Design Week
Laura Snoad Editorial

Rinse

Fri, 12 Aug 2011

Just as with Jamie Reid’s DIY aesthetic for the Punk scene or Peter Saville’s understated minimalism for Joy Division, the work of one designer can define the visual identity of a band or genre, firmly stamping themselves in the music’s visual imprint.

Everything We Miss

Thu, 21 Jul 2011

Sometimes dark, sometimes comic, but always well-observed, illustrator Luke Pearson’s new comic Everything We Miss tells the bleak tale of a disintegrating relationship.Pearson’s poster

Crowdsourcing for kids

Thu, 30 Jun 2011

Crowdsourcing may have been a buzzword as of late, but you’d be hard pressed to find a community-generated project as endearing as new film The Itch of the Golden Nit.

Stark realities

30 June 2011

Posters for charities must walk the difficult line between grabbing the attention of information-overloaded passers-by while avoiding looking like a significant chunk of the charity’s funds has been spent on flashy posters. Recently, a number of designers have negotiated this challenge by turning to a stark, pared-back aesthetic. They are achieving this through the use of heavily typographic concepts and high-impact simple portraiture.

Herbaceous space

30 June 2011

’Plants embody everything that I like to have around me: presence, personality, character. They have movement, colour, structure, scale and proportion,’ says Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, the creator of this year’s Serpentine Pavilion.

Type on TV

Wed, 29 Jun 2011

What methods have you tried to get over crippling creative block? Walking in the country, meditating, firing ideas off supportive friends and colleagues perhaps, but probably not advertising yourself on Craigslist as a private detective and solving crimes Film Noir-style with your comic artist best friend and pot-smoking editor in tow. No?

Condiments and entrails

Mon, 27 Jun 2011

Challenging the ill-founded notion that poetry is high-brow and fusty, John Durak’s latest collection Condiments & Entrails is a gripping read. Equally vivid is the book’s layout, by Bunch Design, which marries a minimal, clean aesthetic with illustrations by Omega The Kid Phoenix.The covers

Glastonbury decontamination

Thu, 23 Jun 2011

Almost inevitably, it looks like its going to be another very muddy Glastonbury again this year.

Constructive abandonment

Tue, 21 Jun 2011

If, like some of the DW team, you were thrown into a grump after the realisation that following tonight’s midsummer eve the days are only going to get shorter, then new book, Constructive Abandonment, by Michael Dumontier and Neil Farber may well appeal.Constructive Abandonment

Weather music

Mon, 20 Jun 2011

Moving far beyond the usual practice of bashing about pots, pans and the occasional washboard to create experimental music, sound artists James Bulley and Daniel Jones have enlisted the help of the weather - including rainfall, solar radiation, wind speed and humidity - to make an eight-speaker sound installation shaped in real time by its environment.

That's just not cricket

Thu, 9 Jun 2011

Billboards, bus stops and television may be the normal platform for most sports branding, but it wasn’t enough for the England and Wales Cricket Board when promoting this year’s Friends Life T20 competition.

Profile: McBess

9 June 2011

French illustrator Matthieu Bessudo, aka McBess, creates sprawling, intricate, masculine visions that draw on his day-to-day experiences. Laura Snoad talks to him about his work, and collaborating with Soho-based studio The Mill

After hours

Wed, 8 Jun 2011

What do breakdancing and modelling have to do with design? Before you come up with a long-winded philosophical answer, let me put you out of your misery. Both are activities organised by two design studios to generate some good old extra-curricula bonding.

Sign of the times

Tue, 7 Jun 2011

Ahead of his exhibition at Brighton’s Ink-d Gallery later this month, street artist Ryan Callanan, aka RYCA, talks to Design Week about the influence of symbols on culture and how his background in sign-writing has shaped his work.

Questing digital print

Fri, 3 Jun 2011

Opening at Kemistry Gallery this week is an exhibition dedicated to digital prints and how they are used in contemporary art and design practice.By Jack Featherstone

Twin seats

Thu, 2 Jun 2011

Earlier today we blogged about an opportunity to try your hand at creating surreal, weird film effects with a workshop at the Design Museum, held by Jotta and Intel. But what happens when the flow changes, and film directors try their hand at design?

T&Cake time for Build with its identity for café start-up

2 June 2011

Information is currency

Wed, 1 Jun 2011

Freedom of information, privacy and the internet are three things that we’ve been hearing a lot about in the last few weeks.

Avon appoints Holmes & Marchant to develop its brands internationally

Wed, 1 Jun 2011

The lost collection

Fri, 27 May 2011

As you might imagine, Design Week receives a heap of press releases, promotional packs and mail-outs every week keeping us informed of all of the goings-on in the design world. So it’s always refreshing when we receive something out of the ordinary.The Lost Collection mailout

You're my favourite

Thu, 26 May 2011

Ahead of their second show together at Falmouth’s Here and Now gallery next month, Design Week caught up with illustrators Murray Sommerville and Daisy Whitehouse, collectively known as Dazeray, to discuss their ‘sweet and twisted’ work.Dazeray

Brand theatrics

26 May 2011

Projecting animations on to buildings or other surfaces is a sure-fire way of attracting attention at a relatively low cost, as more and more brands are discovering. Laura Snoad shines a light on the latest techniques for creating eye-catching visual experiences

Creativitea creates new Talkmobile identity

Wed, 25 May 2011

Dave brands In-deed conveyancing service

Tue, 24 May 2011

Branding consultancy Dave has created the identity for new conveyancing service In-deed.net, which allows customers to track the transference of property titles online.

Design Management Institute appoints new president

Mon, 23 May 2011

Karen Reuther has been appointed as the next president of US-based industry body the Design Management Institute.

Black, white and read all over

Fri, 20 May 2011

Bang on the trend for Victorian-inspired macabre quirk that the likes of Dan Hillier and Stuart Kolakovic have been championing for the past few years are two charming graphic novels, both published this month.

Menagerie

Thu, 19 May 2011

Swooping hawks, geometrically-feathered chickens and glassy-eyed owls will all inhabit the London gallery Art Work Space at the end of May for an exhibition featuring Fran Giffard, Izzie Klingels, Ella Johnston and Susie Wright.

Cog brands Commonwealth People’s Forum

Thu, 19 May 2011

Cog Design has created a visual identity for this year’s Commonwealth People’s Forum, which will take place in Perth, Australia in October.

Press 81 cider bottle glows with Touchpoint branding

19 May 2011

Waiting room

Tue, 17 May 2011

An abandoned room, entirely coated in white paint, sits waiting to be destroyed. The location is the St Philip’s Building in London, which was signed off for demolition yesterday.

Architecture as air

Mon, 16 May 2011

It’s perhaps not surprising that the work of an architect who describes the Barbican’s The Curve gallery as ‘melting endlessly into space’ is delicate and ethereally minimalist.

Curtain call

Fri, 13 May 2011

Ever wanted to wander through an interactive curtain of crystal cells laced with the artwork of David Shrigley? Well, this slightly surreal proposition will become reality at London’s Roundhouse thanks to an installation due at the venue in the summer created by Ron Arad.

Studio Output identity for Big Splash swimming initiative

Fri, 13 May 2011

Studio Output has created the identity for The Big Splash, a new initiative run by the BBC and British Swimming to encourage people to swim.

A paper opera

Wed, 11 May 2011

Over the past few years the promotional materials paper companies have been mailing out to win the attention of designers have been largely uninspiring and rarely dramatic. But Fedrigoni UK has bucked this trend, commissioning Young Creative Network to produce a theatrical, photography-led portfolio. Design Week caught up with YCN’s Alex Ostrowski to chat about the project.

The River Thames

Tue, 10 May 2011

From Jerome K. Jerome’s novel Three Men in a Boat to the opening credits of Eastenders, the Thames has long been part of the London’s creative output. This year’s The Serco Prize for Illustration is no different, focusing on pieces inspired by the capital’s river.

Turner Duckworth repackages The Glenlivet

Tue, 10 May 2011

Turner Duckworth has created new packaging for whisky brand The Glenlivet.

Designing against the clock

Mon, 9 May 2011

Could you make a record player in just 24 hours? ‘Easy peasy,’ you say. But what about if you could only use materials found in the streets and scrap yards of Peckham.

A collective of nouns

Fri, 6 May 2011

A pride of lions is child’s play. Pipe up with a parliament of owls, or a ostentation of peacocks and you might just impress your friends. But lay down an embarrassment of pandas or a charm of finches and you will surely be crowned the king of collective nouns - it’s a dynasty of kings, if you’re interested.A ...

Foody faces

Thu, 5 May 2011

Barcelona-based photographer and digital artist Olimax forms surreal portraiture, from a combination of faces and foodstuffs. Slimy octopus hats, sausage necklaces and fangs made of mini corn on the cob, are all featured in his latest exhibition, which opens in London next week.Ben Young by Olimax

Paper for the afterlife

Wed, 4 May 2011

Although carefully crafted paper artworks are more commonly associated with Japan, across the water in China there is also a custom for creating precious paper objects.

The English vernacular

Tue, 3 May 2011

If the royal wedding has whet your appetite for all things English, then illustrator and print maker Chris Brown’s latest exhibition will keep your flag-waving, street partying spirit alive for a little bit longer.

Concepts on a theme

28 April 2011

With museums and exhibitions increasingly relying less on artefacts and instead engaging with visitors in more contemporary ways, so designers are having to be ever more creative. Laura Snoad looks at designers conjuring up atmospheric, yet believable, presentations

Now that's what I call designers' music

Thu, 21 Apr 2011

Inspired by The Team’s new website for compilation album brand Now That’s What I Call Music, we tasked the design community with a particularly melodious Voxpop for this week’s issue.The new Now site designed by The Team

Eye of the storm

Wed, 20 Apr 2011

London-based artist Hannah Westwood will open a solo show at the city’s Tenderpixel gallery next month, inspired by the fast pace of 21st century life, called Eye of the Storm.

Hat-Trick rebrands Wimbledon tennis club

Wed, 20 Apr 2011

A flood of chocolate

Tue, 19 Apr 2011

Ever dreamed of toggling up in a protective suit and running with gay abandon through a rushing waterfall of molten chocolate? Now you can thanks to jellymongers Bompass & Parr - well, apart from the running bit, health and safety probably won’t like that.

Thinking and drinking

Mon, 18 Apr 2011

Hendrick’s Gin have found their perfect partner in a brand hook-up with Hackney-based shop of curiosities and purveyors of quirk The Last Tuesday.

New York design school launches festival

Mon, 18 Apr 2011

New York-based design institute Parsons The New School for Design has launched a festival that will take place in May.

Scenes from an impending marriage

Fri, 15 Apr 2011

Agonising decisions over the dress, organising the venue, minor squabbles over the guest list: even Kate and Wills’ big day has some of the hallmark pitfalls of the average wedding.

Red Bee brands children’s channel Megamax

Thu, 14 Apr 2011

Red Bee Media has created branding and idents for new Hungarian children’s channel Megamax.

Street fighting man

Tue, 12 Apr 2011

In an extremely timely exhibition considering the spring of anti-cuts protests here in the UK and civil unrest elsewhere in the world, the Flash Projects gallery in London will launch an exhibition dedicated to fifty years of youth protest later this month.

Hat-Trick’s Shakespeare stamps in the limelight

Tue, 12 Apr 2011

Hat-Trick Design has created two sets of stamps for Royal Mail to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Virtual choir

Mon, 11 Apr 2011

As I’m sure Coca-Cola will testify, teaching the world to sing in perfect harmony is a pretty tricky feat, as is creating the accompanying music video.

Character count

Fri, 8 Apr 2011

Laura Snoad reports on the cute critters taking centrestage at the Pictoplasma character fest in Berlin.

A tonic to the nation

Wed, 6 Apr 2011

Festival fever is gathering pace ahead of the Festival of Britain celebrations at London’s Southbank Centre, which start later this month.

Bunch of fives

Tue, 5 Apr 2011

It seems five, not three, is the magic number, for independent illustration magazines in any case. We’ve had reams of publications hit the Design Week mail sack over the last few weeks, and of our favourites, three stand out - Nobrow, Popshot and Ammo - each on their fifth issue.Nobrow 5, work by Micah Lidberg

Giving back

Mon, 4 Apr 2011

A number of heart-warming charity projects have launched this week, each aiming to raise money for good causes by harnessing the talent and creativity of designers and artists.

Futurebrand creates 2015 Cricket World Cup identity

Mon, 4 Apr 2011

Futurebrand has created the logo for the International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup 2015, which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Fooled

Fri, 1 Apr 2011

So we’ve plugged the right keyboard back into the right monitor, switched back the salt and sugar and peeled the cling film off, well, everything. It’s after midday and the April fool japes are now over - we’re not monsters after all.

Under a fiver

Thu, 31 Mar 2011

The best things come in small packages, or so the old idiom goes.

Q&A and Four-letter Word work on Vertigo Lounge

Thu, 31 Mar 2011

Q&A Interior Design has created the identity for new Hornchurch café and bar Vertigo Lounge, with branding by Four-letter Word.

Beyond Big Type set to raise accessible design awareness

31 March 2011

Examples of pictograms and typographical cards used during previous Beyond Big Type workshops

Design for monkeys

Wed, 30 Mar 2011

A black and white hippo layered on top of a Milky Way background, with a lime green laser grid on top. Does this space-age kook sound familiar?

Real Studios goes out of this world for British Library show

Wed, 30 Mar 2011

Heroes

Tue, 29 Mar 2011

Who would you name as a modern day hero? Aung San Suu Kyi perhaps, or maybe your nan?

On your marques

Mon, 28 Mar 2011

Those training for the Bath Half Marathon will feel an extra rush of inspiration when they see the event’s new identity created by Bath-based consultancy Northbank.Northbank’s logo for the 2012 Bath Half Marathon

Lib Dem rebrand mooted

Mon, 28 Mar 2011

The Liberal Democrats are planning to rebrand following waning public support, reports suggest.

The shaman

Thu, 24 Mar 2011

Psychedelia, tribal culture and ancient mythologies are heady subjects to inspire an exhibition. But it’s on these themes that illustrators Jake Blanchard and Scott Balmer have based their latest exhibition Hylozoism, which opens tonight.by Scott Balmer

SAS creates GSK’s annual report

Thu, 24 Mar 2011

SAS Design has designed the print and digital editions of pharmaceuticals company GlaxoSmithKline’s 2010 annual report.

Utter filth

Wed, 23 Mar 2011

Back in January, we reported on the Wellcome Trust’s filthy plans for its exhibition Dirt, which has been designed by Carmody Groarke with graphics by A Practice For Everyday Life (DW 27 January).

Whose hair?

Tue, 22 Mar 2011

Here’s a pop quiz for barnet lovers everywhere, or perhaps ‘chop’ quiz would be more appropriate.

A modern 'rime'

Mon, 21 Mar 2011

One of the most pleasing publications to come through the Design Week post bag as of late is The Rime of the Modern Mariner by Nick Hayes.

As One creates caring identity for Salvere

Mon, 21 Mar 2011

Cheshire-based design consultancy As One has created a new identity, website and print materials for Salvere Social Enterprise CIC, an organisation which provides care support solutions for elderly people with disabilities.

Home of the future

Thu, 17 Mar 2011

Is this what the home of the future is going to look like?Inside the dome

Design Camp seeks funding as cuts threaten its future

Thu, 17 Mar 2011

London-based children’s initiative Design Camp is seeking funding, following cuts that look to put the future of the scheme in danger.

The sound of lasers

Wed, 16 Mar 2011

Jewellery designer Hannah Martin is set to launch her latest jewellery collection at London’s Dover Street Market tomorrow night with a mix of augmented reality and an interactive laser installation.

Creative Portsmouth

Tue, 15 Mar 2011

University of Portsmouth lecturer Claire Sambrook has masterminded a book to raise the creative profile of Portsmouth and showcase talent in the city.

The Yard Creative works up Panopolis sandwich bars

Mon, 14 Mar 2011

The Yard Creative has been appointed to design two shops for high-end sandwich retailer Panopolis at London City Airport.

Cure Studios brands Greenwich Summer Sessions

Fri, 11 Mar 2011

Cure Studio has created new branding for Greenwich Summer Sessions, an open-air concert series based in London.

Remastered

Thu, 10 Mar 2011

Young designers and artists have been tasked with re-imagining what iconic masterpieces, such as Picasso’s Guernica and the Venus de Milo, would look like if combined with the latest technology for Intel’s exhibition Remastered.

Profile: Rehab Studio

10 March 2011

This fun-loving, cutting-edge digital group knows all the tricks for getting people involved. Laura Snoad talks to co-founder Tim Rodgers about its ’hand-built digital’ approach, gaming and the integration of social media

Punch paper

Wed, 9 Mar 2011

To accompany the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Cult of Beauty exhibition, illustrator Matt Blease has created a wallpaper made from cartoons of design greats and celebrities, which will form a backdrop at Liberty’s V&A Cult of Beauty windows at its store in London.

Women in design

Tue, 8 Mar 2011

As you’ll no doubt have already noticed, today is International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the achievements of women, whether that be political, economic or social.

South London sculpture shortlist unveiled

Mon, 7 Mar 2011

The shortlist has been announced for the Grange Gardens Sculpture Project competition. The project will see the winning artist create a permanent installation in Grange Gardens in Bermondsey, London

Cube 3 to rebrand Charterhouse property firm

Fri, 4 Mar 2011

Manchester-based consultancy Cube 3 has been appointed to rebrand London property developer Charterhouse.

Barber Osgerby to design London Olympic torch

Tue, 1 Mar 2011

Barber Osgerby has been appointed to design the London 2012 Olympic torch.

Home from home

Fri, 25 Feb 2011

What defines the British home - a battered armchair, an umbrella stand or perhaps a mug tree?

Beyond the pages

Fri, 25 Feb 2011

This spring will see the inaugural Dazed Live festival, a two-day hip-fest which will see iconic magazine Dazed & Confused reaching beyond its achingly gorgeous pages and onto the streets of - you guessed it - east London.

At His Majesty's pleasure

Thu, 24 Feb 2011

The past year has seen its fair share of civil unrest, ranging from the student protests and UK Uncut’s occupation of Topshop’s flagship store over boss Sir Philip Green’s tax avoidance, to more recent clashes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

Travelling through space

Wed, 23 Feb 2011

Hidden away near London’s Earl’s Court there’s a black vortex leading to other worlds. On entering it, you are sucked into a crack in time, before being flung into a living alien spacecraft and tasked with rescuing a man in tweed.

Omer Arbel's Olympic project

Wed, 23 Feb 2011

Despite continuous commercial and critical success, the commission that brought Omer Arbel to global attention was the medals for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

An unusual client

Tue, 22 Feb 2011

How would you feel if you received this message? ‘My name is Ernesto Bones and I write to you with an important request. I have a very serious problem that only you can help fix. You see, though I am writing to you now, I do not yet truly exist.’

Narrative develops children’s homeware brand for John Lewis

Tue, 22 Feb 2011

London-based Narrative Studio has worked with John Lewis’ in-house design team to develop the company’s new children’s homeware brand Little Home.

Wolff Olins works on Henleys Clothing rebrand

Fri, 18 Feb 2011

Wolff Olins has been appointed to rebrand Manchester-based fashion company Henleys Clothing, as the brand plans to open a further 20 stores.

David Kohn creates Designs of the Year show

Thu, 17 Feb 2011

Mothercare appoints The Grid to revamp Blooming Marvellous brand

17 February 2011

Cutting edges

Wed, 16 Feb 2011

Whether splicing images and text in a newspaper’s art department or layering cut-outs in Photoshop, collage has long been an integral part of graphic design.

Tom Dixon to create Blackberry installation in Milan

Tue, 15 Feb 2011

Suisse brands IT company Tinder

Mon, 14 Feb 2011

Glasgow-based consultancy Suisse has created an identity for independent information technology company Tinder IT.

Howdy rebrands The Queen’s Nursing Institute

Fri, 11 Feb 2011

Howdy has created a new identity for The Queen’s Nursing Institute, a charity dedicated to improving the nursing care of people in their own homes.

Shooting Rock

Thu, 10 Feb 2011

For many creative teenagers, being a music photographer is the dream job. Not only do you get to spend most of your time taking pictures but you get to follow your Rock idols around on tour just waiting for something exciting to kick off.

Posters by Saul Bass

Wed, 9 Feb 2011

The work of one of the last century’s most iconic designers, Saul Bass, will be exhibited at London’s Kemistry Gallery from next week.

Event Communications designs Chichester exhibitions

Wed, 9 Feb 2011

If you're appy and you know it

Mon, 7 Feb 2011

Who says expensive technology is just for adults? Designer Matt Booth has created new app Crayate to allow creative children to get involved in the iPad phenomenon.

Beard and wonderful

Fri, 4 Feb 2011

Never ones to turn down a project themed around beards, the Design Week team was pleased to hear of a particularly hirsute exhibition that launched at KK Outlet last night.

Paper trail

Thu, 3 Feb 2011

We’ve had some interesting publications in the post bag over the last few days here at Design Week, so we thought we’d share with you some of our favourites.

Drawing fashion

Tue, 1 Feb 2011

Fashion illustration has been having something of a renaissance recently, with large scale exhibitions at the Design Museum and smaller projects focussing on the craft behind the genre.

James Greenfield joins Airside as creative director

Tue, 1 Feb 2011

Airside has appointed James Greenfield as its new creative director.

Poster girl

Mon, 31 Jan 2011

For those that haven’t been to Bristol, Broadmead is the somewhat run-down city centre shopping district which inspired Matt Lucas to write the Vicky Pollard sketch in TV comedy Little Britain.

We want to be modern

Fri, 28 Jan 2011

The National Museum in Warsaw launches a fascinating exhibition next week that will cover the country’s design history during the ‘post-thaw’ period of 1955 to 1968.

Snapping the streets

Thu, 27 Jan 2011

Next month, the Museum of London launches the first exhibition of its kind dedicated to photography which captures the streets of London.

Cog Design finds its Voices for choral festival identity

27 January 2011

Beautiful beats

Tue, 25 Jan 2011

Here at Design Week, we like a good infographic, and we’re quite partial to the odd VJ set too. So it was with great pleasure that we received word of Rehab Studio’s live motion graphics project for Last FM.Rehab Studio’s live data visuals

Former Centaur chairman Graham Sherren launches digital venture

Tue, 25 Jan 2011

Graham Sherren, founder and former chairman and chief executive of Centaur Media, is launching new digital publishing company Casis Media.

The joy of living

Mon, 24 Jan 2011

London Design Guide editor Max Fraser has challenged more than 100 established and new UK-based designers to create a piece of artwork from a single sheet of A4 graph paper to raise money for Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres.

Centres for caring

Fri, 21 Jan 2011

The Victoria & Albert Museum and the Royal Institute of British Architects Architecture Gallery will host an exhibition next month dedicated to the design behind Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres. Design Week caught up with Maggie’s chief executive Laura Lee and exhibition co-curator Matthew Storey to talk about the design behind the centres.

Lee Broom to open first shop

Thu, 20 Jan 2011

Interior and product designer Lee Broom is to launch his first shop in London’s Chelsea next month.

Best of British

Wed, 19 Jan 2011

The Southbank Centre has announced details of its 60th birthday celebrations, which will take the shape of a homage to the 1951 Festival of Britain.

In fashion

Tue, 18 Jan 2011

London’s Dover Street Market is a hub of innovative and unusual fashion, but just as the collections chang,e so do the interior spaces.

Light and shadows

Mon, 17 Jan 2011

Cameraless photography seems to be having a renaissance this year, with the Shadown Catchers exhibtion becoming a hit at the Victoria & Albert Museum and numerous pinhole photography projects popping up across the country.

Future Map 10

Fri, 14 Jan 2011

Future Map, the annual survey show from the University of Arts London, opened yesterday at Zabludowicz Collection in London’s Chalk Farm.

David Carroll rebrands engineer Max Fordham

Fri, 14 Jan 2011

David Carroll & Co has created a new identity, website and print collateral for  engineering company Max Fordham.

The ride of your life

Wed, 12 Jan 2011

At best a journey on London Underground can be an efficient way of getting from A to B, at worst, it can be a not-so-private hell, full of delays, cramped conditions and body odour.

Giving up

Tue, 11 Jan 2011

Following our blog about inspiring New Year’s resolutions yesterday, Ded Associates sent us this project that it has been working on for Dutch foundation Stivoro, which helps people give up smoking.

Under the hammer

Mon, 10 Jan 2011

The Photographers’ Gallery is to hold a charity auction at Christie’s South Kensington site in mid February.

Former Red Bee staffers launch Wonder

Mon, 10 Jan 2011

Two former senior creatives at Red Bee Media have launched new consultancy Wonder, which will specialise in on-screen branding.

From Vegas with love

Fri, 7 Jan 2011

Fascinated by neon signs and old postcards, artists Rob and Nick Carter have created a body of work fusing their two passions for an exhibition opening at the FAS Contemporary at The Fine Art Society, London.by Rob and Nick Carter

Designers' breakfasts

Thu, 6 Jan 2011

This morning’s papers were full of designers. But instead of talking about their usual topics, the stars of this morning’s appearances were waxing about altogether more foodie fare.

Peter & Paul to create 100% Design campaigns

Thu, 6 Jan 2011

A&B Studio brands Love Live

Wed, 5 Jan 2011

A&B Studio has created a new identity for music curation and production company Love Live.

Season's greetings II

Wed, 22 Dec 2010

Following our last blog about some of our favourite Christmas projects last week, more seasonal work came flooding in faster than Santa can down a brandy. So we thought we’d show you another final batch of festive creative to well and truly get you in mood.

Lost in translation

Tue, 21 Dec 2010

For most of us, Pictionary is the height of our attempts to draw from verbal phrases and then translate those images back into words again. But an exhibition at new London space The Gopher Hole has explored how visual to verbal translation forms interesting outcomes from iconic designs.

Bespoke bubbles

Mon, 20 Dec 2010

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and usually pretty drunk too. So it was with great interest when we heard that Dutch communications consultancy They had a new collection of packaging for their own brand champagne Zarb.Zarb bottle by Zena Holloway

Mat Dolphin creates Callooh Callay website

Fri, 17 Dec 2010

Mat Dolphin has created a new website for Callooh Callay, a Lewis Carroll-inspired bar in London’s Shoreditch.

Deep creates Macmillan cancer charity centenary calendar

Thu, 16 Dec 2010

Deep has designed a 2011 calendar for Macmillan Cancer Support to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the charity.

Off the wall

Tue, 14 Dec 2010

Just before London Design Festival earlier this year in September, we wrote about Supermarket Sarah, a stylish hybrid between a pop-up shop and e-commerce site that set up shop at Tom Dixon’s The Dock.

O’Connor Design rebrands ornithology organisation

Tue, 14 Dec 2010

O’Connor Design has created a new logo for the British Trust for Ornithology, a charity that oversees professional and citizen research into bird populations.

Not safe for work

Mon, 13 Dec 2010

There are a lot of ways to get attention for a debut exhibition, but packaging your invite up as porn is not one that we see everyday.

Webcam wonder

Fri, 10 Dec 2010

Within moments of reading this blog post, I suspect most of you will be gesticulating at your screens and wildly whirling your arms around, to the distress of anyone else in the room around you.

Universal Design Studio works on Mulberry store

Fri, 10 Dec 2010

Universal Design Studio has created the interiors for fashion brand Mulberry’s new flagship store in London’s Bond Street.

Conran works on D&D restaurants in Leeds

Thu, 9 Dec 2010

Conran & Partners has been appointed to design the interiors of two new D&D London restaurants in Land Securities’ Trinity Leeds shopping and leisure development.

Light painting

Tue, 7 Dec 2010

Disappointed by your local Christmas lights? A new app from advertising agency Dentsu could offer you an interesting alternative by allowing you to create illuminated 3D typography with an iPhone.

Dino-vision

Thu, 2 Dec 2010

The Natural History Museum has launched a new interactive film that allows visitors to walk, well sit, with dinosaurs using augmented reality.

Woodland retreat

Wed, 1 Dec 2010

Being outside at the moment is the last thing you want to do. But if you’re missing the flora and fauna but don’t want to get frostbite, a new café at London department store Harrods, with graphics from Severn Studios, might offer the solution.by Bex Glover

Social brands Capital FM’s Jingle Bell Ball

Tue, 30 Nov 2010

Social has created branding for radio station Capital FM’s 2010 Jingle Bell Ball.

New Manchester cultural centre planned

Mon, 29 Nov 2010

A new arts and cultural centre is planned for central Manchester to house the Library Theatre and international centre for contemporary visual arts and film Cornerhouse.

Pop-up presents

Fri, 19 Nov 2010

Apparently some people do their Christmas shopping ahead of the week-before-Christmas apocalypse, lovingly poring over ideas and browsing the shops until they find the perfect presents for their cherished ones. I personally find that a medium to high level of panic heightens my gift-buying ability, allowing me the focus I need to speedily purchase questionable objects in a matter of hours.

Visual conversations

Thu, 18 Nov 2010

Satirists have a distinct ability to dictate how politicians and famous figures will be remembered long after they fade from the public eye. David Cameron, for me, will always be the shiny, slippery balloon, jellyfish or even a condom, as drawn by Guardian illustrator Steve Bell, just as I always picture John Major as a grey Spitting Image puppet accompanied by a plate of peas.

A fine stack

Tue, 16 Nov 2010

If you haven’t heard of Stack yet, you’ve really been missing out.

Lomography to open east London store

Tue, 16 Nov 2010

Analogue photography brand Lomography is to open a new shop in east London, with interiors designed by company director Sally Bibawy.

True North creates campaign for Tate Liverpool exhibition

Mon, 15 Nov 2010

True North has created the identity and promotional campaign for an exhibition of work by video artist Nam June Paik at Tate Liverpool and the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology in the city.

When the smoke clears

Fri, 12 Nov 2010

It’s always interesting when illustrators and artists bring out their own clothing lines, and even more so when the clothes can transform you into their works of art. Such is the case with street artist and illustrator Kid Acne’s new hand-printed range, which allow the ladies, and men with a penchant for cross-dressing, to transform into one of his Stabby Women.

Web 'dig'

Thu, 11 Nov 2010

This year the Internet turns 20. And since its clunky, visually messy and very slow beginnings, web pages have changed beyond all recognition and are rapidly evolving to offer new online experiences year on year.

Get well soon

Wed, 10 Nov 2010

After the popularity of Kingston University student Napatsawan Chirayukool’s What makes your day? animation, which won the Adobe Design Achievement Awards animation category with its illustrated interviews of people talking about their happy moments, we thought we’d bring you another animated film using similar inspiration from real people.

Forster works on winter campaign for Age UK

Tue, 9 Nov 2010

Forster has created a campaign for Age UK to unite all winter activities undertaken by the older people’s charity.

Nick Hancock wins Spitfire memorial competition

Mon, 8 Nov 2010

Designer Nick Hancock has won a competition to design a Battle of Britain Spitfire fighter plane monument in Southampton, where the plane was first built.

Studio Six works on Nectar points e-store

Fri, 5 Nov 2010

Studio Six has created a new online campaign for Nectar to engage customers during the Christmas period.

Model medal

Thu, 4 Nov 2010

The winner of this year’s Royal Institute of British Architects’ Manser Medal will walk home with more than just a sense of glowing pride next week. The trophy for the relaunched prize has been created by ceramicist Petr Weigl and will be awarded to the architect behind the best new UK house or major extension at a ceremony on 11 November.

Spam jam

Wed, 3 Nov 2010

If the spam emails we receive really delivered what they promised, we’d all be muscular but slim-wasted millionaires and excellent lovers to boot. 

True North works on collateral for Wallace and Gromit stamps

Tue, 2 Nov 2010

True North has designed the core products to accompany the Royal Mail’s Wallace and Gromit Christmas stamps, which have been created by Aardman Animations.

Bedside manner

Mon, 1 Nov 2010

Clinical white corridors and intrusive strip lighting are usually what come to mind when you think of hospital interiors. No matter how keen you are on clean minimalist design or nurses, you probably wouldn’t want your home or hotel room to resemble even the nicest looking ward.Patient bedroom

Clinic works on winning entries of Cadbury's Pocketgame Challenge

Mon, 1 Nov 2010

Consultancy Artomatic has worked with London-based design and branding consultancy Clinic to put into production the winning entries of Cadbury’s Pocketgame Challenge.

Kissmas lights

Thu, 28 Oct 2010

This Christmas, they’ll be a little bit of extra magic for London’s shoppers thanks to designer Paul Cocksedge.

Marksmith Design brands payment service Geo

Thu, 28 Oct 2010

Marksmith Design has created the branding for Geo, an international payment service for financial installations from Travelex.

Helloween

Wed, 27 Oct 2010

As the team here at Design Week struggle to come up with easily-assembled and non-naff fancy dress for the weekend (suggestions in the comments box please), graphics and digital consultancy Open Agency has put us to shame with their display of Halloween spirit.A head above the rest

Happiness at work

Tue, 26 Oct 2010

An exhibition of work from Wapping-based studio Happiness at Work will open at Dalston’s Print House Gallery on Friday.

The Core creates Christmas Pot Noodle

Mon, 25 Oct 2010

The Core has designed the packaging for a Christmas flavour of Pot Noodle, called Pot Noeldle.

Lydia Thornley rebrands numeracy software Mathbase

Fri, 22 Oct 2010

Lydia Thornley has created a new identity for Mathbase, a numeracy software product which helps children and students with special educational needs improve their maths skills.

Go ape

Wed, 20 Oct 2010

The Sumatran Orangutan Society has commissioned some top-notch design work in its time, with Hat-Trick Design winning Best in Show at the 2008 Design Week Benchmarks for its identity and scooping up a Design Week Award in the poster category the same year for a campaign for the charity.

Cornwall Design Forum to launch design directory

Tue, 19 Oct 2010

The Cornwall Design Forum is to launch a new design directory, which will be marketed directly at businesses looking for design input.

Briggs Hillier creates new Schuh concept store

Mon, 18 Oct 2010

Briggs Hillier has created a new concept store for shoe retailer Schuh at Sheffield shopping centre Meadowhall.

Design diaries

Fri, 15 Oct 2010

Are you the sort of person that reads other people’s diaries? Irresistible, isn’t it, if you see one lingering on a table top or under a pillow? Although Design Diaries, a new book by Lucienne Roberts and Rebecca Wright, doesn’t quite offer the thrill of sneaking a look at the private scribblings of some of design’s top names, it’s a helpful tome allowing a view into the workings behind a number of graphics projects.

The modern art of conversation

Thu, 14 Oct 2010

As part of Design Event North East which launches next week, a handful of graphic designers will be inviting visitors to undertake a graphics treasure hunt around the streets of Newcastle.

Cogapp aims to engage with Tate Modern digital work

14 October 2010

Cogapp has created a digital platform for the 11th commission in Tate Modern’s Unilever Series of Turbine Hall installations - by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.

Dalston open studios

Wed, 13 Oct 2010

Founded in 1977, Dalston-based Bootstrap Company is a development trust, social enterprise and charity that has worked to develop cultural and creative projects in its corner of London.

The long river

Mon, 11 Oct 2010

Tappin Gofton has designed a book to accompany an exhibition of photography by Nadav Kander, which focuses on the landscape surrounding China’s Yangtze River.

Through the pinhole

Fri, 8 Oct 2010

Using photographic paper and an Adsa’s worth of empty beer cans, pinhole photographer Justin Quinnell has been capturing images of Bristol in a host of three month-duration exposures.

Design Wales calls for cross-party group to promote design

Fri, 8 Oct 2010

Design Wales will launch its manifesto next week as part of the Cardiff Design Festival, calling for National Assembly for Wales members to establish a cross-party group to champion design and innovation.

From the shadows

Wed, 6 Oct 2010

Next week, the Victoria & Albert Museum hosts the first exhibition of work by contemporary camera-less photographers in a UK museum.Floris Neussus Untitled, (Körperfotogramm), Berlin, ...

Lee Broom works on Nightjar cabaret bar

Tue, 5 Oct 2010

Lee Broom has created the interior concept for new London cabaret bar The Nightjar.

Dowling Duncan wins dollar bill redesign competition

Mon, 4 Oct 2010

Dowling Duncan has won the competition to redesign the dollar bill organised by New York-based creative consultant Richard Smith.

McCann-Erickson Central unveils new look for Lotus

Fri, 1 Oct 2010

McCann-Erickson Central has created a new identity and website for sportscar manufacturer Lotus.

Prize paper

Thu, 30 Sep 2010

There’s been a tide of impressive ‘zines and small-scale independent magazines arrive in the Design Week post bag over the last few weeks, equally matched by the number of ’zine-related events available outside of the office.Kid Acne’s zine Stabby Women

LFH repackages Elmlea cream range

Thu, 30 Sep 2010

LFH has created new packaging for Unilever-owned cream brand Elmlea.

Black and Ginger rebrand dental practice as Milk

Wed, 29 Sep 2010

Black and Ginger has rebranded Liverpool-based dental practice High Street Dental as Milk.

V&A unveils shortlisted designs for Dundee outpost

Tue, 28 Sep 2010

The Victoria & Albert Museum has unveiled six shortlisted designs for its new outpost in Dundee, following an international architectural competition.

Glass class

Fri, 24 Sep 2010

Graphic designer Gareth Bayliss, who shared Design Week art director Sam Freeman’s love for Roger Excoffon’s Banco font in Art director’s choice this week, has created window graphics for Concrete Hermit’s new store in central London’s Kingly Court.

Down at The Dock

Thu, 23 Sep 2010

The LDF trail took the Design Week team out to west London last night, to Tom Dixon’s headquarters and the newly opened Moooi showroom and UK base.

Punk on paper

Thu, 23 Sep 2010

However respectable they may appear now, some of design’s heavyweights cut their teeth in the gritty sphere of punk posters and DIY aesthetics. Haunch of Venison’s London gallery launches an exhibition this week celebrating the rich visual heritage of Punk posters, which has been curated by artist and designer Toby Mott.

Webb & Webb rebrands classic children's toy Playplax

Wed, 22 Sep 2010

Webb & Webb Design has created the identity and packaging for relaunched iconic children’s toy Playplax.

GLA festival to celebrate design in London

Mon, 20 Sep 2010

The Greater London Authority will celebrate the importance of design to London’s history as part of ten-day-long festival the Story of London.

Sounds of the suburbs

Fri, 17 Sep 2010

Although London Design Festival fever might be hotting up here in the capital, don’t worry, we know there’s still a world outside the hive of activity here in London.

Cut, stick and dance

Thu, 16 Sep 2010

As London Design Festival approaches, it’s not just the talks, launches and chances to meet some new design talent that are getting us excited - it’s the parties too.

Coca-Cola keeps top spot in Interbrand’s 100 Best Global Brands

Thu, 16 Sep 2010

Coca-Cola has retained the top spot for the 11th year running in Interbrand’s annual ranking of the 100 Best Global Brands.

SEGD symposium to explore transatlantic philosophy gap

9 September 2010

Leading environmental graphic designers from the US and Europe will meet next month in London at the first international symposium of the US-based Society of Environmental Graphic Design.

Wonder wall

Wed, 8 Sep 2010

It’s always pleasing to see designers selling their wares in a novel and visually exciting way. The stylish lovechild of a pop-up shop and e-commerce site with a bit of interiors magazine spread thrown in, Supermarket Sarah is an interesting online retail concept thought up by namesake Sarah Bagner.

Photographers’ Gallery to host off-site exhibitions during refurbishment

Tue, 7 Sep 2010

The Photographers’ Gallery has unveiled its off-site programme, which will take place while the London gallery is closed for refurbishment from October.

Letters from America

Mon, 6 Sep 2010

Here at Design Week, we tend to focus on projects created within the shores of our own little island, but this week a couple of projects from our American cousins have caught our eye.

Method creates App Lounge identity

Fri, 3 Sep 2010

Method has created the visual identity, website and promotional material for The App Lounge, a pop-up digital showroom that will open during London Design Festival.

Tynan D’Arcy repackages Lake District Cheese

Thu, 2 Sep 2010

Tynan D’Arcy has created new packaging for The Lake District Cheese Co, which is owned by First Milk, the largest dairy farmer-owned business in the UK.

Will design for beer

Wed, 1 Sep 2010

Advertising agency Mother and Stella Artois have teamed up to run a competition that will no doubt get the mouths of numerous design students watering.

Wellcome Collection to exhibit everyday objects in Things show

Wed, 1 Sep 2010

The Wellcome Collection will exhibit iconic design and everyday objects contributed by members of the public as part of new exhibition Things, devised and designed by artist Keith Wilson.

Gaea Todd wins British Glass Biennale Best in Show award

Tue, 31 Aug 2010

Contemporary glass exhibition the British Glass Biennale has announced the winner of its Best in Show award.

Screen scene

Thu, 26 Aug 2010

The London International Animation Festival gets underway tomorrow at several cinemas and venues across the capital. It’s the seventh time the festival has been held and it’s the largest one of its kind in the UK, screening more than 250 films by animators from across the globe.

The art of plastic

Wed, 25 Aug 2010

How would you like to step out of a shower on to a bath mat made to allow lush green grass tickle your toes? Yeah, I wasn’t too sure about that one either. But the Nature Step bath mat is just one product that a collaboration between Italian design company Fratelli Guzzini and Royal College of Art students yielded after a week-long workshop.

Helpful reading

Tue, 24 Aug 2010

For the swarm of graduates fresh out of university and keen to start work, there are two books released this month - one new, one a re-edition - that will be useful to have on the shelves.

Shortlist in Spitfire memorial competition set to be unveiled

Mon, 23 Aug 2010

The shortlist of a competition to design a Battle of Britain Spitfire fighter plane monument in Southampton will be revealed next month.

Design in the dark

Fri, 20 Aug 2010

Imagine the scene. You slouch out of bed, sleepy-eyed and a bit disorientated, to get a glass of water from the kitchen. Through the gloom comes a glowing vision - a poster visible despite the midnight darkness.

Cross-continent collaboration

Thu, 19 Aug 2010

Walk into London’s Old Shoreditch Station at the moment and you’ll step through a portal into a bizarre world.Iwah Deck by Will Sweeney and Matt Furie

Six finalists named in The Earth Awards

Thu, 19 Aug 2010

International design competition The Earth Awards has announced its six finalists, who will now compete to put their ideas into production.

Art and struggle

Tue, 17 Aug 2010

As part of their curious nature and critical eye, many creative people feel the need to question authority and become politically active. Russian collective Chto delat? (which translates as ’what is to be done?’) is no different.Installation at Van Abbe Museum

The Tramshed announces brands line-up for festival

Tue, 17 Aug 2010

New London exhibition space The Tramshed has announced the international design brands that will exhibit at the venue during the London Design Festival.

Decades of fun

Mon, 16 Aug 2010

Being a Sussex lass myself, I was pretty excited when we first heard about Wayne Hemingway’s plans to start a retro-inspired festival about ten minutes from my hometown of Chichester.

Foruli packages Peter Hook autobiography box sets

Mon, 16 Aug 2010

Specialist publisher Foruli has created the packaging and graphics for limited-edition box sets of the autobiography of Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook.

A big issue

Fri, 13 Aug 2010

Next month New Designer One Year On 2009 winner Lizzie Mary Cullen will hold her first solo exhibition. Not only will it be an impressive first show from a talented illustrator and designer, but Cullen also aims to raise more than £10 000 for the Big Issue during the exhibition.Lizzie Mary Cullen

Vintage weekend

Thu, 12 Aug 2010

Starting tomorrow is Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway’s Vintage at Goodwood festival, a celebration of art, music, fashion and design from the 1940s to the 1980s.Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway

Tim O’Kennedy and Javier Mariscal to speak at Design Yatra

Thu, 12 Aug 2010

India’s largest design conference Design Yatra has announced the speakers at its event, which will be held on 3-4 September in Mumbai.

New Mind works on Fort William and Lochaber website

Tue, 10 Aug 2010

Liverpool-based new media consultancy New Mind had been appointed to create a new website to promote Fort William and Lochaber in the Highlands of Scotland.

Small but perfectly formed

Mon, 9 Aug 2010

Inspired by seeing a coffee mug decorated with an illustration of a cowboy familiar from childhood, Pentagram’s Angus Hyland hit upon what it is about illustration that he thinks is so important. According to Hyland, it is the childlike freedom to dream and the ability to recreate those dreams for others that lies at the heart of picture-making.

Making magic

Fri, 6 Aug 2010

For tonight’s Late at the Tate Britain, puppeteers and artists will be putting on a whimsical musical journey inspired by the galleries collections, as well as dinosaurs, rainbows, mountains and rivers.

Art shift

Thu, 5 Aug 2010

The space under the Westway on London’s Portobello road has long been a prime site for accomplished and amateur street artists alike. But starting next week, a new project will see the entire space transformed by some of graffiti’s big names.

Dreams and ambitions

Wed, 4 Aug 2010

At the end of the month, 50 young designers and artists from more than 15 countries will come together to exhibit work inspired by dreams at London’s Shoreditch Town Hall Basement Galleries.Untitled by Dorcas Ng

Baigent Digital does its bit for Do Nation's new identity

5 August 2010

Baigent Digital has created the identity and website for environmental social enterprise start-up Do Nation.

Vonsung designs pop-up restaurant for Tent London

Tue, 3 Aug 2010

London-based design consultancy Vonsung has designed a pop-up restaurant and bar pavilion for Tent London.

Longest bench in Britain installed

Mon, 2 Aug 2010

The longest bench in Britain has been opened to the public in Littlehampton, West Sussex.

A proper gander

Fri, 30 Jul 2010

Not many of the new fonts that get launched every month get a propaganda department-style press launch. But Tooting Sans, which has been designed by Stuart Brown for Hamburger Fonts, has had the full WWII treatment.

Barking up the right tree

Thu, 29 Jul 2010

Whether it’s skinning up a website or designing a background for some new food packaging, creating patterns can be important part of all aspects of design.

True North to create campaign for Holburne Museum

Thu, 29 Jul 2010

True North has been appointed to create an integrated promotional campaign for the Holburne Museum in Bath before its reopening next spring.

Read all about it

Wed, 28 Jul 2010

Imagine you’re walking down the street on your way to pick up some milk and someone whizzes past on a bike and hurls a roll of paper in your direction. On unravelling the bundle, you find that it is a collection of drawings, prints and illustrations that have been gifted to you for free.Sou

Tent time

Wed, 21 Jul 2010

The Victoria & Albert Museum Summer Camp is back next weekend for two days of free art and design fun. This year’s event features a number of workshops, installations and performances from top design talent, as well as the opportunity to spend the night in the Serpentine Gallery’s Jean Nouvel-designed pavilion.

Kimpton Creative brings a young look to Vocal Futures

22 July 2010

Kimpton Creative has designed the identity for Vocal Futures, a new charity that aims to promote an interest in classical music among 16to 22-year-olds.

Love in London

Tue, 20 Jul 2010

Not many estate agents are able to boast their own magazine. Fewer still are able to get former poet laureate Sir Andrew Motion to write a poem for its latest issue and then get type guru Alan Kitching to work his magic on the poet’s words.

Going underground

Mon, 19 Jul 2010

Walking down the steps of London’s Victoria House to the basement this weekend, you were greeted by the buzz of electronics and eerie waves of coloured fluorescent light. The reason behind it was Vice magazine and Intel’s cultural hook-up The Creators Project, which came to London for the second installation of its global programme.

Dover Street Market reopens with new interiors

Mon, 19 Jul 2010

Multilevel fashion retail destination Dover Street Market has launched a number of new collections, installations and retail spaces for the autumn-winter season.

Nude distils Ballantine’s prestige whisky packaging

Fri, 16 Jul 2010

Nude has created new packaging for blended Scotch whisky brand Ballantine’s prestige range.

New creative apprenticeships scheme for Wales

Thu, 15 Jul 2010

Creative & Cultural Skills is launching a new programme of creative apprenticeships in Wales

We aren’t the champions

Wed, 14 Jul 2010

The World Cup is over and although the Tour de France is doing a good job of filling our lunch-time sports cravings here at Design Week, it doesn’t feel quite the same.

Ten designers work on Lollipop Shoppe benches

Tue, 13 Jul 2010

Design store Lollipop Shoppe has invited ten furniture designers to create a public design installation during the London Design Festival in September.

Seeing red

Fri, 9 Jul 2010

Bucking this year’s domestic interiors trend for soothing, recession-friendly hues of green and blue, French architect Jean Nouvel has created a vibrant blood-red beast in London’s Serpentine Gallery Pavilion.

Haley Sharpe prepares Bugworld for global expansion

Fri, 9 Jul 2010

Haley Sharpe Design is developing the exhibition concept of the Bugworld Experience brand to improve the insect attraction’s user journey before global expansion.

Dedicated follower of fashion

Thu, 8 Jul 2010

From Punks to Mods, Goths to Emo kids, fashion movements have long been bound to the trends of music subcultures. Even if Mohicans or medallions didn’t get taken up by everyone at the time (thank god), these trends have often been diluted for the mainstream fashion industry and repeated year on year with almost nauseating cyclicality.

Baigent creates clean look for child bereavement site

8 July 2010

Baigent Digital has created a new website for the Child Bereavement Charity, which supports children and families that have lost loved ones.

Under the hammer

Tue, 6 Jul 2010

As most of this year’s graduates have been working hard over the past few months, putting together their final projects and then exhibiting their work around the country, it’s finally time for them to gather some pecuniary rewards.

Craft in Clerkenwell

Mon, 5 Jul 2010

If New Designers has whetted your appetite for more beautifully designed craft pieces and textiles, then this week has two events that may well satisfy that craving.Graphis brooch by Soizig Marie Carey

Marcel Wanders works on Moooi's UK headquarters

Mon, 5 Jul 2010

Dutch design brand Moooi will open its first UK headquarters and showroom in London in September.

All together now

Fri, 2 Jul 2010

The Truman Brewery on London’s Brick Lane seems to be acting as a one stop shop for new exhibitions at the moment. Not only are there three weeks left of degree shows from the country’s creative graduates at Free Range, but Stolen Space - a gallery run by street artist D*face - opened its summer group show last night.

Park Life

Thu, 1 Jul 2010

If you’re at loose end as to what to do in the weekend sun, then there’s a host of park-based events in the capital to keep you entertained.

Ulster Museum bags Art Fund Prize

Thu, 1 Jul 2010

Ulster Museum has been awarded the £100 000 Art Fund Prize for museums and galleries, in recognition of its £17.8m three-year project Opening up the Ulster Museum.

Footprint rethink competition

Wed, 30 Jun 2010

Design Week and sister magazine Creative Review have teamed up with City University London to offer one reader a full scholarship for its Masters in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership, which starts in September.City University logo

Work in progress

Tue, 29 Jun 2010

Delicate and intricate, the drawings of Japanese artist Momoko Suzuki do not instantly lend themselves to the large white spaces of London’s Koukan gallery. But perhaps that is the point. Visitors will have to get close the walls, floors and surfaces to pick up the details of Suzuki’s sprawling illustrations.Suzuki illustrations

Education, Education, Education

Mon, 28 Jun 2010

With the myriad of degree shows running up and down the country, it’s good to see that younger students are also getting some exposure as their courses come to an end.

Pencil knits together new tea brand for Beyond the Bean

24 June 2010

Pencil has created the identity and packaging for a new brand of tea for Beyond the Bean, a company that supplies products and equipment to cafés.

Paul Kelley to launch new furniture collection at LDF

Fri, 18 Jun 2010

Furniture designer Paul Kelley will launch a new furniture collection at London Design Festival in September.

Don't be sad

Thu, 17 Jun 2010

‘Visual jollification’ is not something often promised from those punting upcoming exhibitions. But Don’t Be Sad, a show from a collective of 15 naïve illustrators opening at Bristol’s Here Gallery this weekend, swears to provide just that.Shane Wilson

A shining light

Wed, 16 Jun 2010

From an ergonomic can opener to a well-planned city, we all know that design has the ability to affect our standard of living. But for children’s charity Pratham UK designers look set to play an integral part in the charity’s new fundraising programme hoping to raise literacy levels among children in India.

Swedish group Acne to open London studio

Tue, 15 Jun 2010

Swedish lifestyle brand and design collective Acne will open a new studio in London this summer.

A safe bet

Mon, 14 Jun 2010

Sometimes the most innocent of ideas become known for the most unsavoury reasons. Chat Roulette is one such unfortunate venture. Started as a means for anyone with a Web camera and a computer to share meaningful exchanges with people around the globe, the Internet phenomenon connected users at random and allowed them to talk until they got bored, pressed the ‘next’ button and were connected with another friendly face.

Famous and framed

Fri, 11 Jun 2010

Best known for his intimate portraits of sleek celebrities, photographer Rankin has a knack for getting his subjects to abandon their public veneer and reveal something of their true personalities.

Onedotzero needs you

Thu, 10 Jun 2010

Onedotzero, the moving image and digital arts organisation that co-curated the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Decode: Digital Design Sensations exhibition earlier this year, is looking for talented creatives for another exciting prospect it has tucked up its sleeves.

On the scent

Wed, 9 Jun 2010

Here at Design Week, we see a lot of top-notch packaging. But rarely do we rest our eyes on anything quite so luxuriously arty.The bottle of Agonist’s The Infidels by Åsa Jungnelius

Webb & Webb creates designs for Chocodeli boutique

Wed, 9 Jun 2010

Webb & Webb has designed the identity, packaging and signage for Chocodeli, a new chocolate boutique in London’s Westminster.

British Heart Foundation’s Artie Beat mascot is redesigned

Tue, 8 Jun 2010

Graphic design consultancy Marc & Anna has worked with Belgian illustrators Eugene and Louise to redesign the mascot for the British Heart Foundation children’s club.

National Trust and Arts Council England launch art programme

Mon, 7 Jun 2010

The National Trust and Arts Council England have announced a new contemporary art programme to be held at National Trust properties around the country.

Landor appointed to River Island ‘brand evaluation’ work

Fri, 4 Jun 2010

Landor Associates has been appointed by high street fashion retailer River Island to evaluate its current branding.

Sumo Design rebrands Design Event North East

Wed, 2 Jun 2010

Sumo Design has created the identity for this year’s Design Event North East, a Newcastlebased design festival which will take place from 22-31 October.

I4 creates health monitor for cows

Tue, 1 Jun 2010

Edinburgh-based product design consultancy I4 has been appointed to design a wireless health monitor for dairy farming technology company Well Cow.

East End booty

Thu, 27 May 2010

An old brewery, a tussle and then a car boot. No, this isn’t the gruesome end of a gangster flick nemesis but an east London art event taking place next weekend.

Clean living

Tue, 25 May 2010

For many, air-conditioning has been a godsend over the last few days, making tasks like battling through Tesco and putting an issue of Design Week together just about manageable, despite the heat.

On yer bike

Mon, 24 May 2010

If you want to make the most of the sunshine but also see the highlights of Clerkenwell Design Week, which runs from 25-27 May, then follow The London Festival of Architecture director Peter Murray.

Summer of Glug

Fri, 21 May 2010

Last night creative get-together Glug moved to its summer home for a digital barbecue and some alfresco ‘notworking’ at Cargo in London’s Shoreditch.Source: Photographs by Paul Bence

Design Museum launches initiative for schoolchildren

Fri, 21 May 2010

Sebastian Conran is to unveil plans for Design Ventura, an initiative run by the Design Museum to develop student creativity in a real-world context.

Citroën launches roof and dashboard design competition

Thu, 20 May 2010

Citroën has launched a competition to redesign the roof and dashboard of the DS3 model, the winner of which will have their design put into production next year.

Figtree to open Hong Kong outpost to service South East Asia

Thu, 20 May 2010

Figtree will open a new office in Hong Kong at the beginning of September to meet increased client demand in South East Asia.

The Clerkenwell Other

Wed, 19 May 2010

London’s Clerkenwell has long been known for its print media, whether it’s one of the earliest magazines ever published - The Gentleman in 1731 - or the Guardian newspaper, which occupied offices on Farringdon Road from 1976 until moving to King’s Cross in 2008.The Clerkenwell Other

Japanese bathroom brand Toto to open UK store

Fri, 14 May 2010

Japanese luxury bathroom brand Toto will open its first UK concept store in London’s Clerkenwell, designed by Swiss architect Mach Architektur.

Bubbles aid

Tue, 11 May 2010

You know the situation. You’ve just bought a pint, settled into a pub corner and there’s a hi-fi on full blast or a crowd of screeching ladettes seriously hindering your conversation.

Visual sound

Mon, 10 May 2010

Music videos have long been a playground for creative minds, with the likes of  Michel Gondry, Encyclopedia Pictura and Trunk Animation stealing the show with their exciting track-long worlds.

Imaginate Creative works on dance event materials

Mon, 10 May 2010

Imaginate Creative has been appointed to design the print and online communications, brochure and programme for dance event On Show.

The beautiful game

Thu, 6 May 2010

With the World Cup just over a month away, it won’t be long until the whole country goes football loopy. If 64 matches isn’t quite enough to keep you entertained, then keep an eagle eye out for feature-length documentary Soka Afrika, which explores the beautiful game in the Cup’s host continent Africa.

A pirates life for me

Wed, 5 May 2010

If, like most sensible people, you like a side order of typography with your gin and tonic, then a new collaboration between art collective Pirates, the Central Illustration Agency and London’s quirky bar outfit Mothership Group will be the perfect post-work drinking hole.

Small Back Room to rebrand Shakespeare's Globe theatre

Wed, 5 May 2010

Small Back Room has been appointed to develop the branding of Shakespeare’s Globe theatre in London.

WWF and Tetra Pak in hunt for Green ideas

Tue, 4 May 2010

Tetra Pak and WWF UK have launched a competition to generate ideas that encourage the public to buy environmentally friendly products.

Jason Bruges Studio creates Dover Street light installation

Fri, 30 Apr 2010

Jason Bruges Studio has created a public light installation as part of a new development in Dover Street, in the Piccadilly area of London.

Peter Blake’s refurbished art bus visits Brighton

Thu, 29 Apr 2010

Artist Sir Peter Blake and his Art Bus will attend Brighton Festival Fringe for a one-day exhibition in May.

Brown, Cameron and Clegg's personal branding comes to the fore

Wed, 28 Apr 2010

Branding industry observers say the televised General Election leaders’ debates, the last of which takes place tomorrow night, have led to a greater emphasis on the personal branding of each of the leaders - rather than the party they head.

London goes nuts for Brazil

Mon, 26 Apr 2010

If the bank holiday weekend fails to provide the tropical climate we’re all hoping for, at least there’ll be a touch of Brazil available in the capital. London-based audio-visual group Lava Collective will present the first major UK show of Brazilian graphic designer and artist Bruno 9li at East London’s The Rag Factory.

Dyson in recruitment drive

Mon, 26 Apr 2010

Dyson is seeking design engineers as part of a research and development investment programme and recruitment drive within the company.

Clearsilver brands Stem subjects resource centre

Fri, 23 Apr 2010

Leeds- and Hull-based branding group Clearsilver has created a new identity for the Government’s UK resource centre for women in science, engineering and technology, UKRC.

Up Creatives creates documentary festival work

Thu, 22 Apr 2010

Up Creatives has created promotional material, the catalogue and an animated ident for the London International Documentary Festival, which begins tomorrow.

Red Bee bosses meet union reps over potential industrial action

Fri, 16 Apr 2010

Red Bee Media bosses and officials from the media and entertainment union BECTU will meet to discuss possible industrial action following ballots from the company’s BECTU members.

Quiet zone

Wed, 14 Apr 2010

Sony’s collaboration with Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby for the Milan furniture fair opens today. Inspired by Sony’s new design concept ‘monolithic design’ - a minimalist style that uses only what is necessary, the designers have interwoven electronics into furniture and architectural design.

Narrative Space conference puts spotlight on storytelling

15 April 2010

As part of a drive to encourage ’design thinking’ in museum studies, the University of Leicester is holding an international conference at the end of April to develop and theorise the trend towards storytelling in exhibition design.

Design book marque

Mon, 12 Apr 2010

To mark the end of Faber and Faber’s year-long 80th anniversary shindig, London’s Victoria and Albert Museum is holding an exhibition this month, featuring the publisher’s most iconic book covers and illustrations.Journey of ...

Lyrical designs

Fri, 9 Apr 2010

Ever wondered what your favourite song would look like if a graphic designer got hold of it and interpreted the lyrics?

Turner Duckworth designs new packaging for Feel Good Drinks

Thu, 8 Apr 2010

Turner Duckworth has created new packaging for independent soft drinks manufacturer Feel Good Drinks.

Organza project launched to explore creativity in Europe

08 April 2010

Institutions across Europe will be asking what they can learn from each other’s creative industries with the launch of new research project Organza.

Move over Q

Thu, 1 Apr 2010

Next weekend techies and James Bonds-in-training will be gathering in Birmingham for the Gadget Show Live.

Bags of talent

Wed, 31 Mar 2010

Although street artist Ben Eine is more used to daubing unwanted paint on London’s shop fronts, this week he has been commissioned to create an installation in the window of  trendy designer Anya Hindmarch’s Sloane Street store.Ben Eine

Webb & Webb works its magic on Harry Potter books

Tue, 30 Mar 2010

Webb & Webb Design has created a new look for the Harry Potter ‘signature’ series of books, which will launch in November.

Creative director Mark Porter leaves The Guardian

Mon, 29 Mar 2010

The Guardian’s creative director Mark Porter has announced that he is leaving the newspaper in April to focus on his private practice.

Traidcraft calls in Family and Friends for sweets launch

Fri, 26 Mar 2010

Branding and packaging design consultancy Family and Friends has created packs for a new range of luxury fair trade sweets for Traidcraft.

Hat-Trick Design unlocks the potential of the playground

25 March 2010

Hat-Trick Design has created promotional imagery for Learning Through Landscapes, a charity that helps schools make the most of their outdoor spaces.

Together Design rebrands The Health Foundation

Wed, 24 Mar 2010

Together Design has created a new identity for The Health Foundation, which campaigns to improve healthcare in the UK.

UK Space Agency takes off with Folio Creative logo

Tue, 23 Mar 2010

Folio Creative has created a visual identity for the UK Space Agency, which launched today.

One-click heels

Mon, 22 Mar 2010

Jimmy Choo beware, you may soon be redundant. That’s if digital agency Art Science has its way.

Sumo creates identity for Wordsworth Trust

Fri, 19 Mar 2010

Newcastle-based design consultancy Sumo has created a new identity, promotional material and signage for the Wordsworth Trust.

Red Balloon

Wed, 17 Mar 2010

Last November Czech artist Hana Vojácková was allowed a rare glimpse into the Chernobyl exclusion zone, which has remained hauntingly untouched since the radioactive explosion at the plant in 1986. There she found the town of Pripyat frozen post-disaster and set about documenting the landscape for Red Balloon 86, her first UK exhibition.

Sowing the party line

18 March 2010

James Dyson’s Ingenious Britain report for the Conservative Party has thrown the spotlight firmly on the role of design in future Government policy thinking. Laura Snoad sounds out senior figures from the industry for their responses

D. I. Why?

Mon, 15 Mar 2010

Remember Changing Rooms? The team of squawking interior designers transformed neat, if a tad boring, middle-class homes into B-movie set monstrosities, while Carol Smillie narrated through gritted, grinning teeth.Day-time TV shleb Gordon Whistance (left) with ...

Furniture show debut postponed for second year running

Fri, 12 Mar 2010

The London Furniture Show, a new exhibition due to launch in May, has been postponed due to a lack of exhibitors.

Baigent Digital rebrands British Skin Foundation

Wed, 10 Mar 2010

The British Skin Foundation is preparing to launch a new website and refreshed brand identity designed by Baigent Digital.

James Dyson calls for Design Council review in Tory party report

Tue, 9 Mar 2010

James Dyson has called for a review of the ‘funding, objectives and impact’ of the Design Council in a report commissioned by the Conservative Party.

Take a seat...

Fri, 5 Mar 2010

Does classic chair design make you think of Parisian cafes and pert bottoms? Er… me neither, but it will now that Thonet have unveiled the winners of the 214x214 photography competition.

Nelson Associates designs celebrity florist website

Thu, 4 Mar 2010

Nelson Associates has designed a website for celebrity florist Robbie Honey.

Conran and Tom Dixon vie for Restaurant & Bar Design Awards

Tue, 2 Mar 2010

London restaurant Circus, designed by Tom Dixon, and Conran & Partners’ Boundary in Shoreditch have been shortlisted for this year’s Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.

AKQA appointed to Royal Navy digital work

Mon, 1 Mar 2010

AKQA has been appointed to develop the Royal Navy’s digital strategy and redesign its website.

Cog Design creates arts festival website

Fri, 26 Feb 2010

Cog Design has created a new website for Norfolk & Norwich Festival.

Kimpton brands ethical investment group Alquity

25 February 2010

Kimpton Creative has branded new ethical investment company Alquity Investment Management, which launches today at the South African High Commission in London.

The Team rebrands Parkinson’s charity

Tue, 23 Feb 2010

The Team has rebranded the Parkinson’s Disease Society as Parkinson’s UK.

Ofcom seeks graphics groups

Mon, 22 Feb 2010

The broadcasting regulator Ofcom is searching for graphic designers to work on new visuals for the company.

1HQ appoints Tom Ellis to research and strategy role

Thu, 18 Feb 2010

Branding consultancy 1HQ has appointed Tom Ellis, the former managing director of Big Green Door, as client development director of research and strategy.

Designers set to reap benefits of PoS revolution

21 January 2010

As current economic challenges make attracting the eye of the consumer more pressing than ever, point-of-sale design is increasingly important. Next month, designers, retailers and marketers will gather to discuss the latest trends in point-of-sale marketing at the International PoS Congress, held on 4 March in Fulda, Germany.

Redman Design creates interiors for Birmingham museum wing

Wed, 13 Jan 2010

Redman Design is working on the interiors and exhibition space for the new wing of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Nokia seeks designers to raise living standards in developing world

Mon, 11 Jan 2010

Nokia has launched a competition to design a mobile product or service that will raise the living standards of people in the developing world.

Antony Gormley chairs Brit Insurance awards jury

Fri, 8 Jan 2010

Artist Antony Gormley will chair the jury of the Brit Insurance Design Awards, which will be held at the Design Museum on 16 March.