Gallery: Zombies and Bacon: Manufacturing Memes
01manufacturing-memes-zombies-bacon-wired-design
The internet is very good at two things: creating trends and keeping trends alive. Due, in no small part, to microbloggers who choose an obsession and help make it viral, zombies are [taking over Tumblr](http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/zombies), [bacon](http://www.quora.com/How-did-bacon-emerge-as-part-of-hipster-SF-Mission-and-Internet-culture) is hardening hipster arteries everywhere, and [mustaches](http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=all&includes%5B%5D=tags&search_query=mustache) are showing up in [places](http://www.etsy.com/listing/101945162/pink-boy-shorts-for-mustache-rides?ref=sr_gallery_3&ga_search_query=mustache&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_ref=auto1&ga_search_type=all&ga_includes%5B%5D=tags) you really don't want to see a mustache. What's the natural next step? Useless products, of course. A few enterprising entrepreneurs have gone beyond blogging to turn these memes into mementos. We gathered a few of our favorite novelties for your entertainment. And yes, *Star Wars* is AND WILL ALWAYS BE a trend. Come on, this is Wired!
02manufacturing-memes-mustache-pacifier-world-wide-fred-wired-design
[__Friend & Friends__](http://fredandfriends.com/) __Meme:__ Mustaches You're never too young for your first nose neighbor, and they can be found at Fred & Friends, a product development company based in Cumberland, RI. The company is a short distance from RISD in Providence, and many of the company's designers are alumni. Fred & Friends releases dozens of other [pop](http://fredandfriends.com/products/view/category/tech/handstand-phone-stand) and "[punny](http://fredandfriends.com/products/view/category/best-seller/teacupcakes-cupcake-molds)" products each year and regularly sources ideas from independent designers. If you've got pop-culture knowledge and design skills, [chime in](http://fredandfriends.com/contact/invitation)! Photo: [Fred & Friends](http://fredandfriends.com)
03manufacturing-memes-neca-christmas-story-lamp-wired-design
[__NECA__](http://necaonline.com/) __Meme:__ *A Christmas Story* leg lamp Immortalized by the 1983 holiday classic, this oddity was incubated on cable for two decades and finally commercialized in the early 2000's after canny companies realized there was a huge potential market for a table lamp wearing fishnets ("It's Fra-Gi-Le!"). Today, NECA hawks a wide variety of other replicas like [jumpsuits](http://necaonline.com/portal2012/#jsuit) from the videogame *Portal* and [Sorting Hats](http://necaonline.com/28079/products/toys/plush-and-dolls/harry-potter-plush-talking-sorting-hat/) from the *Harry Potter* series. Photo: [Neca](http://necaonline.com/27668/products/collectables/home-decor/lamps-and-nightlights/christmas-story-lamp-20-leg-lamp/)
04manufacturing-memes-nyan-cat-ice-cream-robyn-lee-wired-design
[__Toscanini's__](http://www.tosci.com/2012/05/03/nyan-cats-attack-city-of-cambridge/) __Meme:__ Nyan Cat The pixelated kitten/breakfast pastry mashup was unleashed on an unsuspecting audience in April 2011. Within a year, it was a phenom: [millions of viewers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH2-TGUlwu4), galleries of [fan art](http://www.artflakes.com/en/products/nyan-cat-pop-tart-cat-vs-tac-nayn-waffle-cat), and the rarest of honors: an ice cream flavor. Toscanini's, a progressive ice cream parlor in Cambridge, MA, developed this Nyan-flavored treat as a tribute to [ROFLcon](http://roflcon.org/), an annual celebration of internet memes. For those who want to make a batch at home the [recipe](http://thephoenix.com/boston/food/137999-on-the-cheap-nyan-cat-ice-cream-from-toscaninis/) calls for coconut sorbet, crumbled cherry Pop-Tarts, and muhkwas -- the candy-coated fennel seeds often seen at Indian restaurants. Photo: [Robyn Lee](http://www.flickr.com/photos/roboppy/7566121344/)
.05manufacturing-memes-tobias-funke-arrested-development-gallery-1988-wired-design
[__Gallery 1988__](http://nineteeneightyeight.com/) __Meme:__ *Arrested Development* If you like highbrow interpretations of lowbrow culture, [Gallery 1988](http://g1988.tumblr.com/) should provide all the wall candy you need. Based in Southern California, Gallery 1988 curates art shows based on TV shows, movies, toy lines, and other pop-culture touchstones. Currently showing at their Melrose location is a collection called "[There's always money in the banana stand](http://nineteeneightyeight.com/collections/theres-always-money-in-the-banana-stand)" with plenty of Fünke pieces on display. Photo: [Gallery 1988](http://nineteeneightyeight.com/)
06manufacturing-memes-omni-consumer-products-wired-design
[__Omni Consumer Products__](http://omniconsumerproductscorporation.com/) __Meme:__ Products from movies Founded in 2006 by graphic designer Pete Hottelet, the company has "de-fictionalized" a number of products since: Brawndo, the "Thirst Mutilator" energy drink from *Idiocracy*, Stay Puft Marshmallows from *Ghostbusters*, and the famous soap from *Fight Club*. More recently, the company has made waves bringing Tru:Blood, the favorite beverage of vampires on HBO's popular series, to market. Get your "O Negative" soda [online](http://www.trubeverage.com/). Don't serve chilled -- 98.6° Fahrenheit is the appropriate temperature. Photo: [Omni Consumer Products](http://www.omniconsumerproductscorporation.com/)
07manufacturing-memes-archie-mcphee-bacon-collection-wired-design
[__Archie McPhee__](http://www.mcphee.com/shop/) __Meme:__ Bacon Archie McPhee has been manufacturing memes since the time of punch cards. The Seattle-based company started as a retail store in Washington before expanding into the world of e-commerce. Today, they are a leading purveyor of bacon-themed novelties from [bandages](http://www.mcphee.com/shop/products/Bacon-Bandages.html) to [seared-fat air fresheners](http://www.mcphee.com/shop/products/Bacon-Air-Freshener.html). Photo: [Archie McPhee](http://www.mcphee.com/shop/products/Bacon-Bandages.html )
08manufacturing-memes-thinkgeek-zombies-wired-design
[__ThinkGeek__](http://www.thinkgeek.com/) __Meme:__ Zombies ThinkGeek is the corporate sibling of Slashdot, one of the original arbiters of internet culture, so it's fitting that they would also be on the forefront of meme manufacturing. Stocking a plethora of third-party products as well as original "[Invented at ThinkGeek](http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/exclusives/)" items, they're quick to respond to viral trends. Photo: [ThinkGeek](http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/zombies/)
09manufacturing-memes-walking-dead-zombies-mimobots-wired-design
[__MiniMates__](http://www.minimates.com/) __Meme:__ More zombies Bigger than a Lego minifig, but smaller than an action figure, these highly posable toys have become a pop-culture canvas. The creative team at Art Asylum have created hundreds of permutations of this rectilinear icon covering every fanbase from those that worship the [Avengers](http://marvel.com/news/story/18067/avengers_minimates_assemble) to lovers of the [undead](http://www.artasylum.com/blog/2012/03/the-walking-dead-minimates-wave-1-now-available-for-pre-order/). For every [cult movie](http://www.minimates.com/index.php/gallery/real-ghostbusters/), [video game](http://www.minimates.com/index.php/gallery/halo/#!prettyPhoto<img src= "gallery"), or [tv show](http://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_091508a.htm) there's a blocky, two-inch-tall homage in their catalog. Photo: [Art Asylum](http://www.artasylum.com/)
10manufacturing-memes-mimobots-transformers-gi-joe-star-wars-wired-design
[__Mimico__](http://www.mimoco.com/) __Meme:__ *Star Wars/Transformers/GI Joe* [MimoBots](http://www.mimoco.com/) are the love child of USB thumb drives and urban vinyl. These trinkets make your data portable and your geek cred undeniable. Amass a collection and stage battles irrespective of narrative continuity -- [Jabba the Hutt](http://www.mimoco.com/mimobots/popular-culture/star-wars/jabba-the-hutt-mimobot/product-details/427.aspx) may have swallowed your TPS reports, but blammo! [Snake Eyes](http://www.mimoco.com/mimobots/popular-culture/g-i-joe/snake-eyes-mimobot-usb-flash-drive/product-details/422.aspx) has the utility.exe to extract them! Photo: [Mimoco](http://www.mimoco.com/)
