While the Comfort Gun could be dismissed as a hipster take on the hot water bottle, joining the ranks of other similarly tweaked traditional objects, it is a comment on America's obsession with such weapons. Specifically inspired by John Lennon’s 'Happiness Is a Warm Gun,' which was written as a sendup to an NRA ad emblazoned with the slogan, the comfort gun embodies the feelings many people have towards their firearm.
Created by Francis North, a second-year graphic design student at Kingston University, the Comfort Gun plays on the idea of sleeping with a gun under the pillow. North writes, "The overlying theme was that guns were a form of comfort, in a kind of twisted and ironic way, but I quite liked this."
Hot Water Bottle Firearms
The Comfort Gun by Francis North is Inspired by a John Lennon Song
Trend Themes
1. Anti-gun Statement Products - The Comfort Gun is a product exemplifying the trend of making statement products that express anti-gun sentiments.
2. Hipster-ized Traditional Objects - The Comfort Gun belongs to the trend of hipster-izing traditional objects to appeal to modern sensibilities.
3. Humor in Serious Issues - The Comfort Gun represents the trend of using humor to raise awareness or make light of serious issues.
Industry Implications
1. Product Design - The Comfort Gun provides an opportunity for product designers to create products that convey a message or political stance.
2. Stationary and Homeware - The Comfort Gun is an example of how stationary and homeware products can be given a new twist for the modern market.
3. Comedy and Satire Publishing - The Comfort Gun shows that comedy and satire publishers have an opportunity to capitalize on political or social issues by using humor to relate to their audiences.