Design Week
3 January 2008
-
...in a world where even Design Week fails the equality test
3 January 2008
There are, indeed, many excellent women designers, plenty at a senior level, but very few at the top (Comment, DW 13 December). When I look across the design business, both now and over the past 20 years, the famous names are virtually all men. Women are not as driven to get recognition and kudos for their work - this could be due to a lack of desire for attention or just a lack of confidence in a male-dominated industry. The men we hear about are incredibly focused on being the ...
-
£1.7M Wysing Arts Centre revamp ready to be unveiled
3 January 2008
The visual arts in Cambridge are set to receive a boost, with the opening of the revamped Wysing Arts Centre this week.The £1.7m centre, incorporating a total of nine buildings, has been in development for three years, with design by architect Hawkins Brown, while London branding consultancy OSB Design has created a signage system and graphics.Funding for the project has come from the Arts Council, the East of England Development Agency, South Cambridgeshire ...
-
A new generation of female designers is set to make a mark
3 January 2008
Your piece last week (Comment, DW 13 December) has certainly created some debate here at Together.Either women aren’t at the top in design because they don’t want to be (unlikely) or they encounter barriers that their male counterparts do not. Alternatively, they are there but don’t shout about it.Perhaps they are lured into more client-facing positions? Into less visible freelance work that provides more flexibility? Or are they losing out in the fight for promotion?
-
Alessandro Esteri
3 January 2008
Italian designer Alessandro Esteri has created Big, a small book based on a collection of junk mail, incorporating a number of humorous poems.
-
Art for all
3 January 2008
As a medium for preserving and promoting access to art, the Internet has great potential. Yolanda Zappaterra takes a look at four websites that harness user-generated content to create debate about contemporary art THERE ARE few areas of creativity on which the Internet hasn’t had a significant impact; its potential for interactivity, accessibility, information dissemination and archiving has been healthily exploited by all areas of culture. ...
-
Arty cover for new pocket Tube map
3 January 2008
Art on the Underground has commissioned a new front cover for the pocket version of the Tube map, to be unveiled this month, designed by acclaimed UK artist Cornelia Parker.Entitled Underground Abstract, the bold cover design echoes the symmetrical images used by psychoanalysts to 'map' their patients' emotional states, playing on the idea of orientation.Tamsin Dillon, head of Art on the Underground, says, 'Creating the Tube map cover is a difficult challenge for artists ...
-
Bichard must promote design's role in IP battle
3 January 2008
Mike Dempsey made a valid point (Letters, DW 13 December) that Sir Michael Bichard should continue banging on boardroom doors evangelising about the importance of design and its rightful place in that inner sanctum. However, equally important is that 'design equals value' in the intellectual property it creates by leveraging and contributing to real fiscal brand values - in other words, the bottom line. In the otherwise excellent report on design and innovation by Sir George Cox, ...
-
Boost Drinks
3 January 2008
Boost Drinks has appointed Touchpoint to create a new brand identity for its range. The Manchester-based consultancy, which was appointed following a three- way pitch, has been tasked with devising a refreshed brand image, logo and packaging.
-
Brahm
3 January 2008
Property developer and interior designer Brahm has launched a boutique rental apartment at Cadogan Square, London SW1, in conjunction with Pringle. Designed by Brahm, the apartment uses fabrics and furnishings that echo the Pringle collection.
-
Cîroc Vodka
3 January 2008
Cîroc Vodka is working with eight design groups to create eight new bottle designs for its grape-based vodka drinks. Jam, Inflate, Christoph Behling, Feek, Spy, Wildfire, Jake Phipps and Jason Bruges will be paired with London bars or clubs as part of the Cîroc Celebr8 cocktail clash competition. All eight designs will be launched in February, with the winner being produced for global retail distribution.
-
Clear Focus Design and Marketing
3 January 2008
Clear Focus Design and Marketing has been appointed to develop the branding for a new key conference by the University of the Arts London and London Business School. The conference, to be held at London's Royal Festival Hall, will take place on 13 March.
-
Commercial cachet
3 January 2008
Things are changing in the world of business property, with developers investing much more in design and using increasingly sophisticated and lavish branding techniques to entice buyers and tenants. Scott Billings checks out the scene
-
Conchango heads for Aim with 'aggressive' growth plan
3 January 2008
Digital media specialist Conchango is to be listed on the Alternative Investment Market later this month, following its reverse takeover of the cash shell investment company Harrier Group.The deal leaves Conchango joint managing directors Richard Thwaite and Mike Altendorf with just under 70 per cent ownership of the consultancy.Thwaite explains that following the listing, the consultancy will seek to grow 'aggressively' via acquisition and organic expansion.'We ...
-
Creative sector has role to play in rural areas, says Nesta
3 January 2008
Traditionally, cultural and economic innovation is firmly linked to urban centres, particularly those of London and the South East.But the UK's rural areas are home to almost a fifth of the population, and despite the fact that the role of creative industries in these regions is sometimes overlooked, they have enjoyed strong growth over the past decade.Rural Innovation, a new report from Nesta, shines a spotlight on the role of innovation outside our major urban centres. ...
-
Croydon blazes a trail
3 January 2008
David Bernstein hopes that Croydon’s makeover will be as innovative as the town’s ‘hospital-at-home’ programme, which won a Public Services Award
-
Dashwood House
3 January 2008
Building a brand to keep Land Securities' latest City of London office development ahead of the pack was the challenge for two consultancies, 300million and All of Us. Tasked with turning an architectural revamp of an office building into a hot new seller, technology was deemed the most effective design tool to market Dashwood House to the City's property hunters.
-
Design City to push design in Birmingham
3 January 2008
Showcasing an array of Birmingham's design talent, Design City launches at The Interiors Show, to be held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on 20 January.Now in its second year, Design City has been organised by Birmingham City University and CMP United Business Media to celebrate the city's design culture. It will feature a large exhibition of work by regional designers including university lecturers Graham Powell and Peter Wardleworth.For the first time, ...
-
Dream gadgets
3 January 2008
Product designers take note – the most popular request for a new design gadget in 2008 is a device to pause time. We asked you what’s on your wish list for this year, and here are some of your nominations
-
Element
3 January 2008
Element, the new book by Ove Arup and Partners deputy chairman Cecil Balmond, explores the rhythms and patterns of nature from the perspective of a cultural travel writer. Designed by Fruitmachine Design, the book uses colour photographs and sketches; the author presents nature as a strong force in freehand sketches. It retails at £25 and is published by Prestel Publishing.
-
Hamleys appoints its first-ever toy designer
3 January 2008
Hamleys has appointed its first-ever toy designer, University College Falmouth graduate Stacey Dix. The retailer has charged Dix with creating a luxury line for its own-brand toy range.Hamleys supports an internal design team of about eight display, graphic and merchandising designers, but this is the first time in its 248-year history that it has employed a toy designer.Dix caught Hamleys' attention at the D&AD Student Awards last June. She had won a Yellow Pencil ...
-
ID Media
3 January 2008
Digital consultancy ID Media has beaten six other groups to create a website for architect Allies & Morrison.
-
Inspired, Silas Amos - Jones Knowles Ritchie
3 January 2008
-
Inspired: Tricia Austin, Central St Martins College of Art and Design
3 January 2008
-
It's a difficult business, but digital is key to the future
3 January 2008
English & Pockett's quiet disappearance from the scene marks an interesting start to the new year (see News, page 3). A pioneer of screen graphics in the UK, it worked for 23 years, espousing branding when we entered the digital era.
-
James Bond stamps licensed to thrill by the Royal Mail
3 January 2008
The Royal Mail is marking the May centenary of the birth of James Bond creator Ian Fleming with six stamp designs, featuring the covers of different versions of the most famous superspy novels.
-
John Sorrell's knighthood is an accolade for design too
3 January 2008
Our congratulations go to the newly dubbed Sir John Sorrell on attaining a knighthood on the New Year's Honours List. It is an honour richly deserved and acknowledges his enthusiasm in promoting the creative industries over many years.
-
Lacoste rebuffed over use of crocodile logo
3 January 2008
-
Lichfield cathedral
3 January 2008
Lichfield cathedral, Staffordshire, is set to unveil new branding by Sutton Coldfield-based Essence Design. The brief was to create 'a modern and contemporary brand' that does not 'bask in a medieval tradition'. The resulting visual identity, Perspex and wood signage, banner, guide books and stationery will be launched in phases through to March. Essence has also worked with Birmingham's Royal Ballet and Symphony Hall.
-
Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
3 January 2008
Lincolnshire-based consultancy Inspiration has created a special logo for the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, celebrating 90 years of the Royal Air Force this spring.
-
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
3 January 2008
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine is launching a new identity, created by Forepoint and Stratia.
-
Nevis Design Consultants
3 January 2008
Nevis Design Consultants is to create and implement a new brand for the marina development at Nanny Cay in the British Virgin Islands. The first elements of the new brand will be unveiled at the London Boat Show from 11 to 19 January at ExCel, London.
-
News In Pictures
3 January 2008
The Big Life group of social businesses and charities is to launch a book to celebrate its first five years in business. It was designed by Manchester-based consultancy Love.
-
News in pictures
3 January 2008
Samsung’s design team has created a rubberised handset called Solid, which will be launched as a joint venture between Samsung Mobile and O2. Described as Sam sung’s ‘first ultra durable handset’, then phone will survive ‘water splashes and the occasional knock or drop’. The Bluetooth-enabled phone houses a flashlight, camera and FM radio, and is aimed to appeal to tradesmen, sports players and outdoor hobbyists.
-
News in Pictures
3 January 2008
A new children's character called Blooey, a scruffy blue dog created by artist David Mostyn, is to launch this year in a series of books. Blooey has his own theme tune, stories, podcasts and images.
-
News in Pictures
3 January 2008
What is claimed to be the biggest building in the world has received planning permission in Moscow. Crystal Island, designed by Foster & Partners, will stand 450m tall and contain 2.5 million m2 of floorspace. An external 'tent' will hold smaller buildings within, including hotels, offices, theatres, a cinema and a school.
-
NLA's capital waterside spectacular
3 January 2008
-
Northern lights
3 January 2008
Most eyes will be on Liverpool as the European Capital of Culture 2008, but the home of The Beatles in fact shares the honours with Norway's fourth city, Stavanger. As local residents enjoy only an hour's sunlight per day in January, one major attraction will be Watercolours, a festival of lighting installations, designed by hip Norwegian architectural practice Snøhetta, working with German performance art company Phase 7. If this sounds an unusual collaboration, the project is intended ...
-
Not just for Christmas?
3 January 2008
Designers still send out Christmas cards, but Adrian Shaughnessy wonders if these are genuine displays of creativity or thinly disguised pitches for new business
-
Planning for a brighter future
3 January 2008
By embedding planning into their business model, design groups can better serve their clients – just like ad agencies do, says Katie Lancaster
-
Premier Foods in major roster rethink
3 January 2008
Premier Foods has called a sweeping review of its design services across the group, after last year’s £1.2bn acquisition of RHM resulted in an increased number of consultancies on its roster.
-
Product placement
3 January 2008
Large prints or small? Simple black frames or lightboxes? Spotlights for drama or subtle illumination to lose shadows? Dominic Lutyens discovers that there’s more to the art of photographic display than meets the eye
-
Profile
3 January 2008
Proud of its record in making clients ‘fit for purpose’, R&D&Co still manages to produce show-stopping work. Clare Dowdy talks to Rob Andrews and David Carroll, the wellconnected founders of this fledgling outfit
-
Profile
3 January 2008
French design duo DeValence thrives on producing conceptual, highbrow work, such as a ‘signage book’ for an exhibition, yet they dream of doing more mainstream projects. John Stones catches up with the pair
-
Red Bee Media
3 January 2008
Red Bee Media has appoin ted Adam Poulter, former chief executive of digital content group IMD, to the position of executive commercial director.
-
Royal Mail
3 January 2008
Royal Mail will issue a range of 'smilers' stamps on 15 January, designed by Front Media. Based on the idea of a personalised stamp design that uses consumers' own photographs, the tweaked landscape format aims to accommodate portrait images. Royal Mail approached the consultancy to create a set of three stamp sheets based around the themes of 'Britain', 'Hello' and 'Love', as well as a generic sheet incorporating all three.
-
Situations vacant
3 January 2008
Next week, 2008's pendulum will be set rocking by the London Art Fair, as 100 British galleries unveil their displays of contemporary art. Beyond the booths, it's worth checking out the Photo 50 exhibition, dedicated to contemporary photography put together by the Curating Programme at Goldsmiths College. Called Untitled Tales, it draws connections between artists whose ambiguous imagery prompts us to imagine narratives of our own. One master of such an art is Jason Oddy, although his ...
-
Studio style
3 January 2008
Free of the corporate strictures of Ford ownership, Aston Martin has just opened its first dedicated design studio. Hannah Booth gets a tour, and looks at the implications for the future of this coolest of cool brands
-
Study takes sensory approach to improve office of the future
3 January 2008
For decades, designers have been rethinking the workspace of the future. But now, with the ability to embed new technologies, the future work environment is becoming more than just a concept.In any traditional model of working life we're likely to spend up to a third of our waking hours in an office. Yet, a British Council for Offices survey this year finds that more than 40 per cent of us are dissatisfied with our workplaces. It's a problem that can have unwanted effects on any ...
-
The British Architectural Library
3 January 2008
The British Architectural Library is to allow members of the public free access. Located at the Royal Institute for British Architects, London W1, the library is a comprehensive resource for research and information on all aspects of architecture.
-
The Commission for Architecture
3 January 2008
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment is asking the public to nominate the best and worst newly built home developments for its 2008 Building for Life awards. For more information, e-mail enquiries@buildingforlife.org.
-
The Lynher Dairies Cheese Company
3 January 2008
The Lynher Dairies Cheese Company has launched a new website designed by Nixon at www.lynherdairies.co.uk. Lynher makes and supplies Yarg Cornish Cheese and other hand-made speciality cheeses.
-
There are no short cuts to a career in graphic design
3 January 2008
While for the most part I agree with Alan Herron’s comments (Letters, DW 6 December), I don’t care for his closing remarks - ‘On second thoughts, that’s about as much real teaching that a student on a full-time three-year course gets anyway’.Fine, Alan, have a pop at education. I don’t know where you studied graphics, but there ...
-
There's more to London than trendy postcodes
3 January 2008
With regard to your piece on business rent (News Analysis, DW 13 December), I have to ask the question, what is this obsession with having to work in central London? I read the following with astonishment: 'Many creative groups in the centre of London pay rents of about £540 per m2'. Who? How? Why? In an age of e-mail and pdf proofs (not to mention Skype and the like), why are design groups so worried about being 'up West'? There's no practical reason for it any more - ...
-
Time to raise our game in 2008
3 January 2008
Last year's launch of the Apple iPhone was arguably one of the most successful product stories of the decade. And yet some say that the world of product design is at a crossroads or, worse still, doomed to disaster in the new eco-aware climate. So just what will happen in the business of product design in 2008?One of my lasting memories of 2007 is that of John Thackara, the director of Dott 07, announcing that the age of the object is dead, and as such, that the design industry ...
-
Voxpop
3 January 2008
How should designers be approaching their work in 2008 to ensure creative success? Is there anything right now they should be seeking to avoid?
-
Voxpop
3 January 2008
What will be the defining issue for the design world in 2008? What should designers be doing this year to ensure it is a successful one?The year ahead could be a tight one for design and I believe it will be increasingly about designers really providing a return ...
-
Women can make it to the top, but must prove their worth...
3 January 2008
I would like the opportunity to respond to your editorial item on women working in the design sector (Comment, DW 13 December). For four years, I was a designer at Pentagram. I recall that there was a set of criteria which were used to determine basic eligibility for promotion to partnership. To the best of my knowledge, such eligibility was not gender-based. It was suggested that to become a partner you had to leave and make your mark elsewhere, at the very least nationally, ...
-
Wood & Wood Design reborn as FW Design
3 January 2008
Wayfinding consultancy Wood & Wood Design has closed and reformed as FW Design, retaining all Wood & Wood Design's clients and its 14 staff. The company has split from sister company Wood & Wood Signs, although it will continue to share office space with
-
Xerox Corporation
3 January 2008
Xerox Corporation has unveiled its first major rebranding in more than 40 years, designed by Interbrand. The new identity features a lowercase version of the Xerox name, using vibrant red alongside a sphere sketched with lines that link to form an X. A new illustration style using silhouetted graphics, photography and lines against a white background add to the new design.
-
Yeo Valley Organic
3 January 2008
Yeo Valley Organic will this month launch its redesigned dairy range by Blue Marlin. The revamp includes packaging for adult and children's yoghurts, cheese, butter, cream, crème fraiche products and premium dessert ranges.
