Check them out when you can!

PICNIC could be one of the most important events throughout all of Europe when it comes to innovation and new business.  With a huge base of support from all over the world, it hosts a gathering for individuals and businesses to learn about the future of media, technology, entertainment, art, science and the creative process.  This year the organization has teamed up with the Dutch Postcode Lottery to present the PICNIC Green Challenge 2008 for another contest in green technology innovation.

The contest awards €500,000 to the team who invents the best new green product and service to help aid the battle in global warming.  While the deadline for the contest was July 31, the preliminary jury (made up of Bill Moggride, the co-founder of the Silicon Valley-based design firm IDEO and Jim Walker, CEO for Climate Group just to name a few) is currently selecting three to five finalists to present their ideas in person in Amsterdam at PICNIC '08.  After this public Deciding Round, the final jury will choose the winner on September 25.  Shortly after that the awarded or services may become widely available to the rest of us!

Last year's grand prize winner, a company called Qurrent, is currently in the post-prototype stage of their idea and are marketing it to energy and real-estate-management companies.  The product is called a QBox, which according to the PICNIC website does three things:

(1) It optimises energy use, turning things like your washing machine on and off when it's most efficient and cheapest. (2) It monitors energy use, giving you clear insight into energy flows in your home, presented in a user-friendly fashion. And (3) it’s a router for a Local Energy Network (LEN) in your neighbourhood, connecting you to the grid and to your neighbours

Qurrent hopes the device will lower the cost of decentralized energy systems, which will allow them to become more widespread.

To stay updated on how PICNIC may introduce new green technology into your life, visit their website.