Design Week
Packaging

BrandOpus creates new identity for food brand Schwartz

Tue, 22 May 2012

The branding uses ‘overlapping ellipses to represent blending flavours’.

Reuse, recycle, repackage

Fri, 18 May 2012

Reuse and recycling seems more prevalent in some design sectors than others.

Someone creates new look for dairy brand Valio

Fri, 18 May 2012

The branding will be applied across more than 1000 products.

Robot Food creates new look for Just Puds

Thu, 17 May 2012

Pudding brand identity based around ‘tradition, quality and Britishness’.

Landor designs new Simply M&S range packaging

Mon, 14 May 2012

Landor has worked on the new Simply M&S range packaging alongside the retailer’s in-house team.

News in brief round-up

Fri, 11 May 2012

A round-up of this week’s news in brief.

Big Fish redesigns Dorset Cereals packaging

Wed, 9 May 2012

Big Fish has redesigned the packaging for Dorset Cereals breakfast cereal range.

Pizza Express retail range overhauled by BrandOpus

Tue, 8 May 2012

BrandOpus brings Pizza Express retail range in line with restaurant brand

JDO updates Peroni Nastro Azzurro packaging

Tue, 1 May 2012

JDO has created new packaging for Italian beer Peroni Nastro Azzurro.

WPP posts first quarter profits

Fri, 27 Apr 2012

WPP has reported strong growth in emerging markets, while domestically slow growth is reported in digital and interatcive.

Bulletproof designs yoomoo frozen yoghurt packaging

Tue, 24 Apr 2012

Bulletproof has designed the packaging for yoomoo frozen yoghurt brand’s take-home range.

Dragon Rouge repackages Actimel

Wed, 18 Apr 2012

Dragon Rouge has created new packaging designs for Danone yoghurt drink Actimel.

Elmwood rebrands Gressingham Duck

Mon, 16 Apr 2012

Elmwood has created a new identity for Gressingham Duck, which uses a hidden duck’s head in the letter G.

Blue Marlin repackages Weight Watchers Foods

Wed, 4 Apr 2012

Blue Marlin has redesigned the branding and packaging for Weight Watchers Foods.

Tesco launches redesigned value range

Wed, 4 Apr 2012

The supermarket has ditched its iconic blue-and-white stripe designs.

Taxi Studio creates new Somersby cider packaging

Mon, 2 Apr 2012

Taxi Studio has created a new visual identity and packaging for Danish cider brand Somersby.

Leahy Brand Design creates Chi identity and packaging

Mon, 26 Mar 2012

Leahy Brand Design has created the look for new beverage Chi Coconut Water using a symmetrical graphic designed to evoke escape.

Underscore brands Robert Plant’s son’s Beavertown Brewery

Fri, 23 Mar 2012

Underscore has designed the branding for Beavertown Brewery, an artisan brewery in east London’s De Beauvoir established by Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant’s son, Logan.

Taxi Studio creates new branding and packing for Coca-Cola’s Tumult

Fri, 23 Mar 2012

Taxi Studio has created new branding and packaging for Coca-Cola owned adult soft drink Tumult.

Should the impact of design be measured?

Thu, 22 Mar 2012

Would better measurement help or harm design?

Echo appointed by O2 as sole packaging and service design agency

Wed, 21 Mar 2012

Echo has been appointed as O2’s sole agency to consolidate its packaging and service design.

Seymour Powell creates Nestle catfood packaging

Wed, 14 Mar 2012

Seymour Powell has created new packaging for Nestlé Purian Pro Plan catfood, which the consultancy says is based around a ‘big cat face design’.

Slice Design redesigns Juicy Drench

Tue, 13 Mar 2012

Slice Design has developed a new look for Britvic’s soft drink Juicy Drench which it hopes will better evocate the ingredients juice and water.

Echo brands Carling’s summer beer

Mon, 12 Mar 2012

Echo has created the branding and packaging for Carling Zest, a limited-edition summer beer set to be released by Carling.

Voxpop - What first inspired you to take up a career in design?

Thu, 8 Mar 2012

The Government is to fund the Sorrell Foundation’s National Art and Design Saturday Club initiative, which give young people aged 14-16 the opportunity to study art and design at a local college or university. What first inspired you to take up a career in design?

Blue Marlin creates ‘loveable swine’ identity for Orchard Pig cider and apple juice range

Mon, 5 Mar 2012

Blue Marlin has created a new visual identity for Orchard Pig cider and apple juice range, aiming to reflect the brand’s ‘truly loveable swine’ character.

News Analysis - How to make global projects work for local markets

Fri, 2 Mar 2012

Working on a design project for worldwide audiences can be fraught with difficulties - while one colour may signify luck to one nationality; it may mean something quite different to another. Similarly, with food products - tastes and preferences, obviously, vary enormously between different countries and even regions. Hilarious linguistic gaffs are another story entirely - take France’s Pschitt soda, Italian Mukk yoghurt or Germany’s Zit lemonade, for instance.

Voxpop - What is the story behind your consultancy name?

Thu, 23 Feb 2012

New consultancy Rupert Ray is named after ‘a semi-mythological character’. What is the story behind your consultancy name?

JHP works on Swarovski's new youth brand lola & grace

Wed, 15 Feb 2012

JHP has developed the branding and retail concept for jeweller Swarovski’s new lola & grace youth sub-brand, working with the in-house team on the project.

The Plant creates new identity for frozen yoghurt brand Frae

Mon, 13 Feb 2012

The Plant has rebranded frozen yoghurt brand Frae, with the new visual identity debuting with the opening of the brand’s London King’s Road store, which features interiors by MBA.

Holmes & Marchant unites chocolate and cheese in new Philadelphia offering

Thu, 2 Feb 2012

Holmes & Marchant has created the packaging for Kraft Food’s new Philadelphia Cadbury variant, which launches this week.

BrandOpus designs Pipers Crisp Co. identity and packaging

Thu, 26 Jan 2012

BrandOpus has created a new identity and packaging for Pipers Crisp Co., developing the name, logo and colour palette to be used across the brand’s seven variants.

Design Bridge repackages Plymouth Gin

Wed, 18 Jan 2012

Design Bridge has created new packaging for Plymouth Gin, taking inspiration from the brand’s archive.

BrandOpus repackages Twinings green tea

Tue, 10 Jan 2012

BrandOpus has created new packaging for Twinings’ green tea range.

Holmes & Marchant appoints Bob Pattni as design director

Mon, 9 Jan 2012

Holmes & Marchant has appointed Bob Pattni to the new role of design director.

This week's news in brief round-up

Fri, 6 Jan 2012

A round-up of this week’s news in brief.

Design industry predictions for 2012 - Part one

Tue, 3 Jan 2012

In the first part of our series of design industry predictions for 2012, leading industry figures tell us what they think will happen in branding, graphics, packaging, interactive and financial performance

Studio h creates branding for Georgian detergents

Tue, 13 Dec 2011

Studio h has designed the branding and packaging for Georgian detergent brands Brio and Vardo, the first detergent products to be manufactured in the country.

Blue Marlin creates new Vaseline lotions packaging

Tue, 6 Dec 2011

Blue Marlin has created new packaging designs for the global relaunch of Vaseline lotions.  

Totality designs Seabrook Bread Crisps Packaging

Tue, 29 Nov 2011

Leeds-based design consultancy Totality has designed the packaging for Seabrook Bread Crisps, a new product launched in collaboration with Symington’s Foods.

Voxpop - What is your favourite example of a Great British product?

Thu, 24 Nov 2011

The Science Museum is hosting the Make it in Great Britain exhibition next summer, which aims to highlight British manufacturing. Which example of a Great British product, made in the UK, do you think should be in the show?

News Analysis - Could a paper wine bottle design really work?

Fri, 18 Nov 2011

Design and sustainability experts say designs for a ready-for-production paper wine bottle, unveiled this week, are progressive and practical, although questions of aesthetics remain.Greenbottle’s paper wine bottle

Neville Brody, Peter Saville and Michael Wolff among Royal Designers for Industry

Mon, 14 Nov 2011

Neville Brody, Peter Saville, and Michael Wolff are among six new Royal Designers for Industry, an honour awarded by the Royal Society for Arts.

£100,000 grants for projects to help older people live independently

Fri, 11 Nov 2011

The Design Council and the Technology Strategy Board have awarded £100,000 grants to three service design projects which will help older adults live independently for longer, by offering better approaches to nutrition.

The Design Trust support organisation set to relaunch

Thu, 10 Nov 2011

The Design Trust, which provides business training and support to designers and craftspeople, is relaunching as a privately-run social enterprise.

Design industry calls on Government to protect design education

Wed, 9 Nov 2011

A group of leading designers and education experts have appealed to Education Secretary Michael Gove to keep design and technology in the National Curriculum.

RSA director of design Emily Campbell to join academies group

Tue, 8 Nov 2011

Emily Campbell, director of design at the Royal Society for Arts, is set to join the Creative Education Trust, a group which runs academies.

Butterfly Cannon creates ‘colour-changing’ Glenmorangie packaging

Fri, 4 Nov 2011

Butterfly Cannon has created limited-edition Christmas packaging for Glenmorangie Original whisky, which the consultancy says appears to change colour as you walk past.

Voxpop - do you think a design degree is worth £9000 a year?

Thu, 3 Nov 2011

With university fees set to hit up to £9000 a year next year, new figures show that applications to art and design courses for 2012 have dropped by more than a quarter.

Brandopus creates ‘pared-back’ Country Life designs

Mon, 31 Oct 2011

Brandopus has created new packaging designs for Dairy Crest butter brand Country Life, which the consultancy says have been ‘pared back’.

WPP like-for-like revenue growth slows

Fri, 28 Oct 2011

WPP has reported a like-for-like revenue growth of 4.7 per cent in the third quarter of 2011, down from 6.7 per cent in the first quarter and 5.6 per cent in the second quarter.

Labour attacks Government for treating creative industries like ‘a second-rate sector’

Thu, 27 Oct 2011

New Shadow Culture Minister Dan Jarvis has attacked the Coalition Government for treating the creative industries like a ‘second-rate sector’ as he outlined plans for his new role.

JKR creates Christmas designs for Penhaligon’s

Thu, 27 Oct 2011

JKR has designed the Christmas Gift Collection packaging for perfume brand Penhaligon’s, based on a ‘hidden London’ theme.

Applications for art and design courses drop by more than a quarter

Tue, 25 Oct 2011

The number of applications to creative arts and design university courses starting next September have dropped by 27.1 per cent.

The Core becomes Hornall Anderson UK

Mon, 24 Oct 2011

Consultancy The Core is becoming Hornall Anderson UK, following a merger with the US-based design group.

Coley Porter Bell rebrands Morrisons own-brand range

Fri, 21 Oct 2011

Coley Porter Bell has created new branding for supermarket Morrisons’ own-label range, with the work rolling out from this week.

Government to commission design through ‘hubs’ as COI is wound down

Thu, 20 Oct 2011

The Government has unveiled plans for a series of cross-departmental hubs that will be involved in commissioning design, as it confirmed that the Central Office of Information is to be wound down by the end of next March.

News Analysis - Highlights from The British Invention Show

Wed, 19 Oct 2011

The British Invention Show, which kicks off today in London, is a beguiling mix of the serious, the potentially life-changing and the novelty.

Theo Williams joins John Lewis from Habitat

Mon, 17 Oct 2011

John Lewis has appointed former Habitat creative director Theo Williams as design manager in its interior design team.

Home Creative develops new print collateral for rebranded Beaverbrooks jewellers

Mon, 17 Oct 2011

Home Creative has designed a suite of new brochures and print materials for jewellers Beaverbrooks which features a new positioning for the company.

Design Council agrees partnership with Government of South Australia

Fri, 14 Oct 2011

The Design Council has announced an internationally endorsed Design Review partnership with the Government of South Australia’s main design body. 

News Analysis – British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age

Thu, 13 Oct 2011

The V&A has announced its British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age exhibition, which is being curated for a March 2012 opening, a period which today’s designers have been influenced by and one which they have been part of shaping. 

Echo works up new Cobra look

Tue, 11 Oct 2011

Echo design consultancy has updated the brand identity and redesigned the packaging for Cobra beer, aiming to emphasise its premium qualities while retaining its Indian heritage.

Voxpop - What snack food keeps your studio going?

Fri, 7 Oct 2011

Greggs the baker, purveyor of pasties and sausage rolls, is launching a new coffee shop offer. What is the favourite snack food in your studio?

Coley Porter Bell overhauls John West packaging

Wed, 5 Oct 2011

Coley Porter Bell has rebranded canned fish brand John West, repositioning it and designing packaging to better engage consumers.

JKR uses gin as inspiration for perfume packaging

Mon, 3 Oct 2011

JKR has designed the gin-inspired packaging for new Penhaligon’s fragrance, Juniper Sling.

Interabang brands caffeinated water Just

Fri, 30 Sep 2011

Interabang has created the identity and packaging for new bottled water brand Just.

Butterfly Cannon works on new Blavod product

Thu, 29 Sep 2011

Consultancy Butterfly Cannon is creating an identity and packaging for a new product from Blavod Wines and Spirits.

Schawk buys Brandimage - Desgrippes & Laga

Wed, 28 Sep 2011

International brand and marketing group Schawk has acquired consultancy Brandimage - Desgrippes & Laga, which has offices around the world and a turnover of £20.5 million.

Method bought by software R&D group Global Logic

Tue, 27 Sep 2011

San Francisco-based consultancy Method, which has offices in London and New York, has been acquired by software research and development group Global Logic.

Someone works on Spurs branding overhaul

Mon, 26 Sep 2011

Consultancy Someone is working on a strategic brand overhaul for Premiership football club Tottenham Hotspur.

Prince Philip Designers Prize shortlist announced

Fri, 23 Sep 2011

Ideo chief executive Tim Brown, exhibition designer Dinah Casson and Onedotzero co-founder Shane Walter have all been shortlisted for the 2011 Prince Philip Designers Prize.

Voxpop - What is your favourite real-life story behind a brand?

Thu, 22 Sep 2011

Brand Matters and Morning have created a new identity for brewer Greene King, based around the story of Christian martyr St Edmund. What is your favourite example of a real-life story behind a brand?

Government calls for evidence on design rights

Wed, 21 Sep 2011

The Government has today called on the UK design community to provide information on how well the current design rights intellectual property system is working.

Pearlfisher creates new packaging for anti-spot range Oxy

Tue, 20 Sep 2011

Pearlfisher has created new packaging for Oxy anti-spot skincare range, focusing on its ‘active seaweed’ ingredients.

Bloom rebrands Cockburn’s Port

Mon, 19 Sep 2011

Bloom has created new branding and packaging for port brand Cockburn’s, which is owned by Symington Family Estates.

Supafrank creates illustrated packaging for RNLI sweets

Fri, 16 Sep 2011

Supafrank has created new packaging for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s range of confectionery, which now features illustrations of sailing boats, buckets and lighthouses.

Terence Conran launches health and beauty range

Wed, 14 Sep 2011

Terence Conran is launching new health and beauty brand Conran Bath and Body with branding and packaging designs by Studio Conran.

RCA appoints architecture and fine art deans in school structure overhaul

Tue, 13 Sep 2011

The Royal College of Art has appointed Alex de Rijke as its dean of architecture and Ute Mata Bauer as its dean of fine art as it prepares to implement its new academic structure.

Design Council challenge aims to keep older people connected

Fri, 9 Sep 2011

The Design Council and the Technology Strategy Board have launched a £495 000 challenge which is seeking designs to keep older people better connected.

Voxpop - What can be done about the high unemployment rate for graduate designers?

Thu, 8 Sep 2011

A new report shows that more than a third of art and design graduates have failed to find full-time employment, three years after leaving their courses. What do you think can be done to address this?

Blue Marlin works on J20 varient featuring edible gold

Tue, 6 Sep 2011

Blue Marlin has designed the packaging for soft drink J2O’s Glitter Berry variant, which will be a limited-edition flavour for the Christmas period and features edible gold glitter.

More than a third of art and design graduates are out of work, report shows

Fri, 2 Sep 2011

More than a third of art and design graduates are still without a full-time job more than three years after graduation, according to a new report.

Q&A - Sir John Sorrell talks to Design Week ahead of the London Design Festival

Wed, 31 Aug 2011

This year’s London Design Festival is just over a fortnight away, and the 2011 event will be bigger than ever before. More than 300 events will take place, including what promises to be a spectacular installation in St Paul’s cathedral by architect John Pawson, and David Chipperfield’s laminated glass and metal-finished structures on the South Bank.

Robert O’Dowd resigns as head of Welsh innovation project

Tue, 30 Aug 2011

Former Designs of the Time director Robert O’Dowd has left his post as chief executive of the £35 million Pontio arts and innovation centre in Bangor, north Wales.

Branded at WMH offer brings together two Loewy agencies

Fri, 26 Aug 2011

Loewy Group consultancies Branded and Williams Murray Hamm have launched collaborative offer Branded at WMH, which will see the agencies work together on specific projects.

WPP profits up by 37 per cent

Wed, 24 Aug 2011

WPP has reported a 37 per cent rise in pre-tax profits for the first half of the year, compared with the first half of 2010.

D Studio cooks up new fudge packaging

Tue, 23 Aug 2011

D Studio has created new packaging and on-pack graphics for fudge company Burnt Sugar, aiming to celebrate the product’s ‘irregular pieces of taste bud-tingling randomness’.

Webb & Webb packages Patrick Rylands toys

Fri, 19 Aug 2011

Webb & Webb has created packaging for toys Joupii and Bird & Fish, which were originally created by toy designer Patrick Rylands.

Springetts creates designs for new Crusha range

Thu, 18 Aug 2011

Springetts has created the designs for a new range of desserts from the Crusha brand.

Bloom creates Planet Lunch packaging for Pepsi Co

Wed, 17 Aug 2011

Bloom has created new packaging for Pepsi Co brand Planet Lunch.

Design Council launches dementia challenge

Tue, 16 Aug 2011

The Design Council and the Department of Health have launched a £360 000 competition to develop designs to help improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

Voxpop - Which overseas retail brand would you like to see come to the UK?

Thu, 11 Aug 2011

US fashion brand Forever 21 has opened its first British stores. Which overseas retail brand would you like to see brought to the UK?

News analysis - mergers and acquisitions

Tue, 9 Aug 2011

After a long period of quiet, the past three weeks have brought about two huge acquisitions in the design sector, with experts predicting that more could follow.

We Are Pure works for Chinese brand Wally Bath

Tue, 9 Aug 2011

We Are Pure design consultancy is creating the packaging and identity for this year’s range of products for Wally Bath, the Chinese health and beauty manufacturer.

Salvatore Adduci designs new Estrella look for UK market

Thu, 4 Aug 2011

Beer brand Estrella Damm will introduce a tweaked identity on a re-packaged product to the UK market next week designed by Spanish consultancy Salvatore Adduci.

Pearlfisher creates brand for hairdresser Wood

Thu, 4 Aug 2011

Pearlfisher has created the brand identity for hairdresser Josh Wood ahead of the opening of his Atelier branch in London’s Notting Hill next month.

Blue Marlin delivers Brains rebrand

Wed, 3 Aug 2011

Blue Marlin has rebranded Welsh brewer Brains, bringing the Welsh Dragon’s tail to the fore.

Path brands Naked Noodle

Thu, 28 Jul 2011

Path has created the visual identity and packaging design for the new Symington’s-owned Naked Noodle brand, aiming to represent premium Asian food.

Water pump and manoeuverable shopping trolley up for Dyson award

Wed, 27 Jul 2011

Entries so far for this year’s international James Dyson Award include a pipe pump designed for the developing world and a shopping trolley designed to be easy to manoeuvre.

Voxpop - which design issues would you put before Government?

Thu, 21 Jul 2011

The Creative Industries Council has been set up by Government to examine issues in the creative sector. What design-related issues would you like to see it tackle?

Echo’s new Carling branding set to launch

Tue, 19 Jul 2011

Echo has created new branding, packaging and positioning for Carling, including launching the new Carling Chrome sub-brand.

RSA takes spinal cord injury programme to the next step

Mon, 18 Jul 2011

The Royal Society of Arts has received funding to take forward its Design & Rehabilitation initiative, which aims to educate people with spinal cord injuries in design principles to increase their resourcefulness and self-reliance.

Design issues raised at Government’s Creative Industries Council

Thu, 14 Jul 2011

The Government’s Creative Industries Council, which includes design representatives from the Design Council and the Sorrell Foundation, has met for the first time to discuss issues to put to Government.

Call to bring design education on to Government’s Innovation Strategy

Wed, 13 Jul 2011

Design organisations have been urged to make sure design education is addressed in the Government’s Innovation Strategy, which is due to be released later this year.

Brandhouse repackages Jamaica Ginger Cake

Fri, 8 Jul 2011

McVitie’s Jamaica Ginger Cake has been given an identity and packaging overhaul by consultancy Brandhouse.

Brinley Clark wins New Designer of the Year Part Two award

Thu, 7 Jul 2011

Brinley Clark, from the University of Hertfordshire, has won the Business Design Centre New Designer of the Year 2011 award at Part Two of this year’s New Designers event, for his graphic design project Shit or Miss.

Government launches Creative Choice procurement framework

Wed, 6 Jul 2011

A new framework which will supply creative services, including design, to all Government departments and public sector organisations, has been launched by the Department for Education.

Government fund encourages private investment in art and culture

Tue, 5 Jul 2011

The Government has launched a new £55 million scheme which aims to encourage private investment in arts and culture.

Blue Marlin creates graphics for Tango 'foam'

Mon, 4 Jul 2011

Blue Marlin has developed the graphics and branding for Turbo Tango, which uses aerosol technology and is billed as ‘soft drink meets squirty cream’.

Sir Terence Conran gifts £18m for Design Museum move

Thu, 30 Jun 2011

Sir Terence Conran has made a donation that could total nearly £18 million to help fund the Design Museum’s planned move to the former Commonwealth Institute in Kensington in 2014.

Go nuts about brazil

30 June 2011

Despite its booming economy and opportunities surrounding the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, UK consultancy outposts in Brazil are scarce. Emily Gosling looks at the challenges facing those looking to expand there

First Site arts centre set to open

Wed, 29 Jun 2011

Former Selfridges boss Vittorio Radice joins Conran

Mon, 27 Jun 2011

Former Selfridges chief executive Vittorio Radice is joining Conran Holdings as a non-executive director.

Government scraps Central Office of Information

Fri, 24 Jun 2011

The Central Office of Information, the Government’s main procurer of design, is to be scrapped.

The Chase completes Cannes Lions hat-trick

Thu, 23 Jun 2011

The Chase has bagged gold, silver and bronze Design Lions at this year’s Cannes Lions Festival.

Designers make sense of London's changing transport

23 June 2011

The London Transport Museum has enlisted a host of designers to work alongside its in-house team for the Sense and the City exhibition, which opens next month.Dare by Rian Hughes (left) and Helicopters for Everybody from Mechanix Illustrated

Parliament of Owls online masterclass forum to go live

23 June 2011

Williams Murray Hamm restructures for integrated focus

Wed, 22 Jun 2011

Neville Brody awarded D&AD President’s Medal as pencils announced

Fri, 17 Jun 2011

Neville Brody has been awarded the D&AD President’s Medal, while design Black Pencils have gone to Samuel Wilkinson and Hulger for the Plumen light bulb and Apple for the iPad.

Pearson Lloyd project battles violence in A&E departments

Wed, 15 Jun 2011

Refinery repackages Hammerite paint

Tue, 14 Jun 2011

Manchester-based group Refinery has created new packaging designs for metal paint brand Hammerite, which are set to roll out internationally.

Blue Marlin repackages Purdey’s

Fri, 10 Jun 2011

Blue Marlin has redesigned the packaging for the Britvic-owned Purdey’s wellbeing drink.

Design on the menu

9 June 2011

With so many restaurants on the high street competing for customers, creating unique dining experiences is becoming increasingly important. Emily Gosling looks at ways restaurants are standing out from the crowd

Leeds loops the Loop as new arts fair promotes creativity

9 June 2011

The Loop Arts Fair, which is launching in Leeds this month, will see a host of illustrators, designers and artists transform a city-centre mill into working studios, print shops, publishing houses and workshops.

Dragons’ Den’s Deborah Meaden among Design Council trustees

Tue, 7 Jun 2011

The Design Council has announced its new board of trustees, which features Simon Waterfall of Fray alongside Wayne Hemingway and businesswoman Deborah Meaden of BBC TV’s Dragons’ Den fame.

Epoch appointed to Krispy Kreme designs

Mon, 6 Jun 2011

Bristol-based Epoch Design has been appointed to work on integrated design work for doughnut brand Krispy Kreme UK.

Updated branding and packaging for Dairygold has We Are Him & Her flavour

2 June 2011

Creative Choice consortium bags central Government contract

Tue, 31 May 2011

The Creative Choice consortium, which features design consultancies Bell, Bentley Holland and the Domarn Group alongside integrated groups Brass and Kindred, among others, has been appointed as the Department for Education’s creative services supplier.

GJ Creative revamps Truly Irresistible Co-op range

Thu, 26 May 2011

Manchester-based consultancy GJ Creative has created the new identity, packaging and brand guidelines for the Co-operative’s premium Truly Irresistible range.

East London's Create festival announces line-up for 2011

26 May 2011

Top 100 survey shows design industry has returned to growth

Tue, 24 May 2011

The total fee-income from all Design Week Top 100 consultancies has risen by 14 per cent this year to stand at £411m.

CSD in final stage of register plan

Mon, 23 May 2011

The Chartered Society of Designers has held an extraordinary general meeting which it says marks the end of a period of consultation on its plans to set up a register of chartered designers.

Hargreaves review makes IP recommendations

Thu, 19 May 2011

A Government-initiated review into intellectual property has been delivered by Professor Ian Hargreaves, concluding that ten adjustments need to be made to current IP laws, which he sees as obstructive to innovation and economic growth.

Parker Williams cultivates new look for Miracle-Gro

19 May 2011

RCA to bring in new schools structure

Wed, 18 May 2011

Neville Brody is to become dean of the Royal College of Art’s School of Communication as part of a new academic structure being implemented at the RCA.

London Design Festival unveils 2011 line-up

Thu, 12 May 2011

This year’s London Design Festival will feature key works from architects John Pawson and Amanda Levete and French design team the Bouroullec brothers.

Fratelli Damiano almond calls Mayday for redesign of its identity and packaging

12 May 2011

Cook Chick adds historic character to Adnams bitter

5 May 2011

Blue Marlin breakaway group Aesop launches

Wed, 4 May 2011

From left: Ed Woodcock, Roger Hart, Martin Grimer, Jim Paterson

WPP reports revenue rise

Thu, 28 Apr 2011

WPP says its reported revenues were up by 7 per cent in the first quarter of 2011 from the last quarter of 2010, to stand at £2.223bn.

Inclusive Design Challenge winners announced

Thu, 21 Apr 2011

A team led by Ben Mortimer of Nestlé has won the Judges Award in the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design’s 24-hour Inclusive Design Challenge to create a product, campaign or service to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Landor repackages Coors Light

Tue, 19 Apr 2011

Landor Associates has designed new packaging for Molson Coors brand Coors Light beer.

Acid to launch digital intellectual property tracker

Tue, 19 Apr 2011

Organisation Anti Copying in Design is set to launch an intellectual property tracker, which it says will be a ‘simple, cost-effective digital method of tracking delivery of IP-led and confidential information’.

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.

A funny old game

14 April 2011

Football clubs are increasingly on the ball in developing brand identities and marketing themselves. Tom Banks discovers that branding a football club in the 21st century is as much about what happens off the pitch as on it

Creative & Cultural Skills launches Business Survival Toolkit

Thu, 7 Apr 2011

Creative & Cultural Skills has launched an online Business Survival Toolkit, which it says aims to ‘help people in the creative industries survive and prosper during the hard times ahead’.

Start rebrands One range for Global Ethics

Tue, 5 Apr 2011

Start Creative has rebranded Global Ethics’ product range One with a new simplified aesthetic designed to distance it from a charity look and feel.

Yorkshire police seek design consultancy

Mon, 4 Apr 2011

The four police forces that serve the Yorkshire and Humberside region are seeking to appoint a design consultancy to a marketing services framework.

Design Council examines future of design review

Fri, 1 Apr 2011

The Design Council is launching a consultation on the future of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment’s design review, on the day the Design Council and Cabe officially merge and assume charitable status.

United voice

31 March 2011

The merger of the Design Council with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment marks huge changes. Lynda Relph-Knight reflects on the new charity’s broader remit and implications for the design community

MPs say public spending cuts could be ‘disastrous’ for the arts

Mon, 28 Mar 2011

A ‘double-whammy’ of local authority cutbacks and spending reductions from the Arts Council could force arts organisations across the country to close, MPs have warned.

Backpack brand tags Designers Anonymous to put redesigned packaging in the swing of things

24 March 2011

Government in plan to launch Creative Industry Council

Wed, 23 Mar 2011

The Government is planning to launch a Creative Industry Council, allowing it to more efficiently address issues affecting the creative sectors, Design Week understands.

David Jones cooks up Goud Heerlijk identity

Tue, 22 Mar 2011

David Jones Design has created the brand for a new Netherlands-based café, retail and deli concept Goud Heerlijk.

Government Communications Centre to replace COI

Fri, 18 Mar 2011

A new Government Communications Centre that would replace the Central Office of Information has been proposed.

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.

RSA initiative tackles issueof Design & Rehabilitation

17 March 2011

Significant rise in design salaries outside London, survey shows

Tue, 15 Mar 2011

Creative director salaries outside London have risen by an average of 16 per cent, according to the 2011 Design Week Salary Survey.

Design Commission launches education investigation

Thu, 10 Mar 2011

The Design Commission is launching an investigation into design education, which will examine its importance to economic growth, public-service renewal and wellbeing.

Entries open for Inclusive Design Challenge

Thu, 10 Mar 2011

This year’s Inclusive Design Challenge, organised by the Helen Hamlyn Centre at the Royal College of Art, is currently accepting entries for the 24-hour-challenge, which will take place on 18 April.

Global Service Jam to set 48-hour virtual challenge

10 March 2011

When old meets the new

10 March 2011

Heritage properties are tapping into a bygone era, translating stories from their past into contemporary, visual elements to try to attract a younger audience. Laura Snoad looks at some of the latest identity projects in this sector

Brandopus creates new look for McCain chips

Wed, 9 Mar 2011

New Ideo consultancy to use design to tackle poverty

Tue, 8 Mar 2011

Ideo has launched a new social innovation consultancy which aims to address poverty through design projects.

Holmes & Marchant cooks up ‘vintage’ look for Pork Farms

Tue, 8 Mar 2011

Holmes & Marchant has created a new identity for Pork Farms, which will roll out across the brand’s range of pork pies, sausage rolls and snacks.

Stocks Taylor Benson in global Speedo packaging work

Wed, 2 Mar 2011

Brit Insurance category award winners unveiled

Mon, 28 Feb 2011

The seven category winners of the Brit Insurance Design Awards have been announced. They include London’s Barclays Cycle Hire, winner in the Transport category, and personalised magazine app Flipboard, by Mike McCue and Evan Doll, which won in the Interactive category.

Sustainability in focus at Somerset design conference

24 February 2011

Four groups join National Grid design roster

Wed, 23 Feb 2011

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.

Waitrose picks up DBA Grand Prix award

Fri, 18 Feb 2011

The Waitrose graphic design and packaging team has picked up the Grand Prix at the Design Business Association 2011 Design Effectiveness Awards.

The chef's special

17 February 2011

Britain’s appetite for TV food programmes has put huge opportunities for lucrative marketing deals in the way of celebrity chefs. Emily Gosling looks at how their personalities are converted into branding

Helen Hamlyn Centre to berenamed reflecting its dedicated focus on design

17 February 2011

Buffalo creates new Fox's sweets packaging

Wed, 16 Feb 2011

Government to scrap PQQ stage in procurement

Fri, 11 Feb 2011

The Government is understood to be set to scrap pre-qualification questionnaires to make it easier for small and medium-sized companies to apply for Government contracts.

Good makeover gives IQ hair products range a fresh look

10 February 2011

Manchester to play host to its first design symposium

10 February 2011

Pearlfisher repackages Heinz baby food

Tue, 8 Feb 2011

Pearlfisher has redesigned the packaging for the entire Heinz Infant Feeding portfolio of baby foods and has created a new packaging format for the new Taste of Home range.

Mentor team put together for Design Ventura

Fri, 4 Feb 2011

A mentoring team has been put in place to work with Year 10 pupils from Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College in London, who have won the Design Museum’s Design Ventura initiative.

Hands on the wheel

3 February 2011

A ’hub and spoke’ approach is one way in which the UK’s design industry bodies could be looking to organise themselves in the future. Angus Montgomery looks at their changing structures and strategies

Hidden Art survives funding crisis

Wed, 2 Feb 2011

Hidden Art, which promotes the work of designers and designer-makers, has developed a plan that will allow it to stay in business as it seeks a new source of long-term funding (www.designweek.co.uk, 30 November 2010).

7Up launches new branding and packaging

Tue, 1 Feb 2011

Soft drink brand 7Up has launched a new logo and packaging design across its entire range, with designs by US consultancy Tracy Locke Partnership.

Pupils awarded Design Museum prize

Fri, 28 Jan 2011

Year 10 pupils from Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College in London have won the Design Museum’s Design Ventura initiative – and will see the bunting they designed sold in the Design Museum shop.

Private investment in culture drops by 3 per cent, research shows

Thu, 27 Jan 2011

New figures from organisation Arts & Business show that private investment in culture in the UK has fallen by 3 per cent year-on-year, to stand at £658m in 2009-10.

Wellcome Collection blockbuster dishes dirt on reality of everyday life

27 January 2011

Ed Vaizey confirms Design Council merger with Cabe

Wed, 26 Jan 2011

Culture Secretary Ed Vaizey has indicated that the mooted merger between the Design Council and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment is set to go ahead.

Design debated at Davos meeting

Wed, 26 Jan 2011

Issues of design and its wider importance will be under debate at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting at Davos, Switzerland, which runs from today until 30 January.

999 opens Latvia office

Mon, 24 Jan 2011

999 Design has launched a new office in Latvia, to cater for Baltic companies seeking to develop products and services for the UK market.

Design Week Top 100 open for entries

Mon, 24 Jan 2011

Applications are now open for the 2011 Design Week Top 100 Consultancy Survey.

Erasmus repackages Relentless energy drink

Thu, 20 Jan 2011

Erasmus Partners has revamped the packaging of Coca-Cola owned energy drink brand Relentless, accompanying the launch of the new Libertus sugar-free variety.

B&W Studio to stay on Design Business Association awards

20 January 2011

Universally speaking

20 January 2011

With inclusive design’s processes of workshops, user interviews and role play becoming more widely accepted, Angus Montgomery finds practitioners looking to extend the scope and impact of the field

Vintage festival to be held on South Bank

Wed, 19 Jan 2011

Wayne Hemingway’s cultural festival, Vintage, is to take place in July this year as part of celebrations at London’s Southbank Centre to mark the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain.

Path redesigns Campbell’s soup

Mon, 17 Jan 2011

Path Design has re-branded Campbell’s products ahead of a UK relaunch this week.

Elmwood repackages health supplement

Mon, 17 Jan 2011

Elmwood has created new packaging for a range of health supplements for Works with Water Nutraceuticals.

Eden Project summer exhibition26 Flavours of Cornwall plans tocelebrate Cornish food and drink

13 January 2011

The Cornwall Design Forum and writers collective 26 are set to collaborate on an exhibition for the Eden Project called 26 Flavours of Cornwall, and are welcoming interest from designers and creative writers who wish to take part.

Inclusive design challenge launches as 24-hour initiative

Wed, 12 Jan 2011

Holmes & Marchant and Hurricane redesign Vimto packs

Tue, 11 Jan 2011

Soft drink Vimto has started to roll out the first in a series of overhauled packaging, with the main redesign by Holmes & Marchant and a structural bottle design by Hurricane Design.

Gregor Muir appointed as ICA executive director

Tue, 11 Jan 2011

The Institute of Contemporary Arts has appointed Gregor Muir as its executive director.

Dubai Lynx launches design category

Fri, 7 Jan 2011

The Dubai Lynx international advertising festival is launching a design category this year, with the jury to be chaired by Rodney Fitch.

Industry experts predict steady recovery for 2011

Thu, 6 Jan 2011

Elmwood’s Jonathan Sands receives OBE

Wed, 5 Jan 2011

Elmwood chairman Jonathan Sands has received an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List.

DBA launches packaging design course

Wed, 22 Dec 2010

The Design Business Association has launched a new packaging course, which will begin in February 2011.

Government sets out higher education and science budgets

Tue, 21 Dec 2010

The Government has set out its allocation to higher education and its ring-fenced funding for science and research.

IP review calls for evidence

Mon, 20 Dec 2010

The Government-initiated independent review into intellectual property and growth has today issued a call for evidence.

Labour calls for cross-Government creative industries group

Thu, 16 Dec 2010

Shadow Culture Secretary Ivan Lewis has called on the coalition Government to set up a cross-Government group of ministers and industry figures to produce a creative industries action plan.

Cada claims eco 'world first' with all-Green beverage and food packaging at Beirut Airport

16 December 2010

Managing and creative director Hugo Eccles leaves Studio Conran

Wed, 15 Dec 2010

D&AD and The One Club launch Pencil Rankings

Tue, 14 Dec 2010

D&AD has partnered with advertising and design organisation The One Club to launch a new Pencil Rankings system, aimed at ‘identifying the absolute leaders in creativity internationally’.

More than half of design employees want to change jobs next year, report shows

Thu, 9 Dec 2010

Nearly 56 per cent of employees in the design and digital industries intend to change jobs within a year, a new report shows, compared to 38 per cent in 2009.

Design Council in exploratory partnership talks with Cabe

9th December 2010

The Design Council and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment have been in ’exploratory’ discussions about a potential partnership between the two organisations.

Management moves at Lambie-Nairn signal global shifts

9th December 2010

Clive Grinyer, David Archer and Zena Martin join RSA trustee board

Tue, 7 Dec 2010

Clive Grinyer, David Archer and Zena Martin have all been brought on to the trustee board of the Royal Society of Arts.

Green Awards winners unveiled

Mon, 6 Dec 2010

The China Environmental Protection Foundation has won the Grand Prix and Sir David Attenborough has won the Lifetime Achievement Award for Communicating Sustainability in the 2010 Green Awards.

Universities UK highlights education’s place in creative industries

Thu, 2 Dec 2010

Universities UK has published a report highlighting the importance of education in supporting the creative industries and the UK economy as a whole.

Client of the Year BHF heads 2010 Benchmarks winners

2nd December 2010

Top consultancy profits down 50%, says Kingston Smith W1

2nd December 2010

The operating profits of the top 30 design consultancies fell by 50 per cent through 2009, according to a report from accountant Kingston Smith W1.

Nesta map identifies UK creative hotspots

Mon, 29 Nov 2010

A map of British creativity produced by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts has identified nine creative hotspots aside from London.

Report calls for more Government support of multi-disciplinary design education

Thu, 25 Nov 2010

The multi-disciplinary Design Network – a network of academics from universities across the country – is calling for greater Government support for multi-disciplinary design education, including closer integration of design to science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects.

Coley Porter Bell redraws Jameson identity

25 November 2010

Coley Porter Bell has created a new ’contemporary’ but ’traditional’ visual identity for Jameson Irish whiskey’s outer packaging.

Sheffield conference aims to explore the art of sketching

25 November 2010

We Are Him & Her coiffs new Tesco hair-styling range

25 November 2010

Government mulls standardised cigarette packaging

Mon, 22 Nov 2010

Cigarette packaging design could come to an end in the UK if Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s proposal to standardise packaging becomes official policy.

Jerwood Makers Open programme launches

Mon, 22 Nov 2010

Jerwood Visual Arts is launching the Jerwood Makers Open initiative, an annual exhibition series that aims to support and showcase new work by emerging artists in the applied arts.

Paul Smith joins Landor as creative director

Fri, 19 Nov 2010

Landor London has appointed Paul Smith, former design director at Interbrand, as creative director.

Identica parent group Cossette restructures

Thu, 18 Nov 2010

Identica’s parent company Cossette Group is to be renamed Esprit de Corps in the UK as part of a global restructure.

COI head of creative services takes redundancy as organisation awaits its fate

Wed, 17 Nov 2010

Fanny Sigler, head of creative services at the Central Office of Information, has taken voluntary redundancy as the organisation anticipates a decision on its future, Design Week understands.

Sir Terence Conran named Royal Designer for Industry

Wed, 17 Nov 2010

Conference promotes social study and collaboration

18 November 2010

A new book argues that with the growth of the digital and interactive worlds, designers are moving away from simply being creators of material products to becoming a new breed of anthropologist - studying human relations, rituals and habits to develop inspiration for designs.

Gringo groomers

18 November 2010

Leveraging its creativity could help Mexico escape the economic shadow cast by the US, but can UK consultancies such as Lambie-Nairn - about to open an office in the nation’s capital - help it realise that goal? Emily Gosling reports

Creative graduates face long-term recession effects, report shows

Tue, 16 Nov 2010

While many recent graduates from creative courses are using flexible freelance work to ride out the effects of the recession, the long-term impact of this could be career stagnation, a new survey finds.

Neville Brody plans name change for Royal College of Art department

Mon, 15 Nov 2010

Neville Brody, incoming head of the Royal College of Art’s Department of Communication Art and Design, has announced plans to rename it the Department of Visual Communications and Moving Image.

Dalziel & Pow opens office in Mumbai

Thu, 11 Nov 2010

Dalziel & Pow has set up an office in India which the consultancy says will grow ‘organically’ in the same way the China office has.

British Council grants aim to encourage links with India

11 November 2010

The British Council wants to develop closer links between the creative industries in the UK and India through the Connections Through Culture programme.The initiative provides three different types of grant, worth up to £5000 per application, to projects that involve collaboration between British and Indian partner groups - with each group having as close to an equal role as possible.

Simon Pendry takes up creative director post at Blue Marlin

11 November 2010

Blue Marlin has appointed Simon Pendry as the new creative director of its London office.

Lambie-Nairn plans office in Mexico City as part of Latin American expansion drive

Wed, 10 Nov 2010

Coley Porter Bell rebrands food supplement Lifeplus

Fri, 5 Nov 2010

Coley Porter Bell has rebranded wellbeing and food supplements company Lifeplus, creating a new brand positioning, logo, livery and packaging.

Pearlfisher brands Mii make-up

Thu, 4 Nov 2010

Pearlfisher has created branding for the new Mii make-up line for cosmetics distributor Gerrard International.

Jammie Dodgers range gets splat appeal by Robot Food

Wed, 3 Nov 2010

Harrogate-based consultancy Robot Food has created new branding and packaging for Jammie Dodgers, for brand-owner Burton’s Foods.

Slice Design repackages Picnic and Starbar for Cadbury

Mon, 1 Nov 2010

Slice Design has created new packaging for Cadbury chocolate bars Picnic and Starbar.

Cuts and bruises

27 October 2010

In his Comprehensive Spending Review last week, Chancellor George Osborne radically slashed public sector budgets, mapping out £81bn in savings over the next four years. Angus Montgomery assesses the impact on design

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.

Pearlfisher designs Yeo Valley Big Pots

Thu, 21 Oct 2010

Pearlfisher has developed the identity and packaging for a new range of Yeo Valley Big Pots, following the consultancy’s rebrand of the dairy business.

Elmwood appoints Colin Burns as 'director of stuff'

Wed, 20 Oct 2010

Elmwood has appointed Colin Burns, former director of Ideo’s London studio, to the newly created role of ’director of stuff’.

Glasgow School of Art embarks on a Highland fling with new design centre

20 October 2010

The Glasgow School of Art and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have this month opened a Centre for Design Innovation at the Horizon Building at Forres in Moray, northern Scotland. The centre aims to use design innovation to benefit businesses and communities in the Highlands and Islands area.

David Godber to leave Design Council

Tue, 19 Oct 2010

David Godber, deputy chief executive of the Design Council, is to leave the organisation in December.

Sean Thomas joins JKR

Fri, 15 Oct 2010

Sean Thomas had been appointed as design director of packaging design consultancy Jones Knowles Ritchie.

Design Council to lose public-body status and become a charity

Thu, 14 Oct 2010

The Design Council will lose its status as a Government-funded body and become an independent charity under plans to reform quangos.

Work Foundation to research growth strategies for design

Thu, 14 Oct 2010

The Work Foundation is set to launch a research project which will aim to pinpoint how to create ’explosive growth’ in the UK creative industries, including design.

Adam Ellis joins Elmwood from Coley Porter Bell

Wed, 13 Oct 2010

Coley Porter Bell design director Adam Ellis (pictured) is set to join Elmwood’s London office in the newly created role of creative director.

Rosie Arnold is deputy president of D&AD

Tue, 12 Oct 2010

Rosie Arnold, deputy executive creative director at ad agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty, has been elected as deputy president of D&AD.

Design companies named in Private Plums list

Mon, 11 Oct 2010

Several design consultancies have been named among the most successful privately owned marketing and communications groups in the UK.

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.

Dragon Rouge brands ‘adult’ milk drink

Thu, 7 Oct 2010

Dragon Rouge has named, branded and created the packaging for Modern Milk, a new milk product aimed at the adult consumer.

Fact seeks interactive groups for new-build developments

7 October 2010

The director of the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology Mike Stubbs is set to announce his search for the commission of interactive interventions which will be integrated into new-build developments at sites adjacent to the organisation’s premises in Liverpool.

Lewis Moberly gives Glenmorangie's new private edition a dash of Art Nouveau

7 October 2010

Lewis Moberly has designed Art Nouveau-inspired luxury packaging for Glenmorangie’s new private-edition whisky, Finealta.

Ron Cregan leaves Navyblue to take AIG and Construct roles

Wed, 6 Oct 2010

Ron Cregan has left his position as strategy director at Navyblue to take up strategic director positions at consultancies Applied Information Group and Construct.Cregan (pictured) will obtain an undisclosed equity in both companies, and will split his time equally between the two.

Interbrand looks to expand Indian presence

Wed, 6 Oct 2010

Interbrand has opened a Mumbai office ahead of a raft of appointments as it looks to strengthen its position in India.

City University seeks consultancies for design roster

Tue, 5 Oct 2010

City University in London is seeking design groups for a roster that will cover print and digital work.

Design Bridge shines at 2010 Pentawards

Fri, 1 Oct 2010

Design Bridge, Pearlfisher and Elmwood are among the UK winners at the 2010 Pentawards, an international competition which recognises excellence in packaging design.

2011 Design Week Awards judges announced

Thu, 30 Sep 2010

Nina Jenkins, head of branding at Virgin Atlantic Airlines, has joined the line-up of judges for the 2011 Design Week Awards.

Liverpool Design Symposium rebrands as Design Symposium North

Wed, 29 Sep 2010

Liverpool Design Symposium is rebranding as Design Symposium North to become a regional event for the North West, held in both Liverpool and Manchester.

JKR adds 'classic English' twist to Porkinson sausages

Tue, 28 Sep 2010

JKR has redesigned the packaging for Porkinson sausages, aiming to restore the brand’s ‘classic English’ identity by focusing on Porkinson’s creator, Norman Parkinson.

UCA announces eco event line-up

Mon, 27 Sep 2010

The University for the Creative Arts has announced that its annual Sustainable Innovation conference will focus on ‘the links between eco-innovation and entrepreneurship’ this year.

Breeze Creative bottles new Mayfair look

23 September 2010

Glasgow-based consultancy Breeze Creative has branded drinks company Mayfair Brands and created identity and packaging designs for its London Dry Gin and English Vodka.

LDF deal with Beijing event set to boost Sino-UK design links

23 September 2010

With the London Design Festival in full swing, an announcement was made last night of a partnership between the capital’s main design event and China’s inaugural Beijing Design Week, which will be held from 27 September to 3 October next year.

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.

Dott Cornwall unveils its final major project

Wed, 22 Sep 2010

Designs of the Time Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will launch the Big Design Challenge in October, which will invite communities to identify and tackle local issues by co-developing their ideas with designers and entrepreneurs.

Thomas Heatherwick awarded London Design Medal

Mon, 20 Sep 2010

Thomas Heatherwick is set to receive the London Design Medal at a ceremony tonight.

Creative Barcode software unveiled to protect designers from intellectual property theft

16 September 2010

New software application Creative Barcode is launching, which claims to allow designers pitching for work to guard against intellectual property theft.

Shortlist unveiled for Prince Philip design prize

Wed, 15 Sep 2010

Graphic designers Neville Brody and Margaret Calvert, furniture designer John Makepeace and industrial designer Bill Moggridge are all in the running for this year’s Prince Philip Designers Prize.

New D&AD executive committee appointed

Tue, 14 Sep 2010

Vince Frost, Neville Brody and GBH’s Mark Bonner have been elected to the design seats on the D&AD executive committee.

Guide to the Anti Design Festival published

Tue, 14 Sep 2010

A guide to the Anti Design Festival, featuring a map of events created by ADF curator Neville Brody, will be published with Design Week this week.

London Design Festival partners Beijing event

Fri, 10 Sep 2010

London Design Festival is to partner the inaugural Beijing Design Week in a deal that will see London become the official guest city when the Chinese event takes place next year.

Technology Strategy Board seeks ‘disruptive’ ideas

Thu, 9 Sep 2010

The Technology Strategy Board is launching a competition to find ‘disruptive’ solutions to challenges in the areas of energy, digital, healthcare and sustainability.

SCDF restructures to cope with cutbacks

9 September 2010

The South Coast Design Forum is introducing a new business model and seeking new premises as it aims to move from being reliant on funding to providing its own revenue.

Sanky outlines ambitions for D&AD presidency

Wed, 8 Sep 2010

Simon ’Sanky’ Sankarayya will provide the ’glue’ between advertising and design, he says, when he becomes D&AD president next Tuesday evening.

Multiple British Design Embassies to launch at LDF

Wed, 8 Sep 2010

The London Design Embassy is to be augmented and renamed as the British Design Embassy for this year’s London Design Festival, organiser UK Trade & Investment has confirmed.

Nixon rebrands seasonal ales for Sharp's

Tue, 7 Sep 2010

Cornish design consultancy Nixon has redesigned Sharp’s Brewery’s Seasonals range of ales.

Media Square returns to profit

Mon, 6 Sep 2010

Media Square, which owns design consultancies Lloyd Northover and Holmes & Marchant, says it has returned to profit in the six months leading up to the end of August.

Pearlfisher packages new Crabtree & Evelyn fragrance range

Fri, 3 Sep 2010

Pearlfisher has created the packaging for Crabtree & Evelyn’s new Florals fragrance range.

Peacock repackages John Lennon albums for anniversary

Thu, 2 Sep 2010

Peacock Design has worked with lettering artist and illustrator Ruth Rowland to create a new logo and album covers to mark the 70th anniversary of John Lennon’s birth on 9 October.

So what is it that you do?

2 September 2010

As Nick Sunderland of Heavenly struggles elsewhere in these pages to work out what is meant by the word ’design’, Design Week kicks off a campaign to gain greater recognition for our industry by asking some leading lights to come up with their own definitions

RSA relaunches Student Design Awards

Wed, 1 Sep 2010

The Royal Society of Arts is relaunching its Design Directions awards under its former title of the RSA Student Design Awards.

Butcher & Gundersen rebrands cider-maker Sheppy’s

Thu, 26 Aug 2010

Sheppy’s, a 200-year-old cider-maker, is to relaunch its brand following an identity and packaging overhaul by Butcher & Gundersen.

Red Bee Media head of design Jeff Conrad leaves

Wed, 25 Aug 2010

Jeff Conrad has left Red Bee Media, where he was head of design, as the consultancy prepares for reorganisation and expansion.

Pencil adds dash of retro to contemporary recipe for start-up cake brand Eat Me

26 August 2010

Pencil has created the identity and packaging for start-up cake brand Eat Me.

Spendrups brands given makeover by Holmes & Marchant

26 August 2010

Holmes & Marchant has created new branding and packaging for the Loka water brand and the Spendrups beer brand, both owned by Swedish brewery Spendrups.

Former Fitch Live managing director Paul Cowan joins Logistik

Tue, 24 Aug 2010

Paul Cowan, former managing director of Fitch Live, is joining design and communications consultancy Logistik as content and creative strategy director.

Open City searches for Jane Priestman successor

Fri, 20 Aug 2010

Following Jane Priestman’s decision to step down as chairwoman of Open City after 18 years, the architecture organisation is now looking to appoint her successor.

Pearlfisher works on London debut for US restaurant chain

Tue, 17 Aug 2010

Pearlfisher has designed the on-pack graphics and menus for sustainable restaurant chain Otarian, which is opening two branches in London tomorrow – on Wardour Street and Shaftesbury Avenue.

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.

Sir Philip Green to examine procurement in Government spending review

Fri, 13 Aug 2010

Arcadia boss Sir Philip Green says he will examine cross-Government procurement as part of his review of Government spending.

Michael Grade and Wayne Hemingway to speak at Bristol Media event

Fri, 13 Aug 2010

Design luminaries Wayne Hemingway and Nicolas Roope will join business development consultant Blair Enns and broadcast executive Michael Grade as keynote speakers for design network Bristol Media’s conference Vision.

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.

Felt creates identity for frozen yoghurt start-up Bee Me

Wed, 11 Aug 2010

Felt is working on the website for start-up frozen yoghurt, smoothie and juice company Bee Me, having already named and branded the company and worked on retail designs.

Build to brand Gary Hustwit's feature film Urbanized

12 August 2010

Build has been appointed to create the identity and promotional materials for the new film Urbanized by director Gary Hustwit.

Paul Thurston to head up Welsh service design project

Fri, 6 Aug 2010

Think Public’s head of design Paul Thurston has left the consultancy to run a project to build the service design sector in Wales.

Ideo and Jamie Oliver team up for fresh food challenge

Thu, 5 Aug 2010

Design and innovation company Ideo and chef Jamie Oliver have launched a competition to raise awareness among young people of the benefits of fresh food.

Five rebrand brief likely after takeover by Richard Desmond

5 August 2010

TV station Five is to be renamed Channel Five under new owner Richard Desmond, precipitating an ’inevitable’ rebrand, says head of strategic communications Andrew Sholl.

Siemens Pavilion can 'unlock the potential' of Royal Docks

5 August 2010

London Mayor Boris Johnson says he hopes that projects including the planned Siemens Pavilion for London, with interiors by architect Pringle Brandon and exhibition design by Event Communications, will lead to a regeneration of the Royal Docks area of east London.

Cowan London creates plastic tubs for Heinz beans

Mon, 2 Aug 2010

Heinz is launching a 1kg plastic jar of baked beans with packaging design by Cowan London.

BDI queries terms of Design Council review

Fri, 30 Jul 2010

British Design Innovation has raised concerns over the Government’s review of the Design Council, stating that it does not allow for public consultation and is chaired by a member of the Design Council’s board.

Designers want to be part of David Cameron's 'big society'

29 July 2010

Prime Minister David Cameron’s vision for a big society might be meeting with a predictably mixed reception from political commentators and critics, but many in the design world are ready to embrace the move, which aims to liberate public services from central Government control and put more power into the hands of communities.

Uruguayan kidswear range gets kitted out by Buddy Creative

29 July 2010

Buddy Creative is working on the branding, packaging and website designs for a new Uruguayan children’s clothing company.

Heavenly recruits Andy York from Interbrand

Tue, 27 Jul 2010

Heavenly has appointed Andy York from Interbrand as its head of verbal identity - a new role which the consultancy says will see York challenge brands to use language more effectively.

Butterfly Cannon works on Glenmorangie projects

Fri, 23 Jul 2010

Packaging design consultancy Butterfly Cannon is working on four separate projects for Glenmorangie malt whisky.

Rodney Fitch to head up new WPP group The Hub

Wed, 21 Jul 2010

Rodney Fitch has taken the helm of a new WPP consortium within a month of finally relinquishing the chairmanship of Fitch.

BBC re-tenders creative services roster

Wed, 21 Jul 2010

The BBC has published a pre-qualification questionnaire as it prepares to re-tender its creative services roster.

Michele Giles joins Holmes & Marchant as planning director

22 July 2010

Michele Giles has joined Media Square packaging consultancy Holmes & Marchant as planning director.

New Bristol role for Bennett boosts profile of city branding

22 July 2010

’I’ve never had a proper job,’ says co-founder of digital group E3 Media, Mike Bennett, who is to step down as chief executive of design body Bristol Media to become ’place-making director’ of Bristol.

Design Week Awards introduces new categories for 2011

Tue, 20 Jul 2010

Three new digital categories have been introduced for the 2011 Design Week Awards.

Derry to be UK’s first City of Culture

Fri, 16 Jul 2010

Derry has beaten Birmingham, Norwich and Sheffield to become the UK’s first City of Culture – a year-long programme starting in 2013. The scheme will attempt to reveal Derry’s identity, showcase its culture and raise its profile.

New creative apprenticeships scheme for Wales

Thu, 15 Jul 2010

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

Successful challenger brands share key values and methods

15 July 2010

You might not think of Jesus Christ as a ’challenger brand’, but, says Contagious magazine editorial director Paul Kemp-Robertson, he displayed all the traits.

Design is key to unlocking UK innovation, says Design Council chief

Tue, 13 Jul 2010

Design Council chief executive David Kester says the design sector can be ‘the key to unlocking UK innovation and future wealth creation’.

A broader canvas

8 July 2010

Project Canvas could spark a revolution in the way we consume visual media, and digital designers are excited about its interactive potential. But they still foresee a role for conventional ’curated’ content, says Angus Montgomery

Landor creates new packaging for Smirnoff

Tue, 6 Jul 2010

Diageo is introducing new packaging across its Smirnoff No.21 vodka and Smirnoff Flavours range, designed by Landor Associates.

Pearlfisher rebrands Yeo Valley

Fri, 2 Jul 2010

Pearlfisher has rebranded dairy business Yeo Valley, and has also redesigned packaging for its entire range, the first wave of which launches in Sainsbury’s this week.

RCA students win Helen Hamlyn Design Awards

Thu, 1 Jul 2010

A device to help elderly people use television remote controls, a desklight projector and a London bus map accessible through the Oyster card are among the winning projects in the 2010 Helen Hamlyn Design Awards.

Students tackle airport brief in Cardiff Design Festival

Wed, 30 Jun 2010

Students will work on designs for Cardiff International Airport as part of this year’s Cardiff Design Festival, which is to be held in October.

Design undergraduates shine in 2010 D&AD Student Awards

1 July 2010

This year’s D&AD Student Awards have once again punched a window into the world of design undergraduate talent. The 2010 awards saw students answer briefs set by sponsors including Ikea, Channel 4 and Nokia, with a UK team bagging the top Student of the Year accolade.

Liverpool academic proposes design education changes

Tue, 29 Jun 2010

Apprenticeships could be brought back in typography, and art and design teaching could be funded through VAT on goods created by the creative industries, a Liverpool academic has proposed

Design Council Designing Demand scheme to continue after RDAs go

Fri, 25 Jun 2010

The Design Council says its Designing Demand programme will continue, despite the Government announcing it will scrap the regional development agencies that deliver the scheme.

Concerns remain despite ‘small business-friendly’ Budget

Wed, 23 Jun 2010

A number of measures in the Government’s Emergency Budget have been highlighted as benefiting small businesses, including those in design, but there are concerns over some tax rises.

Forum for the Future to deliver CIKTN sustainability initiative

24 June 2010

A new project from the Creative Industries Knowledge Transfer Network aims to galvanise the creative industries into becoming more sustainable and help other sectors become more sustainable too.

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.

Benchmarks judging panel unveiled

Fri, 18 Jun 2010

The judges for the 2010 Design Week Benchmarks awards have been announced.

British Council warns rostered consultancies over work

Wed, 16 Jun 2010

The British Council has appointed a new graphic design roster, but is warning consultancies that they may not receive any work until next year because of Government spending cuts.

Design Bridge repositions Mexican beer Bohemia to emphasise Czech provenance

17 June 2010

Design Bridge has repositioned Mexican beer brand Bohemia, redesigning its Aztec-influenced marque and telling the story of the drink’s Czech brewing origins.

Artists and designers recognised in Birthday Honours list

Mon, 14 Jun 2010

Artist Paula Rego, Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon, Green buildings expert Bill Dunster and fashion photographer Nick Knight are among those recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Centre for Competitive Creative Design to reveal results

Mon, 14 Jun 2010

Results from the Centre for Competitive Creative Design will be presented on 28 June to show how London College of Communication and Cranfield University are producing ‘practical and conceptual’ research, according to institution directors.

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.

V Group creates lettuce branding

Mon, 7 Jun 2010

V Group has branded and designed packaging for a new lettuce range by Natures Way Foods which is exclusive to Waitrose.

Dragon Rouge packages Nairn’s breakfast foods

Thu, 3 Jun 2010

Dragon Rouge has designed packaging for a new Nairn’s range of gluten-free breakfast foods.

Five consultancies dropped as BBC reviews roster

Wed, 2 Jun 2010

Elmwood, Love Creative, Designate, Inferno and Easy Tiger have all been dropped from the BBC’s marketing communications and design services roster.

Lambie-Nairn rebrands Glorious soups

Tue, 1 Jun 2010

Lambie-Nairn has rebranded soup and sauce company Glorious.

Spar unveils redesigned own-label ices and wines

Fri, 28 May 2010

Spar supermarket is launching a range of own-brand ice cream, with design by Appetite. The launch comes at the tail end of Appetite’s long-term project to revamp more than 900 Spar own-label products, the last of which will be unveiled today.

Imagination claims first place in Design Week Top 100

Wed, 26 May 2010

Imagination has maintained its first-place spot in the Design Week Top 100 survey, despite an 11 per cent drop in fee-income over the past year.

Hotel conference addresses the next decade's challenges

27 May 2010

Forecasters are saying turbulence and uncertainty in the coming decade will present hotels with new problems for design to challenge and change.

Top 100 survey shows total fee-income fall

Tue, 25 May 2010

The total fee-income from all Design Week Top 100 consultancies is down by 13 per cent this year, to stand at £359m.

Coalition Government looks to Dyson Report

Fri, 21 May 2010

The coalition Government says it will consider the implementation of the Dyson Report, as it unveils its policies.

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.

London Development Agency cuts design festival funding

Thu, 20 May 2010

The London Development Agency is continuing to support the London Design Festival, having pledged £270 000 for 2010-2011.

Basque cider Zapiain taps into modern art for UK brand repositioning by Pink Sky

20 May 2010

Basque cider brand Zapiain, which claims to have been founded in 1595, is being repositioned for the UK market by consultancy Pink Sky with an identity and labelling designed to reference the brand’s cultural heritage.

Michael Johnson and Wolfgang Weingart talk at St Bride event

Tue, 18 May 2010

Johnson Banks co-founder Michael Johnson and typographer Wolfgang Weingart will speak about a growing trend toward self-initiated design projects at this year’s St Bride Conference in London next week.

London Design Festival to bring robot octopus to Trafalgar Square

Fri, 14 May 2010

Trafalgar Square is to play host to a giant ‘mechanical octopus’ as part of this year’s London Design Festival.

Leading by design

13 May 2010

Pop-up stores, anechoic chambers and sustainable bags are just some of the initiatives being adopted by major brands repositioning themselves to cope with changing markets. Tom Banks investigates these design-led strategies

CSD delays bid for design certification

Wed, 12 May 2010

The Chartered Society of Designers is postponing its application to professionally certify designers, following a meeting with regulating body the Privy Council, Design Week understands.

Wonderland WPA rebrands Southern Alps muesli and granola range

Thu, 6 May 2010

Wonderland WPA has redesigned the branding and packaging for Southern Alps’s muesli and granola range.

EC launches paper on future of Europe's creative industries

6 May 2010

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the development of Europe’s creative industries. It is asking designers and other creative professionals to comment on ways to improve funding, skills and clustering.

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.

WPP says its branding sector has seen biggest growth

Fri, 30 Apr 2010

WPP says its branding and identity, healthcare and specialist communications sector has recovered the most quickly, as the group released its quarterly trading update.

Native Design fined for unlicensed software use

Thu, 29 Apr 2010

Native Design has agreed an out-of-court settlement with the Business Software Alliance for £24 000 following an investigation into claims the consultancy had been using unlicensed software.

CMI report puts management approaches in the spotlight

29 April 2010

Some 60 per cent of the workforce in the creative industries believe the prevailing management style is ’negative’, according to a new survey commissioned by the Chartered Management Institute.

Former JKR and JDO senior creatives launch PB Creative

29 April 2010

Two former senior creatives at Jones Knowles Ritchie and JDO have launched new consultancy PB Creative.

Think Public works with housing association residents on 'skill-sharing space' co-design project

29 April 2010

Consultancy Think Public is working with residents at a housing association block in Plymouth in a co-design project to create a ’skill-sharing space’ in the house.

Holmes & Marchant rebrands Buxton water

Fri, 23 Apr 2010

Holmes & Marchant has redesigned the branding and packaging for bottled water brand Buxton.

Five Foot Six creates political packaging for Ben & Jerry's

Wed, 21 Apr 2010

A series of special edition Ben & Jerry’s ice cream tubs have been designed by Five Foot Six to act as a customer poll in the run-up to the General Election.

Design management up for scrutiny at MDMN event

22 April 2010

’Design management is evolving,’ according to Professor Naomi Gornick, who is throwing a symposium on the subject on Friday.

Icelandic designers use volcanic resources

Tue, 20 Apr 2010

As Iceland’s volcanic activity continues to dominate headlines across Europe, Design Week is profiling the country’s young design talent, who use natural resources – including volcanic sand – in their designs.

Anthem repackages Nestlé’s ice cream in Canada

Thu, 15 Apr 2010

Anthem Worldwide has redesigned the packaging for Nestlé’s Real Dairy Natural ice cream range for its relaunch in the Canadian market.

Government department seeks single design management group

Wed, 14 Apr 2010

As part of a move that could revolutionise public-sector design procurement, the Department for Children, Schools and Families is set to shortlist a number of groups in its search for a single supplier or manager of creative services, including design.

Cultural Olympiad provides opportunities for designers

Tue, 13 Apr 2010

Opportunities for designers have been highlighted in the upcoming Cultural Olympiad, which will run alongside the London 2012 Games

Pearlfisher repackages Jamie Oliver range

Thu, 8 Apr 2010

Pearlfisher has designed new packaging for celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s entire retail masterbrand range.

Pentagram alumni launch Dowling Duncan consultancy

Wed, 7 Apr 2010

Nottinghamshire-based consultancy Dowling Design & Art Direction has joined together with Rob Duncan Design, based in San Francisco in the US, to launch new consultancy Dowling Duncan.

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.

COI claims flexible procurement process addresses design concerns

Wed, 31 Mar 2010

The Central Office of Information says perceptions of it as a ’bullying’ state monopoly are wide of the mark, as it unveils a new flexible procurement process.

Dew Gibbons designs limited-edition packs for Aussie haircare

01 April 2010

Dew Gibbons has designed summer-themed limited-edition packaging for the Aussie haircare brand.

Flexible procurement could reduce COI involvement

Tue, 30 Mar 2010

Government design buyers will be able to bypass the Central Office of Information from certain aspects of procurement under a new arrangement that comes into force this week.

Recessions, networking and training feature in Design Council debate

Fri, 26 Mar 2010

Tom Dixon, Studio Dempsey’s Mike Dempsey and Shan Preddy of Preddy & Co were among the panelists at the Design Council’s debate this morning, discussing the merits of recessions, training and networking.

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.

Blue Marlin points the way for Shell Retail with new convenience food brand Deli2go

25 March 2010

Oil company Shell’s retail arm is poised to start rolling out its new food brand Deli2go, with branding and packaging design by Blue Marlin.

With a little help

25 March 2010

As the University of the Arts London launches a graduate internship programme funded by the Hefce, Laura Snoad looks at what a range of colleges are doing to ease the route into employment for students

Dementia care needs better design input

Wed, 24 Mar 2010

Mainstream designers are needed to create furniture, leisure activities and interiors for care homes for people with dementia, according to Kingston University’s Design Research Centre.

Acid steps up bid to foil copyright infringement at exhibitions

Mon, 22 Mar 2010

Anti Copying in Design has set up a new steering group that aims to provide on-site protection at exhibitions where intellectual property has been brought into question.

Arts institutions suffer in university budget cuts

Thu, 18 Mar 2010

University of the Arts London has had its central Government funding cut by 4.7 per cent and the Royal College of Art by 3.5 per cent in the latest round of grant allocations from the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Folding plug concept wins 2010 Brit Insurance Awards

18 March 2010

Min-Kyu Choi’s folding plug design has won the Brit Insurance Design of the Year 2010 award.

Reach Brands revamps Wickes own-label packaging

Tue, 16 Mar 2010

Reach Brands is redesigning packaging for DIY retailer Wickes’ range of 6000 own-label products, starting with paint, which goes on shelf this week.

Tynan D’Arcy rebrands Sellotape

Thu, 11 Mar 2010

Sellotape relaunches today with new branding, packaging and product design by Tynan D’Arcy.

Plans emerge for multiple design embassies at LDF

Wed, 10 Mar 2010

The London Design Embassy may be renamed the British Design Embassy and appear at several locations across London in this year’s London Design Festival, Design Week understands.

Identity challenge

11 March 2010

The BBC’s 12-week period of public consultation, which follows a much-publicised strategy review, will overlap with a design-roster review pencilled in for the end of May.

Alexander McQueen show among Brit Insurance winners

Fri, 5 Mar 2010

Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer 2010 catwalk presentation and Min-Kyu Choi’s folding plug are among the category winners in the 2010 Brit Insurance Design Awards – with the overall winner due to be unveiled on 16 March.

Clinic’s Sage & Onions wins DBA Inclusive Design Challenge

Fri, 5 Mar 2010

Clinic’s Sage & Onions project, which will enable people of different age groups to exchange advice and experiences, has won the 2010 Design Business Association Inclusive Design Challenge.

DBA to launch approved list of design suppliers

Wed, 3 Mar 2010

The Design Business Association is set to launch an approved list of design suppliers - the DBA Design Directory - which clients will be able to access for free.

Something From Us creates Cornish brand for Dott

Wed, 3 Mar 2010

Designs of the Time Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has appointed London consultancy Something From Us as senior design producer for branding project From Cornwall with Love.

British Council rewards the young design entrepreneur

04 March 2010

Despite a wealth of awards up for grabs for the most talented designers, most celebrate creative work rather than acknowledging business acumen.

Buyers' guide

04 March 2010

The long-awaited report on public-sector design procurement from the Associate Parliamentary Design & Innovation Group has been released. Angus Montgomery assesses its implications for the design industry

Storm Brand and Kaleidoscope tie the knot

04 March 2010

Packaging and graphics group Storm Brand Design is merging with New York-based design consultancy Kaleidoscope, and taking its name.Kaleidoscope, which was established in 1993, specialises in strategic planning, graphics, product design and prototyping.

Slice Design tucks into Fry’s Cream work

Fri, 26 Feb 2010

Cadbury is rolling out new packaging created by Slice Design for its Fry’s Cream range.

Redesign for Boots No 7 make-up range

Wed, 24 Feb 2010

Boots is working with three consultancies to rebrand and repackage its No 7 make-up range.

Blue Marlin gets 'loud and proud' on True Lemon juice substitute

25 February 2010

Blue Marlin’s UK and US studios have been working on the rebranding and packaging of True Lemon, a crystallised lemon juice substitute which, the consultancy says, could ’revolutionise lemon usage’.

DW all set for redesign and blog launch

25 February 2010

Design Week will unveil a redesign next week (DW 4 March), led by art director Sam Freeman.

Glasgow students win Audi Sustain Our Nation contest

Thu, 18 Feb 2010

Students from The Glasgow School of Art have won top prize in the Sustain Our Nation contest with a project to connect residents on Glasgow’s Wyndford estate by helping them to create interest groups across generations.

Flying a kite?

11 February 2010

Not all self-initiated concepts make it to production, but the PR and goodwill generated make it all worthwhile. Angus Montgomery reports

New Frontiers launches Green events and Web push

11 February 2010

Product and interior specialists seeking to create sustainable designs will soon have access to information, courtesy of start-up initiative New Frontiers. Based in Manchester, New Frontiers is poised to roll out a website, seminar programme, a major awards scheme and accompanying exhibition.

Membership rewards

04 February 2010

The CSD wants design to follow other professions and gain chartered status. Emily Pacey looks at how this might work

Tories would be bad for design industry, poll suggests

Thu, 28 Jan 2010

More than three-quarters of respondents to a Design Week poll believe a Conservative Government would be bad for the design industry.

Universities and consultancies meet to discuss link-ups

Wed, 27 Jan 2010

More than 60 universities and design consultancies will meet next month to discuss how to support each other’s commercial interests withoutfalling into competition.

Look to the label to make your wine branding stick

28 January 2010

The crowded shelves of the wine sector are brimming with Old and New World products jostling for prominence.

Design Week Top 100 open for entries

Tue, 26 Jan 2010

The entry form for the 2010 Design Week Top 100 is now available on the Design Week website.

Design industry profits rise, but lag behind marketing, survey shows

Thu, 21 Jan 2010

The top 30 consultancies in the design industry managed to improve their profits over 2008 – but the sector performed poorly compared to other marketing services, a survey shows.

Doone stands down at Conran & Partners

21 January 2010

Conran & Partners’ managing director Richard Doone is leaving after 25 years.

Tom Bewick to step down as Creative & Cultural Skills chief

Mon, 18 Jan 2010

Tom Bewick, group chief executive of Creative & Cultural Skills, is leaving to join business council Enterprise UK.

Tories vow to slash advertising spend

Fri, 15 Jan 2010

The Conservatives would slash spending on Government advertising straight away if they won this year’s General Election, shadow chancellor George Osborne says.

Jeremy Myerson leaves InnovationRCA to focus on Helen Hamlyn Centre

Thu, 14 Jan 2010

Jeremy Myerson is relinquishing his role as director of InnovationRCA at the Royal College of Art in London to concentrate on leading the RCA’s Helen Hamlyn Centre.

Reading University resurrects scrapped design tender

Wed, 13 Jan 2010

Reading University has reissued its tender for a design framework, after coming under fire from design consultancies for scrapping it at the last minute (DW 29 October 2009).

Industry split on co-design, says DW poll

14 January 2010

Nearly 40 per cent of respondents to a Design Week poll say they do not think co-design is a good idea.

Site selected and architect sought for V&A at Dundee

Mon, 11 Jan 2010

An international architectural competition is being launched to design a new building for the Victoria & Albert Museum in Dundee.

Most readers think 2010 will be better for design industry than 2009

Fri, 8 Jan 2010

Nearly 85 per cent of Design Week readers believe 2010 will be a better year for design businesses than 2009, according to a poll on www.designweek.co.uk.

Young Creative Network develops branding for Futurising event

07 January 2010

The Young Creative Network is developing an identity and website for Futurising, an event which aims to find employment for creative graduates and engage employers and educators.

Designer sought for pan-European Unicreds project

Tue, 5 Jan 2010

Cornwall County Council is seeking a consultancy to work on design projects as part of the pan-European Unicreds project.

Design Week takes Christmas break

Wed, 23 Dec 2009

The Design Week team are taking a Christmas break.The first email newsletter of 2010 will be sent out on 5 January, and the first issue will be on 7 January.Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Seymour Roworth-Stokes to chair Design Research Society

Fri, 18 Dec 2009

The Design Research Society has appointed Dr Seymour Roworth-Stokes as its chairman, replacing Professor Chris Rust. Roworth-Stokes is pro-vice chancellor for research and development at the University for the Creative Arts.

DBA appoints new directors

Thu, 17 Dec 2009

The Design Business Association has appointed four new directors to its board, including Pearlfisher creative partner Jonathan Ford and Appetite chairwoman Laura Haynes.

Dott unveils plans to use children to power National Grid

Thu, 17 Dec 2009

Designs of the Time Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is unveiling one of its showcase projects, which Dott programme director Andrea Siodmok says will ‘take the kinetic energy of children to power the National Grid’. The project, set to take place next year, will see the design and construction of a new playground at a site in Redruth, Cornwall, which will be codesigned with children and the local community. The playground apparatus will be designed so that it ...

Games for everyone

17 December 2009

The stadiums for the London Paralympics will be designed for accessibility, but finding funds for Paralympic equipment can be hard, says Tom Banks

Sir John Sorrell appointed creative industries ambassador

Tue, 15 Dec 2009

Sir John Sorrell has been appointed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown as Business Ambassador to champion the UK’s creative industries abroad.

Creativity, risk and madness debated at The Edge

Fri, 11 Dec 2009

Designers Erik Spiekermann, Oliviero Toscani and Michael Wolff debated themes of risk and creativity at The Edge conference in London yesterday, while neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield explored the link between madness and creativity.

Audi Design Foundation set to close

Wed, 9 Dec 2009

The Audi Design Foundation is closing next spring after 12 years of supporting design initiatives. Its final, £200 000 project, Sustain Our Nation, which involves university students designing local community enterprises, will complete at the end of March. The charitable trust’s general manager, Rebecca Myrie, will continue to be employed by parent company Audi UK to head up corporate responsibility management within the car company. The planned closure is strategic ...

D&AD New Blood moves to East End

Wed, 9 Dec 2009

D&AD’s graduate event New Blood will move from Olympia in west London to east London’s Old Truman Brewery next year, taking up a week of graduate show Free Range. The move is part of a ‘radical transformation’ that will see the show focus more on networking, the organisation claims. D&AD says it hopes to organise satellite events and work experience opportunities for graduates with local design groups, as the Old Truman Brewery is in the middle of the UK’s digital ...

Turquoise is 2010 colour of the year

Tue, 8 Dec 2009

Pantone has announced 15-5519 Turquoise as its colour of the year for 2010.

Useful Simple Trust founders outline business model

Tue, 8 Dec 2009

Two founders of design collective the Useful Simple Trust say their business sidesteps ‘one of the key succession challenges’, by removing the link between equity and leadership.

Design Bridge founder Nick Verebelyi leaves in restructure

Mon, 7 Dec 2009

Design Bridge founder Nick Verebelyi is leaving the consultancy.

Jamie Oliver is Client of the Year at 2009 Benchmarks

Thu, 3 Dec 2009

Jamie Oliver’s culinary empire took Client of the Year at the fifth annual Design Week Benchmarks awards last night. The accolade was established in 2007 to celebrate excellence in commissioning design.Since his TV debut in 1996, Oliver has proved to have a highly commercial bent, developing a range of products, packaging and brands through Jamie Oliver Holdings. At this year’s Benchmarks, Pearlfisher, which developed the Jme lifestyle brand, collected an award in the Household ...

Skinner’s launches Christmas ale with fairy tale branding

Mon, 30 Nov 2009

Cornish brewery Skinner’s launches its new Christmas ale today, with labels illustrated by Nick Beringer and designed by Stuart Thorn.

Heavenly acquires Martin Lambie-Nairn’s ML-N

Thu, 26 Nov 2009

Branding group Heavenly has bought Martin Lambie-Nairn’s company ML-N, taking the partners into its business.

Helsinki gears up for World Design Capital stint

Thu, 26 Nov 2009

The city of Helsinki has pledged to make ‘city planning and service design’ interventions following its announcement as World Design Capital 2012, and is inviting help from the international design community. 

Building a future for the RCA

26 November 2009

Paul Thompson faces difficult challenges in his new role as rector of the Royal College of Art. Lynda Relph-Knight talks to him about his plans

Police forces come clean with sanitiser branded by Tentrees

26 November 2009

Wiltshire-based consultancy Tentrees has branded Clean Force, a new hand sanitiser to be issued to police forces in the UK from next week. The consultancy was appointed by manufacturer Hygenica Solutions in October on the strength of previous work with the company, including designing a corporate identity and a website. The client wanted a ‘business-like’ brand, to reflect the convenience of the delivery system and conform to its existing identity.

Royal Society of Medicine opens doors to designers

Mon, 23 Nov 2009

The Royal Society of Medicine is offering corporate membership to design groups that work in the healthcare sector.

Nicholas Serota appointed to Boris Johnson’s design panel

Fri, 20 Nov 2009

Sir Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate, has been appointed to London mayor Boris Johnson’s Design Advisory Panel.

Sugar packs get Lewis Moberly makeover

Fri, 20 Nov 2009

Lewis Moberly has redesigned the packaging for a premium range of sugar, Plantation Reserve.

Futurebrand appoints Pete Hollingsworth to creative role

Wed, 18 Nov 2009

Futurebrand is appointing Pete Hollingsworth as its managing creative director consumer. The creation of the new role indicates that the consultancy is rebuilding its management team following a cull of senior staff earlier this year.

Pearlfisher designs Raw food packs

19 November 2009

Pearlfisher has designed the identity and packaging for food brand Raw.The consultancy was appointed to the project directly in August, having worked for brand-owner Windmill Organics on its Biona brand.The identity for the range, which is for raw foods and launches this month, has been applied across a range of 15 products, including crispbreads and chocolate.The consultancy says it aimed to express the feel of ‘vibrant living’ through a palette ...

Sorrell Foundation seeks Saturday arts and design club venues

Tue, 17 Nov 2009

The Sorrell Foundation is seeking partners for an initiative to run Saturday courses in art and design for youngsters.

Design Museum seeks architect to work with Koolhaas on its new home

Mon, 16 Nov 2009

The Design Museum has launched an international search for an architect to work on the Commonwealth Institute building in west London, which is set to become the new home of the museum

Vince Frost appointed Woolworths South Africa creative head

Mon, 16 Nov 2009

Woolworths South Africa has appointed Australian designer Vince Frost as its creative director.

Cultural ‘women to watch’ sought

Thu, 12 Nov 2009

The Cultural Leadership Programme is seeking nominations to its new Women to Watch list, which will celebrate the achievements of women in the creative and cultural industries.

Seymour Powell links up with Brash Brands in the Middle East

Thu, 12 Nov 2009

Seymour Powell is to collaborate on projects with Middle East branding consultancy Brash Brands after signing a strategic partnership with the group. Brash Brands, which has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, was set up in 2007 by John Brash, former executive creative director and European board director of Landor Associates, and creative group head at Conran Design Group. The consultancy works with clients including Burj Dubai and the Lebanese waste management ...

Beyond the boom

12 November 2009

Where next for design in Dubai, after the emirate’s spectacular rise and fall? Angus Montgomery hears what some intrepid consultancies are up to

Designers say stress levels are on the up

12 November 2009

More than 72 per cent of designers say that their stress levels at work have risen over the past year.The poll, details of which are on www.designweek.co.uk, shows that 72.1 per cent of respondents say that their stress levels have risen over the past year, while 18 per cent say they have declined, and 9.8 per cent say they have stayed the same.Recent research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development shows that more than a quarter of UK workers ...

Aldi is top for Green packaging, says report

Mon, 9 Nov 2009

Budget supermarket Aldi has topped a chart of the Greenest cardboard packaging, with Lidl languishing at the bottom, according to a new report by a Government-backed watchdog.

Research reveals procurement ‘postcode lottery’

Fri, 6 Nov 2009

New research has revealed huge variations in the time taken by different councils to pay their suppliers.

Michael Wolff leads rebrand of Russian bank

Wed, 4 Nov 2009

Michael Wolff is leading the rebrand and refurbishment of a Russian bank, working with NB Studio on a new identity and Urban Salon on the interiors. A cartoon cat, Russian lace and hand-painted murals will all feature in the revamp, which Wolff says will see the bank’s name changed from Life Credit to Poidjom (logo pictured below), which translates as a friendly ‘let’s go’, or ‘let’s do this together’. ‘The name was partly inspired by my dad, who, when I didn’t ...

Poll highlights problems with public sector

05 November 2009

More than 70 per cent of designers have had problems with public-sector clients, according to a Design Week poll. The survey, on www. designweek.co.uk, shows that 71.4 per cent of respondents have encountered unacceptable practices while tendering for public-sector jobs.Both Reading University and Birmingham City Council have come under fire from designers last month over their tender processes. BCC was criticised for asking for unpaid creative work in a tender to create ...

Womersley Fine Foods range gets a Mayday rebrand

05 November 2009

Mayday is redesigning the branding and packaging for gourmet food company Womersley Fine Foods, in an attempt to commercialise the range.Womersley appointed Mayday last month through the Design Council’s Designing Demand initiative, which matches designers with businesses. Mayday saw off WPA Pinfold and Sheffield-based groups Ledgard Jepson and Vivid Creative in a credentials pitch.Womersley, a West Yorkshire-based family firm, briefed Mayday to come up with ...

Embrace brands fundraising chocolates

Mon, 2 Nov 2009

A new range of chocolate truffles launches in Waitrose today, with branding and packaging by Embrace Brands.

Reading University pulls design tender at last minute

Wed, 28 Oct 2009

The University of Reading has come under fire from consultancies after scrapping its tender for a design framework at the eleventh hour. The university had published a tender on 29 June through the Official Journal of the European Union to create a roster for ‘provision of graphic information design, Web design and Web development services’. This would see up to 20 consultancies brought on to a four-year framework, broken down into graphic design, Web design and Web services ...

Interacting with kids

29 October 2009

Designing websites and exhibitions aimed at children is a whole different ball game. Emily Pacey looks at how to get young people hooked

Cabinet creative conference launches

Tue, 27 Oct 2009

World leaders from the creative and financial industries are gathering in the UK for Cabinet, the Government’s inaugural Creativity & Business International Network meeting.

Tom Foulkes to join Buro Happold

Fri, 23 Oct 2009

Tom Foulkes is leaving his position as head of development marketing, retail at developer Land Securities, to join engineer Buro Happold.

Government cash for creative apprenticeships

Thu, 22 Oct 2009

Up to 1125 new apprenticeship places will be created to train 16- to 24-year-olds for a career in the creative industries.

New Royal Designers for Industry master aims to build bridges with RSA

Wed, 21 Oct 2009

When Robin Levien takes up his role as Master of the Royal Designers for Industry in November he aims to improve the soured relationship between the RDI faculty and parent body the Royal Society of Arts. Levien (pictured), founder of product design consultancy Studio Levien, is poised to replace Chris Wise, who has held the position of master since 2007. ‘I am a conciliatory character and that will be my approach to trying to talk around any issues that there ...

LFA reaches out beyond architecture

Wed, 21 Oct 2009

The London Festival of Architecture 2010 will involve more non-architectural designers than previously, hopes Tamsie Thomson, director of the Royal Institute of British Architects London.

London policy plans spell more work for designers

22 October 2009

London Mayor Boris Johnson is seeking the public’s views on a trio of policy documents that could shape the capital’s growth over the next 20 years, at the same time providing plenty of work for designers.The draft Mayor’s Transport Strategy, the Economic Development Strategy and the London Plan were all published last week. Taken as a whole, they cover pretty much every policy area that Johnson has control over. All are now open to public consultation on the Greater London ...

Constellation Europe packs ‘keep wine fresh’

Tue, 20 Oct 2009

Wine producer Constellation Europe has designed a new large-format packaging solution with packaging group Drink Works.

Christopher Exeter for Design Council policy post

Mon, 19 Oct 2009

The Design Council is appointing Christopher Exeter in the new role of director of policy.

Brompton bike designer wins Prince Philip prize

Fri, 16 Oct 2009

Andrew Ritchie, designer of the Brompton folding bicycle, has won the 2009 Prince Philip Designers Prize.

NB Studio unveils Design Out Crime work

Wed, 14 Oct 2009

A burglar ant stars in NB Studio’s new branding for Design Out Crime, which aims to convince designers to create crimeresistant products and services. The Home Office’s Design & Technology Alliance Against Crime worked with the Design Council to appoint and brief NB Studio in March. The consultancy beat four others in a tender to win the project. ‘The branding has to be memorable and appeal to children, politicians and designers alike,’ says NB Studio creative ...

Creatives urged to feel the benefits of non-executives

15 October 2009

Non-executive directors have been getting a bad press recently, with fees for some soaring while their companies’ share prices plunge.A poll by equity research firm Alphavalue shows average remuneration for FTSE100 outside directors up 10 per cent last year.But can non-executive directors still represent good value for consultancies dealing with the economic downturn?Rune Gustafson, non-executive director of the National Gallery and Graphic Alliance, ...

Government pumps £80m into innovative technologies

Tue, 13 Oct 2009

The Government is investing £82.5m to develop innovative new technologies in fields such as regenerative medicine, transport and logisitics, and low-carbon housing.

FLB brands Kenwood kitchen range

Fri, 9 Oct 2009

Kenwood is launching new branding and packaging for its range of kitchen products, designed by FLB.

Fitchlive appointment to boost links with Fitch

Thu, 8 Oct 2009

Experiential, film and digital agency Fitchlive has appointed Ursula Morrish as project director. Part of her role will be to build an integrated offer with sister consultancy Fitch.

Charge-out rates and benefits have fallen, new research shows

Wed, 7 Oct 2009

Charge-out rates have dropped among senior design staff, benefits have been cut and pay increases limited, according to a new report released by the Design Business Association.The 2009 DBA Charge Out Rates and Salary Levels survey shows last year’s results to be something of an anomaly. That report found that charge-out rates were increasing for the first time in more than five years (DW 7 January).Despite this year’s drop in charge-out rates among senior staff, ...

New COI roster framework set to address concerns

08 October 2009

The Central Office of Information has often been accused of over-complicating public procurement, but it is confident its three new design rosters will be welcomed by designers and clients alike.COI roster veteran Start Creative is one consultancy enthusiastic about the new rosters, including branding and brand identity, which launches on 22 October, to be followed by content and publishing, and design and related services (DW 23 September).‘We hope that this ...

Design Week Awards judges named

Tue, 6 Oct 2009

The judging panel for the 2010 Design Week Awards has been confirmed.

Pentawards winners to go on show

Mon, 5 Oct 2009

The winning designs in the Pentawards 2009 packaging design awards will go on show at venues in France, Monaco and China next year.

The Chase is overall winner at the Fresh Awards

Thu, 1 Oct 2009

The Fresh Awards announced consultancy The Chase as overall winner at its ceremony in Manchester last night, when it handed out digital and creative honours across 44 categories.

JKR designs new Charles Worthington range

Wed, 30 Sep 2009

Jones Knowles Ritchie is branding and packaging a new Charles Worthington haircare range called Front Row. The consultancy was appointed at the start of 2008 following a pitch against two or three other groups, says JKR creative director Silas Amos. Aimed at ‘a younger, fashionsavvy market’, according to Amos, the range has peelable labels that remove all product branding and technical information to reveal abstract graphic patterns. Graphics on three ...

Pingo Doce packs given 'daring' look by Wren & Rowe

01 October 2009

Wren & Rowe is designing 52 packaging ranges for Portuguese supermarket Pingo Doce, for a six-figure fee that will see the roll out of 250 repackaged products, starting this month.

European Design Day to be celebrated

Mon, 28 Sep 2009

The Bureau of European Design Associations will celebrate its lobbying achievements on 1 October, which BEDA has named European Design Day.

Tom Dixon pushes service design agenda

Fri, 25 Sep 2009

Tom Dixon says British design needs to focus more on service design and problem solving, and not just on ‘creating objects’, in order to remain relevant and economically viable.

UAE designer wins British Council entrepreneur prize

Fri, 25 Sep 2009

The British Council has crowned a designer from United Arab Emirates International Young Design Entrepreneur 2009.

Paul Smith awarded London Design Medal

Thu, 24 Sep 2009

Fashion designer Paul Smith has been awarded the 2009 London Design Medal.

Arthur Steen Horne Adamson rebrands Tetley's Good Earth

24th September 2009

Arthur Steen Horne Adamson is working on the identity, brand positioning and packaging for a new range of Tetley Products, Good Earth.Tetley acquired Good Earth, originally a US brand, in 2007, and commissioned ASHA to carry out a sales promotion.The consultancy’s brief was extended in 2008 to look at the identity, packaging of the products, Web presence, ads and promotional material for a UK organic range.The logotype uses a ‘secret’ halo above the ...

British design escapes shackles of a national

24th September 2009

British design is taking a bit of a beating at the moment. In The New York Times last month, British critic Alice Rawsthorn complained that it’s not what it used to be. Jonathan Glancey in The Guardian concurred, saying, ‘You have to shop around for it.’ And then on BBC Two last Monday, French design star Philippe Starck revealed that he would like to help us to ‘create English style’, as none currently exists.But in a new book commissioned by UK Trade & Investment, ...

Design Council chief executive calls for design education change

Tue, 22 Sep 2009

Design Council chief executive David Kester has called for a change in the categorisation of design education.

TV design contestants welcome life without Philippe Starck

Mon, 21 Sep 2009

Contestants from the BBC’s Design for Life TV show say they are looking forward to leaving Philippe Starck’s influence and opinions behind as they exhibit at the London Design Festival.

Reach rebrands Lyons Seafoods

Fri, 18 Sep 2009

Lyons Seafoods’ product range relaunches next week with new branding and packaging by Reach.

Big drop in freelance pay rates

Tue, 15 Sep 2009

Pay rates for freelance designers have dropped by 17.25 per cent in the past year, according to a Design Week survey.

Revamped RCA Art Bar set to open

Fri, 11 Sep 2009

The Royal College of Art is poised to open the doors to its revamped Art Bar, designed by RCA graduates Markus Bergstrom and Joe Nunn.

PDD calls for concentrated products

Thu, 10 Sep 2009

Product design group PDD is calling on cosmetics maufacturers to follow the lead of detergent brands and create concentrated products.

Red, blue, yellow and Green

10 September 2009

With the Lib Dems looking to adopt an interventionist stance on waste reduction, Angus Montgomery explores the politics of planet-friendly packaging

Glenn Tutssel calls for new foundation course structure

Tue, 8 Sep 2009

Glenn Tutssel, executive creative director of The Brand Union, has called for arts foundation courses to be restructured in order for graduates to have a more well-rounded education.

John Lewis launches value range

Mon, 7 Sep 2009

John Lewis is bringing out a value homeware range, with branding and packaging by Zach John Design and the retailer’s in-house design team.

Wrap targets food packaging in waste-reduction campaign

Fri, 4 Sep 2009

The Government-funded Waste Resources Action Programme is working on a number of new projects with leading retailers to minimise packaging waste.

Elmwood and The Team top list of DBA award winners

Thu, 3 Sep 2009

Elmwood and The Team are leading the field in the Design Business Association’s Design Effectiveness Awards, with five wins each.The awards scheme seeks to measure the financial value that design adds to a particular product or service, rather than creativity or innovation.This year a total of 51 projects have been shortlisted, and are guaranteed either a gold, silver or bronze medal. These will be allocated on the night of the awards ceremony next month, as ...

Map of UK creative sector could inform Government policy

03rd September 2009

It comes as no surprise to hear that London and its surrounding counties are the UK’s creative epicentre. But a new mapping experiment - published last week by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts - also reveals which types of creative business cluster together and where.Nesta hopes that this fine-grained information could encourage the Government to tailor its creative industries policies to suit certain cluster types according to region.

Kemistry creates ‘intense’ ice-cream brand

Fri, 28 Aug 2009

Kemistry has created the branding and packaging for new ice cream brand Rica.

Government awards celebrate innovation

Thu, 27 Aug 2009

The deadline for the Iawards, the first-ever Government-backed awards to celebrate achievements in science, innovation and technology, is 16 September.

Lighthouse collapse blamed on 'poor leadership'

Wed, 26 Aug 2009

The Lighthouse’s former director Stuart MacDonald is blaming the Scottish design centre’s decline into administration yesterday on ‘poor leadership’. MacDonald, who led The Lighthouse for eight years from its foundation in 1999, calls the news a ‘disastrous tragedy’, and says he would consider returning to the Glasgow gallery in an advisory role if the leadership team changes. Currently under the directorship of Nick Barley, the organisation is reported to be ...

LFH works on Finnish sweet brand

Tue, 25 Aug 2009

LFH is working on brand strategy, branding and packaging for Finnish sweets and chocolate manufacturer Fazer Confectionery.

New York’s Parsons appoints new director

Mon, 24 Aug 2009

Parsons The New School for Design has appointed Radhika Subramaniam as director and chief curator of the Sheila C Johnson Design Center.

Young people ‘need more information about creative industries’

Fri, 21 Aug 2009

Employers in the creative industries should do more to make sure the sector is accessible to young people who want to break into it, says organisation Creative & Cultural Skills.

Emma Atkinson leaves Holmes & Marchant

Thu, 20 Aug 2009

Packaging design consultancy Holmes & Marchant has made planning director Emma Atkinson redundant.

New launches in the luxury alcohol sector

Thu, 20 Aug 2009

Despite the downturn, sales of many premium drinks brands are on the up. Tom Banks considers the recent success of the luxury alcohol sector

Heatherwick to star at Irish Design Week

20th August 2009

Thomas Heatherwick will open this year’s Irish Design Week in Dublin on 2 November.After saying last year that he would ‘do anything to get [Heatherwick] over’, Barry Sheehan, immediate past president of the Institute of Designers of Ireland, one of the IDW’s key organisers, says he can ‘rest happy now’.The festival will also host the three-day Offset 2009 conference, taking place in Dublin from 6-8 October. Speakers at Offset will include graphic designers Leila ...

Art school head moves on

Tue, 18 Aug 2009

Gray’s School of Art’s search for a new head to replace Professor Stuart MacDonald is underway.

Sony Design Centre Europe announces new director

Mon, 17 Aug 2009

Takuya Kawagoi is the new director of Sony Design Centre Europe, based in London.

Entries sought for Benchmarks Client of the Year

Fri, 14 Aug 2009

Nominations are invited for Client of the Year as part of the entry to Design Week’s 2009 Benchmarks awards.

Peter Saville and Michael Peters on Prince Philip Prize shortlist

Wed, 12 Aug 2009

Graphic and branding designers Peter Saville, Michael Peters, Jay Smith and Howard Milton have been named on the shortlist for the 2009 Prince Philip Designers Prize.This year is the 50th anniversary of the prize, which is run by the Design Council. Its aim is to focus on the contributions of designers to design among businesses and the general public.Completing the shortlist are architects David Adjaye and Eric Parry, fashion designers Jeff Banks and Hussein ...

WFCA brands ‘friendly’ toy animals

Fri, 7 Aug 2009

Consultancy WFCA has branded and created a packaging range for toy company Lockhard.

Creative Edge designs Rick Stein biscuit packs

Thu, 6 Aug 2009

Truro-based consultancy Creative Edge has designed the packaging for chef Rick Stein’s new range of savoury biscuits.

Royal Society of Arts in consultation row

Wed, 5 Aug 2009

The Royal Designers for Industry are criticising parent body the Royal Society of Arts for the way it researched and launched its Design & Society manifesto.The RSA unveiled its new manifesto, written by director of design Emily Campbell, last month (DW 23 July). However, Master of the Faculty of RDIs Chris Wise complains that the RSA and its manifesto have failed to answer ‘the question that we put to them on 22 May - what does the RSA see as the role of excellent design ...

Art Directors Club in global push

Tue, 4 Aug 2009

New York-based design and media organisation the Art Directors Club is creating an international network of representatives, including Syzygy managing director Meera Chandra in the UK.

Brands and own-brands are battling for supermarket supremacy

August 2009 Online

As cash-conscious consumers head for own-brands, brands are fighting back with new innovations, finds Angus Montgomery

Designers call for return of 1980s enterprise policies

August 2009 Online

A campaign to bring back Margaret Thatcher’s Enterprise Allowance Scheme, which paid people a weekly allowance to come off the dole and start a new business, has been augmented by calls to reinstate the Design Advisory Service consultancy scheme and appoint a design minister.Frank Peters, chief executive of the Chartered Society of Designers, says having a dedicated design minister would give design the higher political status it had in the 1980s, and allow it to lead the ...

D&AD committee list unveiled

Fri, 31 Jul 2009

A shortlist of 14 designers and advertising creatives are in the running for four seats on the D&AD executive committee.

Nude Brand Creation launches new cosmetics range

Thu, 30 Jul 2009

Design group and beauty brand owner Nude Brand Creation is launching a new cosmetics range called Enhance.

Clearspring gives Mayday a call for Italian organic pasta packs

30th July 2009

Mayday has created the packaging for Clearspring’s new range of organic Italian pasta.The organic food manufacturer appointed Mayday without a pitch in February, on the strength of the consultancy’s previous work with the company.Clearspring briefed Mayday to design ‘distinctive and modern packaging that would sit well with the rest of the Clearspring products’, according to the chairman of Clearspring, Christopher Dawson.‘We use high-quality ingredients ...

Bring back Enterprise Allowance Scheme, urges report

Tue, 28 Jul 2009

Margaret Thatcher’s enterprise scheme for the creative industries should be brought back, according to a new report published by New Deal of the Mind in collaboration with the Arts Council.

In-house management skills wanted for DME Awards

Mon, 27 Jul 2009

The Design Management Europe Awards 2009 are seeking entries from companies that procure and manage design.

Bob Design creates new Space NK range

Thu, 23 Jul 2009

A new range of Space NK beauty products will be launched in September, with packaging by Bob Design.

The Green Awards are calling for entries

Thu, 23 Jul 2009

The Green Awards 2009 are inviting entries from brands and design groups hoping for recognition for their ecological campaigns and packaging initiatives.

Design enters TV reality show arena

23rd July 2009

Last Wednesday, Jam Design founder Jamie Anley and designer Phil Nutley watched themselves burst on to prime-time TV as frontmen for BBC Two interior design series Home for Life (News, DW 23 April).After cramming in filming around their day job - which includes revamping London’s 100% Design show - the duo had not had time to watch the finished product. So, at 8pm last Wednesday, Anley sat down with friends and family in a hotel room in London’s Covent Garden to watch his ...

The RSA unleashes its design manifesto

23rd July 2009

The Royal Society of Arts’ Design & Society manifesto is being launched tomorrow.The manifesto, written by RSA director of design Emily Campbell, outlines the society’s plans for its engagement with design. It is titled ‘You know more than you think you do: Design as resourcefulness and self-reliance’.Campbell says the key messages are ‘to show how design contributes to self-reliance and resourcefulness’, and to propose that designers can redefine themselves ...

Mark Rogerson brands high-strength Sri Lankan beer

Mon, 20 Jul 2009

Mark Rogerson has created the branding for new high-strength Sri Lankan beer Grand Blonde.

Design Event 09 to focus on politics and play

Thu, 16 Jul 2009

Politics and Play will be the theme of this year’s Design Event 09, the annual North East festival celebrating regional graphics, illustration, fashion and architecture.

Transport for London to launch new river transport project

Wed, 15 Jul 2009

Transport for London is planning a tender to find designers to help it with a new river transport project. ‘We are working on a new programme to increase ridership of the London River Services,’ says TfL’s new head of design Jon Hunter, adding, ‘There is a whole package of work for this project, including wayfinding and looking at services.’

Guest curators get Greengaged going

16th July 2009

Greengaged will return to the London Design Festival this year with a new format, in which five guest curators will each put together a day of events.

Asda debuts reusable packaging trial

Mon, 13 Jul 2009

Automated machines that allow customers to put fabric conditioner in reusable pouches are being installed in Asda stores, as part of a series of reusable packaging trials.

Wally Olins to address London debate on the global downturn

Fri, 10 Jul 2009

Wally Olins will speak about the global economic crisis at an event chaired by the former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone this Saturday.

Ruth Ashton wins New Designers One Year On prize

Thu, 9 Jul 2009

Nottingham Trent University graduate Ruth Ashton has won the New Designers One Year On award Part 1.

Report reveals over-50s as brand resistant

Thu, 9 Jul 2009

‘I keep finding myself using the word “integrity”, and think it might be something to do with getting older,’ muses Oval Books art director Vicki Towers, who has been ‘riding the buses for free for two years now’. Towers’ observation echoes a new report about branding aimed at capturing the grey pound. It declares that ‘older people have a powerful nose for manipulation and hype, and are looking for authenticity, not artificiality’.

Design Council's Andrea Siodmok appointed to Dott Cornwall

Wed, 8 Jul 2009

Design Council chief design officer Andrea Siodmok (pictured) has been appointed as programme director for Designs of the Time Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

AWL applies the beauty touch to Mori restaurant launch

09th July 2009

Fashion branding consultancy AWL is creating the identity and packaging for a new Japanese fast-food chain called Mori.

Design Council and British Chambers of Commerce in partnership

Tue, 7 Jul 2009

The Design Council and the British Chambers of Commerce have announced a new partnership to work together to promote the value of design to UK businesses.

Book design and mobile phone app scoop top D&AD Student Awards prize

Fri, 3 Jul 2009

Two teams have shared the Student of the Year prize at the D&AD Student Awards 2009.

Acid petitions Number 10 on IP crime

July 2009 Online

Anti Copying In Design is launching two petitions destined for Number 10 Downing Street next week, in protest at what it calls a ‘scant attempt’ to recognise intellectual property crime in law.Acid chief executive Dids Macdonald explains that the action follows the Ministry of Justice’s ‘failure to satisfactorily address lack of deterrents within the existing damages regime for IP infringement’.The first petition will lobby for the introduction of criminal sanctions ...

London Design Festival takes over Design Embassy

July 2009 Online

The London Design Festival’s organisers will run the London Design Embassy from this year onwards, taking over from the event’s founder Christine Losecaat.

Procuring a better deal for all

July 2009 Online

High-level meetings between policy-makers and senior design figures could see an overhaul of Government procurement practices, says Tom Banks

Think Public battles health inequalities through design

July 2009 Online

An ambitious project is under way to tackle health inequalities on the Cambridge Road estate in Kingston, Surrey, through research-based design.

Yin & Yang slaps on new look for Cosmetics a la carte

02 July 2009

Packaging group Yin & Yang is creating a new brand strategy, packaging, marketing materials and visual merchandising concepts for bespoke make-up brand Cosmetics a la carte.

Elmwood repackages Anchor Squirty Cream

Mon, 29 Jun 2009

Anchor is relaunching its Squirty Cream brand, with new packaging designed by Elmwood.

Government hints at change to IP laws

Fri, 26 Jun 2009

Higher Education and Intellectual Property Minister David Lammy has conceded that ‘it’s not clear all parliamentarians understand the importance of intellectual property’, when he addressed a conference on IP at the Houses of Parliament last night.

RSA calls for change in design education

Thu, 25 Jun 2009

The Royal Society of Arts is calling for design education to focus more on the design of services and move away from what it says is an emphasis on product and industrial design.

Sebastian Conran takes IP debate to MPs

Thu, 25 Jun 2009

The issue of intellectual property moves centre stage as Sebastian Conran makes the case for stronger legislation in Parliament. Tom Banks reports

BDI lobbies Mandelson over university design departments

Fri, 19 Jun 2009

British Design Innovation is calling on Lord Mandelson to stop university design departments competing with design groups for business.

Origin appointed to Manga films work

Thu, 18 Jun 2009

Cheshire-based consultancy Origin Creative is working on the design and marketing for new releases from cult Japanese animation film company Manga Entertainment.

LFH distils new look for Lithuanian vodka

Thu, 18 Jun 2009

LFH has redesigned the packaging for Lithuanian Vodka’s full range of drinks to broaden their appeal.

Knutt to head up Somerset Design Enterprise Network

Thu, 18 Jun 2009

The Somerset Design Enterprise Network has appointed Andrew Knutt as chairman, as it relaunches and restructures its management.

Coin designer Matt Dent celebrates surprise D&AD win

Wed, 17 Jun 2009

Graphic designer Matt Dent, who picked up a Yellow and a Black Pencil at this year’s D&AD Awards for his reverse designs for UK coins, says he ‘hadn’t expected to win anything’.

Pearlfisher creates beauty brand

Tue, 16 Jun 2009

Pearlfisher has created new luxury beauty brand Green & Spring, for hotel company A Curious Group of Hotels.

Sir Peter Blake joins Art Car Boot Fair

Fri, 12 Jun 2009

Sir Peter Blake is among artists and designers creating works for this weekend’s Art Car Boot Fair in London, which will feature a collection of decorated Vauxhall cars.

Buddy pockets gender-specific tissue pack brief from Kleenex

11 June 2009

Kleenex is poised to launch a new range of pocket tissues aimed at women, with packaging by Buddy Creative.

Silk Pearce creates mini-medal boxes

Tue, 9 Jun 2009

Silk Pearce has designed packaging for miniature military medals, which will be produced by The Royal Mint.

Sebastian Conran to brief MPs on intellectual property

Mon, 8 Jun 2009

Sebastian Conran will speak about the value of intellectual property at a parliamentary briefing later this month.

EC seeks public consultation on design document

Thu, 4 Jun 2009

The European Commission is seeking public consultation on its Staff Working Document on Design as a Tool for Innovation.

Design House and GP Studio to share office space

04 June 2009

Richmond-based branding specialist Design House is moving to central London to share office space with multidisciplinary branding and design consultancy GP Studio.

Oakwood ranked top design group in South West

Tue, 2 Jun 2009

Oakwood Media Group is the most successful design group in the South West, according to a list of the top 100 creative companies in the region.

Designers help develop university technologies

Mon, 1 Jun 2009

Designers are being brought into universities to help speed up the commercialisation of a raft of innovation projects, including solar-powered equipment to generate clean water and electricity, and a safety tracking device using a radar on a chip implanted in clothing.

Tayburn gets its teeth into Scottish meat work

Fri, 29 May 2009

Tayburn is working on a Scotch beef summer recipe booklet after being appointed to the Quality Meat Scotland design services roster.

Designs ‘to improve human life’ shortlisted

Tue, 26 May 2009

The Index Award 2009 has announced its shortlist of 72 designs from 18 countries. A €500 000 (£440 000) prize will be split equally between five winners across five categories.

Cardiff Design Festival details emerge

Fri, 22 May 2009

This year’s Cardiff Design Festival will feature speakers including typographer Bruno Maag and Andrew Shoben, founder of public art group Greyworld

Made You Look rebrands Jeyes’ Bloo toilet care brand

Thu, 21 May 2009

Made You Look has rebranded and redesigned the packaging for Jeyes toilet care brand Bloo.

Factor 3 designs new identity for Nobo

Mon, 18 May 2009

Cheltenham-based Factor 3 has rebranded the Nobo product range for office products company Acco Brands Europe.

Design Bridge cuts London staff

Fri, 15 May 2009

Design Bridge says it will be reducing staffing levels at its London headquarters in a group-wide restructure.

Sensory design in packaging

14 May 2009

With packaging becoming increasingly important in the marketing mix, sensory design is a cost-effective and efficient way to gain customers and boost sales. Sarah Woods develops a feel for these tactile options

Pearlfisher joins Heinz roster

Thu, 30 Apr 2009

Time to enter Arts and Business awards

Fri, 24 Apr 2009

Arts and Business has launched its 2009 awards, inviting nominations from businesses that have partnerships with designers, artists and cultural organisations.

Co-design workshops show soci-eco design opportunities

23 April 2009

The co-design approach may not be new, but using it to increase skills and help realise eco-economic opportunities during a recession is, according to sustainable design consultant Alastair Fuad-Luke.

Respect for clients is best way to nurture growth, says Ardill

23 April 2009

Designers must quell their desire to ‘always be right’ and start focusing on existing clients rather than seeking new business if they want to nurture long-term growth, according to Ralph Ardill, chief executive of The Brand Experience Consultancy.

Wrap examines packaging waste in retail supply chain

Tue, 21 Apr 2009

Waste & Resources Action Programme is on the hunt for participants for a research project that will examine the amount of packaging waste produced by the UK retail sector and its supply chain.

One Voice redesigns Kenco website

Thu, 16 Apr 2009

One Voice Design has completed a redesign of coffee company Kenco’s website, launching today.

Symposium to explore design’s links with science

16 April 2009

The links between design and science have been highlighted recently by the Design Council’s formal tie-up with the Technology Strategy Board and Royal College of Art rector Professor Sir Christopher Frayling’s campaign to have design education recategorised in funding terms to bring it closer to science subjects.These links are being further emphasised by an international symposium organised by Kingston University’s Design Research Centre, Design Plus at Kingston University ...

FLB designs Asda pharmacy range

Thu, 9 Apr 2009

Asda is poised to relaunch its pharmacy range, with design by Cheltenham-based group FLB

Government considers New Deal of the Mind

9 April 2009

The New Deal of The Mind has a simple objective, but you could hardly accuse it of lacking ambition. Its aim is to boost employment in Britain’s creative sector - for the good of the entire nation.

Nina Due is new Design Museum head of exhibitions

Thu, 2 Apr 2009

Nina Due has been appointed as the new head of exhibitions at the Design Museum.

The industry faces the university challenge

2 April 2009

A new report voices the design industry’s concern about universities encroaching on commercial territory. Gina Lovett investigates

Design stars feature in UKTI promotional film

Mon, 30 Mar 2009

UK Trade & Investment has commissioned a film to promote British design groups including Priestman Goode and Conran & Partners to design buyers around the world.

North East design hub launches

Fri, 27 Mar 2009

Design Network North, a hub for innovative design in the North East, is launching today in Gateshead.

Brandopus rebrews festival edition Brothers Cider

26 March 2009

Favourite festival tipple Brothers Cider this week relaunches its festival edition, designed by Brandopus, ahead of a redesign of its main range later this year.The overhaul will see new label graphics and outer packaging for Brothers Cider festival edition, a more potent version of the cider. The redesign will also inform a TV ad campaign launching in June, says co-founder of Brothers Cider Matthew Showering.Brandopus was appointed six months ago, following a competitive ...

Anthem repackages Huggies Drynites

Tue, 24 Mar 2009

Huggies is relaunching its Drynites range, with new packaging by Anthem Worldwide.

999 in Angostura brand immersion campaign

Mon, 23 Mar 2009

Global drinks brand Angostura this week launches a trade education programme, designed by 999.

Manchester International Festival line-up unveiled

Fri, 20 Mar 2009

Creations by Zaha Hadid and lighting specialist Paul Normandale are part of the line-up for this year’s Manchester International Festival.

Shepard Fairey’s Obama posters are Design of the Year

Thu, 19 Mar 2009

Shepard Fairey’s Barack Obama poster series has been named Brit Insurance Design of the Year.

The Brand Union bolsters US operations

Thu, 19 Mar 2009

The Brand Union has bolstered its US operations ahead of anticipated further work on Bank of America’s Merrill Lynch buyout.

Holmes & Marchant repacks Philadelphia cheese for Kraft

19 March 2009

Holmes & Marchant has designed new packaging for Kraft soft cheese brand Philadelphia.

Eurostar set to appoint to refurbishment brief

Wed, 18 Mar 2009

Eurostar is understood to be on the brink of appointing a consultancy to redesign its train interiors, following a six-month tender process.

Landor makes six redundancies

Wed, 18 Mar 2009

Landor is in the process of making six redundancies.Those leaving the consultancy include creative director Derek Johnston, who has been with Landor for ten years, and planning director Phil Gandy, who has been with the group for around four years, working on consumer brands.Two designers also working on consumer brands are being made redundant, as well as an artworker and a member of the IT team, as Landor's parent company WPP looks to centralise its IT functions.This ...

UK Trade and Investment launches Milan mission

Wed, 18 Mar 2009

UK Trade & Investment is to run its first design trade mission to Milan during the city's international furniture fair this year.

Michael Thomson steps down as Beda president

Mon, 16 Mar 2009

The managing director of the Norwegian Design Council, Jan R Stavik, takes the helm as president of the Bureau of European Design Associations, replacing Michael Thomson, who stepped down at the weekend.

Top 100 deadline is looming

Mon, 16 Mar 2009

The deadline for submissions to Design Week’s 2009 Top 100 design consultancy survey is 25 March.

German tea firm drops logo legal bid

Thu, 12 Mar 2009

A German tea bag company has dropped its legal case against a small London tea shop over the use of a logo.

Dott Cornwall can learn from the North East's festival

12 March 2009

The organisers of the second Designs of the Time can learn from the first programme in 2007. Angus Montgomery reports

Martin Sorrell says recession is key design issue

Wed, 11 Mar 2009

The only significant issue facing the design industry in the next two years will be 'recession, recession, recession', according to WPP chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell.Speaking exclusively to Design Week last Friday - the day that WPP released its preliminary results for 2008 - Sorrell sounded under pressure, the global advertising and communications giant having reported a 5.8 per cent fall in profits.Sorrell famously described the last downturn as 'bath-shaped', ...

DSDHA bags Waterloo City Square project

Tue, 10 Mar 2009

Architect DSDHA has been named as the winning design team for the Waterloo City Square scheme in London.

First Dott Cornwall projects out to tender

Mon, 9 Mar 2009

The Design Council and Cornwall County Council are seeking designers to help deliver four initiatives as part of Designs of the Times Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Manchester design students revamp Gallery of Costume

Fri, 6 Mar 2009

MA design students at Manchester Metropolitan University have teamed up with the city’s Gallery of Costume to help reinvent the space ahead of its reopening in 2010.

Funding cut for design and art universities

Thu, 5 Mar 2009

Top design universities are dismayed at the news that they are to have their research funding cut by The Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Branding to boost low-alcohol market

5 March 2009

New research shows that the UK is downing 76 pints of low-alcohol beer a minute, in a slightly tipsy binge-drinking session unseen since the Middle Ages, when everyone from royalty to street children drank mild stout in favour of choleric water.In a report released earlier this month, Mintel investigates what it calls the 'lower alcoholic' drinks - and particularly beer - market. It finds the sector busy with new product launches that are eroding Kaliber's position as the sector's ...

Brandhouse revitalises Fruit Shoot

5 March 2009

Britvic is set to relaunch its Robinsons Fruit Shoot range with a packaging redesign by Brandhouse.The redesign, thought to form part of Britvic marketing director Simon Stewart’s plans to shift Britvic’s £50m marketing strategy away from a traditional approach, will include a new bottle and outers, as well as pack graphics.Each flavour will feature image collections thought to reinforce a sense of personalisation and customisation, as a way of expression in ...

Bruce Mau calls on the design world to combat economic and social ills

Wed, 4 Mar 2009

Design visionary Bruce Mau has called upon the international design world to combat the world's economic and social ills.Canadian Mau, founder of the Institute Without Boundaries, issued the call to arms at last week's Design Indaba conference in Cape Town, South Africa.Mau says, 'Crisis is a terrible thing to waste. The new design is not only visual. The new design is forever.'Mau adds that he is considering 'the possibility of a sustainable America'. He has been ...

Design Centre for the North wins planning permission

Mon, 2 Mar 2009

Gateshead Borough Council has approved plans for the £13m Design Centre for the North.

Government called on to subsidise designers’ salaries

Mon, 2 Mar 2009

Design Week Top 100 deadline looms

Fri, 27 Feb 2009

The deadline for entries to Design Week’s 2009 Top 100 survey is next Wednesday (4 March).

Design course applications rise despite jobs gloom

26 February 2009

The number of applications to design courses has soared this year, despite the recession and a growing consensus in the design industry that positions for graduates are drying up.Figures released by university admissions organisation Ucas last week show that applications for undergraduate design courses have risen by 11.5 per cent since last year, with 40 732 people seeking to study.This compares to a rise in applications to all courses of just 7.8 per cent, while fine ...

Royalty check for designers

26 February 2009

As the economic climate remains tough, some consultancies are turning to joint ventures with clients as a way to win business, say Emily Pacey

Essence Design to auction its services

Tue, 24 Feb 2009

Essence Design will start auctioning its services from next month, in the hope of drumming up business during the recession.

Design Indaba brings design community to South Africa

Tue, 24 Feb 2009

South Africa’s Design Indaba conference kicks off tomorrow at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Exhibition to look at sustainable packaging

Mon, 23 Feb 2009

The sustainability of packaging will be the subject of a forthcoming exhibition at the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising.

Creative industries ‘could outstrip financial sector’

Fri, 20 Feb 2009

Britain’s creative industries could soon employ more people than the financial sector, according to new figures.

2012 work continues for designers

19 February 2009

As plans for the physical legacy of the London 2012 Olympics go in front of the public, organisers are also promising a cultural legacy from the games, and say opportunities for designers will continue.Last week London Mayor Boris Johnson, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell unveiled plans for the legacy of the Olympic Park after 2012.The proposals for the site, in Stratford in east London, drawn up by architects Allies and Morrison, EDAW ...

Plans for Cornish Dott take shape

Wed, 18 Feb 2009

Plans are being put together for next year’s Designs of the Time programme, which will take place in Cornwall.

Survey gives the lowdown on supermarket packaging

Tue, 17 Feb 2009

Waitrose has the heaviest packaging and Tesco the lightest of all the major UK supermarkets, according to research by the Local Government Association.

Design Museum opens Brit Insurance prize show

Thu, 12 Feb 2009

The Design Museum’s second Brit Insurance Designs of the Year exhibition opens to the public today at its Shad Thames home in London.

Ziggurat creates Wall’s pastries range

Tue, 10 Feb 2009

Kerry Foods’ Wall’s brand has launched a range of savoury pastries, with packaging designed by Ziggurat Brands.

The Public Gallery closes before it opens

Fri, 6 Feb 2009

The Public Gallery has announced it is to cease trading and pull out of West Bromwich arts centre The Public.

Creative director Eric Scott leaves Saffron

5 February 2009

Saffron global creative director Eric Scott has left the branding group after a 'mutual agreement that the working relationship was incompatible', according to Saffron principal Ian Stephens.Scott arrived at Saffron about a year ago, after being fired as chief executive of Wolff Olins' US operation at the end of 2005, allegedly for refusing to make redundancies.His newly created role at Saffron involved overseeing projects at the consultancy's global locations, run by creative ...

Brandhouse pushes chateau appeal for luxury tea collection

5 February 2009

Brandhouse has designed the branding and packaging for a tea collection from luxury start-up Chateau Rouge.Chateau Rouge founder Seán Farrell appointed Brandhouse after searching the Internet for consultancies and looking at the group's past work. He then visited the group 'to discuss the germ of his idea, which is bringing together a variety of luxury products under one brand, and making them credible', according to David Beard, creative director at Brandhouse.Brandhouse ...

R&D&Co ceases trading

Wed, 4 Feb 2009

R&D&Co has this week closed its doors and ceased trading.

UK packaging designs in Swiss show

Tue, 3 Feb 2009

Swath-drying device wins Glasgow 1999 Design Medal

Fri, 30 Jan 2009

A device used to dry out bales of cut hay is this year’s winner of the Glasgow 1999 Design Medal.

Robot Food wins Robert Welch cutlery brief

Thu, 29 Jan 2009

Harrogate-based consultancy Robot Food is working on packaging designs for home, kitchen and tableware company Robert Welch.

Students urged to avoid design

Tue, 27 Jan 2009

Industry heavyweight Ian Cochrane is recommending design students to ‘get out’ of the sector, which ‘does not need you’, as the recession bites.

Anne Carlisle takes over at Falmouth

Tue, 27 Jan 2009

Professor Anne Carlisle is to replace University College Falmouth rector Alan Livingston.

Two receive RCA’s Misha Black Medals

Mon, 19 Jan 2009

The 2009 Sir Misha Black Medal for Distinguished Services to Design Education will be presented to Judy Frater at a ceremony at the Royal College of Art on the 17 March. At the same time, the 2009 Sir Misha Black Medal for Innovation in Design Education will go to the RCA's head of design interactions, Anthony Dunne.

ASHA creates Ashburton branding

Fri, 16 Jan 2009

Cheltenham brand consultancy Arthur Steen Horne Adamson has created the corporate branding for investment management company Ashburton.

Landor predicts era of austerity

15 January 2009

US consumer tastes are turning on a dime as the recession takes hold, according to Landor Associates' latest trends outlook report. On this side of the pond, UK branding groups agree that branding is rediscovering a 'wartime ethic'.The research, for Landor New York's 2009 Trends Forecast: Market Trends and Their Impact on Brands, straddled a year of two halves, during which a paradigm shift took place from conspicuous consumerism to modesty and moderation.'Earlier in 2008, ...

Creative Direction packages Kelly’s ice cream

Tue, 13 Jan 2009

Cornwall-based consultancy Creative Direction has designed new packaging for ice cream brand Kelly’s.

Slice Design creates Wrigley mint tin

Mon, 12 Jan 2009

Branding agency Slice Design has designed the Extra Ice Tin, a new tin for Wrigley mints.

Call for design element in Capital of Culture plan

Thu, 8 Jan 2009

Interbrand updates Churchill Wines

Tue, 6 Jan 2009

Interbrand has refreshed Churchill Wines’ identity and redesigned the packaging across all its port and wine ranges.

Design Centre North plans go before Gateshead Council

Thu, 18 Dec 2008

Plans for a £13m design facility, Design Centre North, have been submitted to Gateshead Borough Council.

Bloom crafts fruit tea extension for Lipton

18 December 2008

Unilever's Lipton tea brand this week launches a fruit and herbal extension to its range, crafted by Bloom Design.The pack design for the European market, created by Paris consultancy CB'A Design about a year ago, had to be adapted especially for the UK market, according to Bloom managing director Jill Marshall.'Looking at the European design and the tea market in the UK, it wouldn't have cut through - it's too close to Twinings,' she says.Bloom was invited to work ...

Experts to name design city of the future

Mon, 15 Dec 2008

An international panel of experts will battle it out to name the design city of the future in a debate at the Design Museum tonight.

Design Council in mentor plan

11 December 2008

Not all designers are happy about the British Standard draft on Web design

11 December 2008

A British Standard draft on Web design should improve online accessibility for the disabled, but not all designers are happy, says Tom Banks

Peter Mandelson is ‘design champion-in-waiting’

Tue, 9 Dec 2008

Business Secretary Peter Mandelson has been identified as the Government’s design champion-in-waiting by prominent activists in the industry.

Coley Porter Bell works on Abbey Well relaunch

Mon, 8 Dec 2008

Coley Porter Bell has created packaging for Abbey Well water as part of the brand’s relaunch next year .

Turner Duckworth nominated for Grammy award

Fri, 5 Dec 2008

Turner Duckworth’s design for Metallica’s album Death Magnetic has been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Recording Package category.

British consultancies pick up Eurobest awards

Thu, 4 Dec 2008

German group Nordpol & Hamburg scooped the inaugural Eurobest Design award at a ceremony held in Stockholm, Sweden, last night.

The kid's comics market is booming

4 December 2008

Thought comics belonged to a bygone era? Think again. The kids’ magazine market is booming like seldom before, says Emily Pacey

Leicestershire consultancies are booked up

Tue, 2 Dec 2008

Leicestershire-based design groups are being asked to contribute to a book promoting the area’s credentials to potential design buyers.

Mumbai-based designers tell of terror attacks

Thu, 27 Nov 2008

Saffron, Fitch and Start Creative, which all have offices in Mumbai, have told Design Week that their staff are safe following terror attacks last night in which over 100 people were killed.

Five awarded Royal Designers for Industry accolade

Thu, 27 Nov 2008

Product designer Sam Hecht and design duo Pearson Lloyd are among the five designers chosen as this year’s Royal Designers for Industry.

Lancashire Tea designs in Facebook popularity contest

Thu, 27 Nov 2008

Facebook-users are deciding which of four packaging designs by The Rehab Agency for Lancashire Tea Company will go into production next year.The Lancaster-based design and marketing group has created three designs that are competing for votes against the existing packaging, which was created in-house by the Lancashire Tea Company. If the old box wins, Rehab will receive 'a much-reduced fee', says a spokeswoman for the consultancy.Rehab approached the Lancashire Tea Company ...

My World chocolate launch courts fantasy and fair trade

27 November 2008

Pure Equator director David Rogers has embarked on an ambitious project to create his own chocolate brand, My World, which he aims to grow into a children's lifestyle brand.Rogers says he was driven by a concern that there's a loss of innocence in children's brands. 'It's a personal thing for my child,' he says. 'My World is about fantasy and naivety. It's about getting rid of the influence of things like Power Rangers. It's not about killing people.'He adds that it is ...

Pre-Budget report ‘will make no difference’

Tue, 25 Nov 2008

Financial experts say the effect of Chancellor Alistair Darling’s pre-Budget report on the design industry will be ‘negligible’.

Designersblock opens pre-Christmas shop

Mon, 24 Nov 2008

Designersblock is opening a temporary shop in London’s Covent Garden.

CSD enters university consultancy debate

Thu, 20 Nov 2008

The Chartered Society of Designers is planning to host a conference in the new year to discuss the issue of universities offering design services.

Elmwood replaces Tayburn at Nairn's

Thu, 20 Nov 2008

Elmwood has replaced Tayburn as lead design group for Nairn's just weeks after the Scottish group won a Design Business Association Design Effectiveness Award for its work on the oatcake brand.

Brandme appointed to Onken project

Thu, 20 Nov 2008

BR&Me is leading a strategic and creative project for dairy brand Onken, which is expected to result in a raft of new launches early next year.

Gray's centre to act as Scottish design broker

20 November 2008

C4DI, Aberdeen's new £1m Centre for Design and Innovation Management, is seeking Scottish design groups to work with local businesses to improve their products and services.Gray's School of Art has set up the centre, which aims to use its three-year Scottish government funding to help hundreds of small businesses.'We want to have as many Scottish design consultancies on our books as possible, covering many disciplines, from branding to product design,' says centre director ...

Turquoise brands Middle East phone product

Tue, 18 Nov 2008

Turquoise has designed the branding and packaging for a new pay-as-you-go mobile phone product for United Arab Emirates telecoms company Du.

Listen to the Design Week Creative Survey podcast

Fri, 14 Nov 2008

The Design Week Creative Survey podcast is now available online.

Boris Johnson set to unveil design advisory panel

Thu, 13 Nov 2008

London Mayor Boris Johnson is set to name architect Lord Rogers and Sunand Prasad, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, on his design advisory panel, Design Week can reveal.But contrary to recent press reports, there will be no place for architect and urban designer Sir Terry Farrell.The Mayor's office is expected to unveil the panel at the end of this week, and confirmed Farrell would not be on it.The naming of the panel will be among Johnson's ...

James Dyson launches 2009 awards

Thu, 13 Nov 2008

Sir James Dyson is launching his 2009 design awards in London today.

New face and faces at Lloyd Northover

13 November 2008

Brand strategy consultancy Lloyd Northover has rebranded and incorporated Singaporean design group Su Yeang into its operations.Lloyd Northover, owned by Media Square, has also made a number of key appointments.In London, Esther Miller-Comrie has been promoted to managing partner, and Jim Harvey joins as global business development director.In Singapore, Richard Stayte is to be creative director.A new identity has been developed, which the consultancy says ...

Design Week Awards judging panel unveiled

Mon, 10 Nov 2008

The judging panel for the 2009 Design Week Awards has been unveiled.

Heinz seeks consultancies for packaging roster

Thu, 6 Nov 2008

Heinz is putting together a packaging design roster, Design Week can reveal.The move has been prompted by the departure of Heinz chief marketing officer UK & Ireland Suzanne Douglas, who is returning to Australia as managing director of Heinz there. She joined the company in July 2006, bringing with her strong links with Australian consultancy Cowan Design. It has since worked on a host of revamps and launches, including Heinz desserts and baby food.Heinz is thought ...

Red Bee Media wins top Design Effectiveness Award

6 November 2008

Red Bee Media has won the Grand Prix prize at the Design Business Association's DBA Design Effectiveness Awards for its campaign for digital TV channel Dave.Joe Ferry, head of design at Virgin Atlantic and a member of the judging panel, describes the campaign, which saw the channel's name changed from UKTV G2, as 'pure genius'.Before Red Bee Media took on the rebrand, the channel was recording just 2 per cent spontaneous awareness. It also had the highest misattribution ...

Media Square reports profits surge

Tue, 4 Nov 2008

Marketing communications group Media Square has reported a £14.1m increase in profit before tax over the past year.

Beck’s beer vies for creative industries prize

Tue, 4 Nov 2008

Beck’s is in the running to win a new award that recognises the work of big business to support the creative industries.

Tom Dixon launches Irish Design Week

Mon, 3 Nov 2008

Tom Dixon will kick off Irish Design Week tonight at the National Gallery in Dublin.

Design Museum considers move to Commonwealth Institute

Thu, 30 Oct 2008

The Design Museum is in the early stages of planning to move from its Shad Thames home to west London.

Delays to the Arts Council design roster

30 October 2008

The Arts Council's search for a roster of 'cutting-edge' design groups able to transform its image (DW 3 July) is set togo on for two months longer than planned.The £1.5m national roster was to be announced in November, but will not be unveiled until January now. The council blames the delay on 'technical hitches caused by some consultancies submitting very large files with their pre-qualification questionnaires'.A longlist of 242 design groups was whittled down earlier ...

Royal Parks creates first-ever roster

Wed, 29 Oct 2008

The Royal Parks is putting together its first-ever marketing services roster, which will draw on a range of external design skills.

Brand Handling unveils Soap & Glory range

Mon, 27 Oct 2008

Brand Handling’s in-house team has designed its bathcare brand Soap & Glory’s first range of facial skincare products, which launches next month.

RCA gains more space in campus expansion

23 October 2008

Royal College of Art rector Sir Christopher Frayling says the college's expansion to a new Battersea campus will give the design school 'room to breathe'.The proposed £33m new campus (pictured) on Battersea Bridge Road, London SW11, which will house the schools of fine art and applied art, was granted planning permission by Wandsworth Council last week.Frayling told Design Week the move would free up space at the RCA's Kensington campus equal to 'about half of the Darwin ...

Liverpool Design Symposium kicks off

Wed, 22 Oct 2008

More and better debate is crucial if the UK is to be seen as the design capital of the world, says an industry insider following the demise of Scotland's Six Cities Design Festival (DW 16 October).'Talk of the UK's global design status is meaningless if people aren't engaging in proper debate,' says Nico Macdonald, director of design research consultancy Spy and programmer of last year's Designs of the Time conference segment Intersections. 'It is a shame that the Six Cities ...

Pearlfisher pair break away to exploit 'crunch' opportunities

16 October 2008

Pearlfisher creative director Shaun Bowen and client services director Kerry Bolt are to leave in the new year to set up their own packaging and branding consultancy, called B&B.

Six Cities design festival cancelled

Wed, 15 Oct 2008

The 2010 Six Cities Design Festival has been suspended, and the five full-time staff who were managing it have been made redundant, after the Scottish government refused to provide funding.The 2010 festival was to be the follow-up to 2007’s inaugural event - held across six Scottish cities - which attracted some 300 000 people to more than 300 exhibitions, lectures and workshops.It received £3m from the Scottish government and the backing of former First Minister ...

Design Activity rebrands Bassetts vitamins

Mon, 13 Oct 2008

Design Activity has revamped vitamin brand Bassetts Soft & Chewy

FutureBrand overhauls Heartbrand ice cream

Thu, 9 Oct 2008

FutureBrand is leading a major reorganisation of Heartbrand ice cream’s brand portfolio and packaging.

The Dutch set up show

9 October 2008

Design from The Netherlands has just got its own trade showcase. Clare Dowdy looks at what newcomer Freedesigndom has to offer

Istanbul Design Week postponed

Thu, 2 Oct 2008

Wearable games console launches

2 October 2008

The first games console to use radio frequency identification technology, designed around interaction, launches in the UK today.The designer behind some of Nokia's most popular handsets, Khodi Feiz, has turned his hand to start-up brand Swinxs, initiated by its creator Govert de Vries and backed by the founder of Bugaboo strollers Eduard Zanen.Feiz, the founder of Dutch product design consultancy Feiz Design, explains that the promotion of physicality among children has ...

Design Embassy to go overseas

Wed, 1 Oct 2008

The London Design Embassy is to travel overseas to bring designers together with greater numbers of foreign buyers. LDE project director Christine Losecaat is also considering making the embassy a permanent fixture in London.'A permanent embassy could be useful to telecom companies such as LG and Nokia, which are opening design studios in London,' argues Losecaat. 'We should have a healthy debate over the merits of a permanent LDE.'The UK Trade & Industry's creative ...

Jaeger takes over at Art Directors Club

Tue, 30 Sep 2008

The Art Directors Club has elected Doug Jaeger as its new president and announced a boardroom reshuffle.

Dutch police coin it in Sagmeister raid

Thu, 25 Sep 2008

An installation created by graphic design guru Stefan Sagmeister for Droog has been confiscated by Dutch police as a ‘precautionary’ measure to safeguard the artwork from being stolen.

Dairy Crest rolls out Brandopus Country Life identity refresh

25 September 2008

Dairy Crest's key butter brand Country Life has a refreshed identity by packaging design group Brandopus.The butter brand has been a firm British favourite, but is lacking relevance in today's market, explains Brandopus account director Avril Tooley.The idea was to reconnect the product with the British countryside, while making the brand more modern and relevant to today's consumers, says Tooley.Country Life retains its distinctive gold colour scheme, but the logo ...

Szebeko wins British Council prize

25 September 2008

The British Council has awarded public service and communication design consultancy Think Public founding director Deborah Szebeko the inaugural UK Young Design Entrepreneur Award.Indian designer Siddhartha Das, director of Siddhartha and Spaced Out Productions, takes the International Young Design Entrepreneur Award, worth £7500, which will help fund a collaborative project with the council.Szebeko, who was presented with her award by Studio Conran managing director Sebastian ...

Seymour Powell expands in fmcg

Mon, 22 Sep 2008

Seymour Powell is forging ahead with expansion plans within the fmcg sector, and has made a raft of senior appointments.

Fresh look for Coolbrands site

Fri, 19 Sep 2008

Sustainability key concern for Chinese consumers

Thu, 18 Sep 2008

Fringe shows take limelight

18 September 2008

Though 100% Design is still expected to be one of the key attractions at this year's sixth London Design Festival, top names within the industry have created a raft of alternative events, installations and exhibitions across the capital.Building on the success of last year's installations by architects and product designers Zaha Hadid and Amanda Levete, David Adjaye's undulating tulipwood pavilion Sclera, for Size & Matter, is set to take centre stage on the South Bank, ...

Creativity is our USP, says Mandelson

Tue, 16 Sep 2008

The role of design in creating a knowledge economy looks set to be a focus of this year’s London Design Festival, as set out in EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson’s inaugural address last night.

Thames Water unveils On Tap carafe design shortlist

Mon, 15 Sep 2008

Thames Water today reveals ten water carafe designs that have been shortlisted for its London On Tap competition.

Universities shouldn't be undermining design groups

11 September 2008

In a response to Tony Robotham's letter, published in Design Week on 21 August, 19 signatories argue that we must stop academic institutions offering reduced-price design services and undercutting local groupsTony Robotham's letter supporting university consultancies ignores the fact that many commercial product design consultancies' existence depends on their small businesses clients. The design industry has an unsurpassed track record in adding value to micro-businesses and companies ...

Nestle reviews pack roster to bolster product development

Wed, 10 Sep 2008

Nestlé is thought to be reviewing its packaging design roster for the first time since 2003. The global food corporation is understood to be looking at rationalising a cross-divisional roster, which has grown from a strict list to a sprawling catalogue of consul tancies, based on the personal preferences of Nestlé marketers. Although, to date, there has been no formal communication between Nestlé and consultancies, groups were first contac - ted earlier this ...

YouGov panellist wins car

Fri, 5 Sep 2008

Research specialist YouGovCentaur LLP has named creative panel member Rob Spicer as the winner of its latest prize draw.

Brandpool joins Loewy Group

Thu, 4 Sep 2008

Revival of the fittest

4 September 2008

Companies frequently draw on their heritage and revisit archive designs.But as Claire Dowdy discovers, old doesn’t have to mean old-fashioned

ICAD celebrates jubilee with eco book

Tue, 2 Sep 2008

Ireland’s Institute of Creative Advertising and Design kicks off its golden jubilee year celebrations this Thursday with the launch of a showcase book of the best of Irish design talent from the past five years.

Perrier repositions as adult drink

Thu, 28 Aug 2008

Perrier is repositioning its brand in the UK, with the help of graphic design consultancy Cosanostra Design.

DBA IDC '09 to target the couch potato

28 August 2008

This year's Design Business Association Inclusive Design Challenge is to encourage designers to address the immobile culture being created by armchair-bound TV viewers and desk-bound workers.Entitled Sedentary Lives, the theme this year moves away from disability issues to a social one. DBA awards manager Natalie Maher says this is 'to make it more inclusive, so we don't just focus on people who are disabled per se'.The event, which launches on 11 September, is open to ...

Eurobest to appoint design jury

Thu, 28 Aug 2008

The organisers of European advertising awards scheme Eurobest is to appoint a design judging panel, led by Team Creatif France chief executive Sylvia Vitale Rotta.

Grolsch still swinging

Tue, 26 Aug 2008

The iconic Grolsch ‘swingtop’ bottle has undergone a subtle evolution, in its fourth redesign since 1897.

Zoo qoo creative platform launches

Tue, 26 Aug 2008

A new creative platform that will allow designers to upload and share work on a community website officially launches tomorrow.

Aussie wool body repositions to counter boycott

Thu, 21 Aug 2008

After years of controversy and boycotting over the practice of mulesing, Australian Wool Innovation is attempting to reposition two of its key brands, following work by Landor Associates.

Mothercare Essentials redesigned by NB Studio

14 August 2008

Mothercare is set to relaunch its Essentials range, with a new name and packaging design by NB Studio.

Vauxhall boosts arts initiative

Tue, 19 Aug 2008

General Motors is to push the ‘design and style’ values of its car brand Vauxhall, increasing investment in its creative commissions programme.

Eurobest honours design

Fri, 15 Aug 2008

Advertising industry awards body Eurobest is launching a design category at this year’s event, for the first time in its 20-year history.

Gap outlines plan to reduce London team

14 August 2008

Fashion retailer Gap has revealed further details about plans to reduce its London marketing and design team to Design Week.The global chain will axe its European fashion design team from September, and is moving its advertising team to its US headquarters. It will, however, retain an in-house design team working on store design, visual merchandising and in-store events.'It makes sense, if our clothes are being designed in the US, to create advertising there also, so we ...

Dyson ready to ditch design school

Wed, 13 Aug 2008

James Dyson is considering backing out of plans to build a design school in Bath, following the beleaguered project’s latest setback.

London design festival goes sustainable

7 August 2008

This year's London Design Festival will host a creative space that will reach out to the design community, its clients and the wider political arena on the key issues around the role of design in sustainability.It is the first time that the LDF has hosted a major dedicated sustainable design event, backed by such a breadth of industry, political, academic and client supporters, according to an LDF spokesperson. Greengaged will be held on weekdays throughout the festival, which ...

Glengoyne Distillery relaunches website

Thu, 7 Aug 2008

Glengoyne Distillery is relaunching its website in a bid to develop an interactive online community for enthusiasts of the whisky.

Simply Organic gets new look from Parker Williams

Tue, 5 Aug 2008

Food brand Simply Organic is preparing to roll out new branding and packaging created by Parker Williams Design. The brand is relaunching its expanded product range next week.

In-store refresh for Scotmid

Mon, 4 Aug 2008

Scottish independent co-operative chain Scotmid will embark on an in-store refresh this week, using a design by Elmwood Edinburgh.

Female directors rare, says LCC report

Thu, 31 Jul 2008

Women make up just 8 per cent of directors sitting on the boards of a selection of London’s creative businesses, according to a report by the London College of Communications.

Ann Summers keeps design affairs in-house

24 July 2008

Ann Summers is looking in-house to help it weather the high street retail sales slump in the lead-up to Christmas.The lingerie and sex aids chain will roll out its next project, a campaign called Hotel, over the next six months across its UK network of 132 stores.The campaign, which includes retail design, visual merchandising, point-of-sale and graphic design, print, editorial and packaging touchpoints was led by Ann Summers head of design Jon Harris, with help from head ...

Cravendale milk bottle prize winners announced

Tue, 29 Jul 2008

Milk manufacturer Cravendale has announced the winner of an open competition to design the milk bottle of the future.

Identica rebrands Pernod’s Italian bitter

Mon, 28 Jul 2008

Drinks group Pernod Ricard has enlisted the help of branding group Identica, to rebrand Italian bitter Ramazzotti.

Smith & Milton rebuilds creative team

Thu, 24 Jul 2008

London-based branding consultancy Smith & Milton is building its creative team once again, 18 months after founder Howard Milton put the consultancy into administration.

Henna look for Bangra bangers

Tue, 22 Jul 2008

Normally the domain of those with body piercings or the result of drunken festival antics, the henna tattoo has now been given a new context: the sausage.

British Council hunts design entrepreneurs

Thu, 17 Jul 2008

The British Council is launching a UK Young Design Entrepreneur award.

Kia Motors to expand global design team

17 July 2008

The chief design officer for Kia cars, Peter Schreyer is looking to expand Kia’s global design team.

IPA reports fall in media marketing spend

Mon, 14 Jul 2008

David Irwin scoops One Year On award

Thu, 10 Jul 2008

Coleys designs chocolate gum for girls

Mon, 7 Jul 2008

Coley Porter Bell has created the packaging design for Trident’s chocolate chewing gum.

Hollingsworth to head Vibrandt

Mon, 30 Jun 2008

Peter Hollingsworth is set to take the helm at 1HQ’s brand design and packaging group Vibrandt, in the role of managing partner.

Vibrandt’s milk jug proves a hit

Fri, 27 Jun 2008

D&AD honours student winners

Thu, 26 Jun 2008

D&AD has announced the winners of its New Blood Awards, ahead of the D&AD Student Awards taking place tonight.

Drinks company Bottlegreen

19 June 2008

Drinks company Bottlegreen is to launch a new brand and packaging identity for one of its signature beverages, World Domaine. Branding consultancy Ziggurat Brands has redesigned the non-alcoholic wine, creating designs for three 75cl glass bottles. The matt white label features illustrations of grape bunches by Daniela Terrazzinni in three colours, to represent red, white and rosé variants. The adult soft drink will be available in-store from June.

Anthem hires Cracknell to boost UK operation

Tue, 17 Jun 2008

Waste not, want not

12 June 2008

With waste packaging volumes continuing to increase, the need for designers to contribute to the development of sustainable products has now become more urgent than ever. Paul Gander looks at the many challenges posed by eco-design

Brandhouse unveils branding for deli-café

Tue, 10 Jun 2008

Start-up deli brand Origin8 launches this week, with an identity and visual brand language created by Brandhouse.

WPP survey highlights concern about packaging

Thu, 5 Jun 2008

Gallo rosé wine

29 May 2008

Gallo rosé wine White Grenache, designed by branding consultancy Davison Williams, scooped best design and packaging prize at the 2008 Drink Business awards last week. The 'clutch bag' design, with capacity for the equivalent of two 750ml bottles, aims to appeal to its female target audience and to brighten up the traditional rectangular bag-in-box market. The product is now being stocked exclusively in Tesco.

Brand new Top 100 design rankings published

Wed, 28 May 2008

Last year was a buoyant period for UK design, according to the findings of Design Week’s 2008 Top 100 survey. During 2007, overall fee-income was up 12 per cent to a collective £375m for consultancies ranked in the Top 100, with a high proportion anticipa

Starpack to reward design and marketing performance

Tue, 27 May 2008

This year’s Starpack packaging awards, organised by the Institute of Packaging, has seen the creation of a new series of awards focusing on design and marketing performance.

Freixenet pops the cork for new bottles

22 May 2008

Freixenet is set to relaunch its sparkling wine range, with packaging designed by Holmes & Marchant.

Nesta urges action to beat foreign rivals

Tue, 20 May 2008

A report released today calls for less research and more action by high-technology industries if they are to avoid losing business to foreign rivals.

Developers win Green accolade

Mon, 19 May 2008

Four property developers have emerged as leading Green companies in a poll by The Sunday Times yesterday.

Cheap as chic

15 May 2008

Supermarket value ranges aren’t only targeted at the less well-off these days – the trick is to woo consumers across all social strata with an ‘honest’ and straightforward product in no-frills packaging, argues Scott Billings

TBWA/Manchester has created packaging for Fake Bake

15 May 2008

TBWA/Manchester has created the new packaging for self-tanning product range Fake Bake. The designs use dark chocolate and fuschia colours, depicting Art Deco-style outlines of women. TBWA was appointed to the brief last year. The illustrations are aimed at updating the look of the products, to achieve shelf standout in a market where similar products usually feature white or brown packaging.

Is China Design more ambitious?

Mon, 12 May 2008

Body Shop slow to fill Bonadio's shoes

8 May 2008

The Body Shop is still seeking a replacement for its former global creative director Franco Bonadio, more than six months after he defected to Identica.The beauty retailer's creative department comprises about 50 designers specialising in branding, store design, packaging and visual merchandising.But it has been operating without a head of creative since January, when Bonadio took up his role as Identica's UK chief executive.Identica announced that he had accepted ...

Diet Coke is launching limited edition bottles

8 May 2008

Diet Coke is launching new-look, limited edition bottles with packaging designs by Patricia Field, the fashion stylist and designer responsible for the outfits screened on TV series Sex and the City. Epoch Design has applied Field's artwork to fit the drink's original glass bottles. Four design schemes in pink, yellow, red and blue have been created, 'representing the career, passion, love and fashion of modern women'. The range will be available at Selfridges stores nationwide from 15 ...

London On Tap targets restaurants with carafe contest

8 May 2008

If you have ever felt embarrassed asking for a glass of tap water in a restaurant, don't worry, you are not alone. Up to one in five of us are too nervous to request tap water in restaurants, hotels and bars, according to the National Consumer Council.But as part of its London On Tap campaign, Thames Water is hoping to take the stigma out of ordering tap water by enlisting the help of designers to create a restaurant-quality carafe.'We are asking restaurants to slightly ...

Snap up an effectiveness award

Tue, 6 May 2008

The Design Business Effectiveness Awards is calling for entries to its 2008 awards scheme, though it has yet to announce its line-up of judges.

Top-level reshuffle at Ziggurat

Thu, 1 May 2008

Branding and packaging consultancy Ziggurat today sees a number of changes to its management structure.

Suffering for their craft

24 April 2008

A romantic illusion has always been attached to the notion of those with a creative talent. Pablo Picasso was supposed to have created his best work while starving in a Parisian garret. That was more than 100 years ago, but now there are moves in the design world, at least, to ensure that new designers get paid fairly.The Brand Union has set a minimum wage for its trainees of £20 000 because its executive creative director, Glenn Tutssel, says he does not want graduates to be 'used ...

What rate should you be paid?

Sat, 19 Apr 2008

The demand for senior and digital talent has never been stronger. But reduced client budgets are starting to impact on salary levels and recruitment strategies, threatening to stall the freelance sector while promising better packages for permanent staff.

Foster’s launches Green beer down under

Tue, 15 Apr 2008

Foster’s has launched an ‘environmentally friendly’ beer in Australia, designed by Landor Associates Australia.

MetaDesign rebrands San Disk

Thu, 10 Apr 2008

MetaDesign California has redesigned the identity and packaging design for technology company San Disk.

The Brand Union sets pay minimum for graduate recruits

3 April 2008

The Brand Union is to launch an initiative to raise employment standards for young designers in response to Design Week's Salary Survey.The consultancy will introduce a £20 000 minimum wage for graduate recruits, following Design Week reports that in 2007 'UK-wide rates for senior designers increased by 3 per cent, yet rates for junior designers were static' (DW 20 March).Glenn Tutssel, executive creative director of The Brand Union, says, 'Young people are the lifeblood ...

Profile

3 April 2008

Osmotronic founder Matthew Falla thrives on making printed surfaces come alive, bringing interaction design to bear on graphics. Scott Billings meets a designer whose work conjures up a future of ubiquitous media

Pearlfisher gives Tennent’s 1885 premium makeover

Tue, 1 Apr 2008

Brewer InBev is set to relaunch its Tennent’s 1885 lager brand with a redesign by Pearlfisher.

Design Council asks business to invest in UK skills

Wed, 26 Mar 2008

The Design Council is asking Government and private business to invest millions in a raft of initiatives intended to boost the value of UK design through improving skill levels.

Lighting designers to shine at Luminale 08

20 March 2008

Clients’ concerns are evolving and sustainability is often now part of the brief. But it wasn’t always this way, so Clare Dowdy asked five consultancies how they would redo past projects to fit the new eco-conscious consensus

Buy buy baby

20 March 2008

The market in premium baby design seems to be well and truly bouncing. 'One of our best sellers is a Maclaren buggy with leather seat, at £800,' says Janet Rawnsley, co-founder of The Baby on-line retailer, which has just been redesigned with a more lifestyle-led image by consultancy Caulder Moore. She reckons that her customers - parents with an average age of 38 - spend about £2000 on nursery furniture, compared to £300 a couple of years ago.And, as the popularity of the stylish ...

Harrods is to relaunch its bedlinen range

20 March 2008

Harrods is to relaunch its bedlinen range with packaging design by Paul Cartwright Branding. The new black-and-white livery represents a move away from Harrods' corporate green and gold. Cartwright was appointed without a pitch last year, having worked with Harrods for the past three years. The new packaging will roll out from April.

Premiumise me

20 March 2008

Designers and retailers report a booming demand for luxury goods – a trend backed up by market research – but premium brands have to work hard to maintain their exclusivity. Trish Lorenz follows the über-lux trail

Fairtrade design takes off

Wed, 19 Mar 2008

As fairtrade sales hit record levels in the UK, designers are suggesting that the desirability of fairtrade products does not have to be explicit or overplayed on packaging to work most effectively.

Wine label branding off the shelf

13 March 2008

The success of New World wines can be attributed to striking graphics as much as the quality of the product. David Benady examines how European brands are responding in the struggle for shelf standout

Design salaries under the spotlight

Tue, 18 Mar 2008

Creative, management and digital salaries will all come under the spotlight in Design Week’s annual survey out tomorrow.

FutureBrand opens in Germany

Fri, 14 Mar 2008

FutureBrand opens its first German office next week in collaboration with advertising agency McCann World Group Germany.

LDA boosts Designing Demand programme

Fri, 14 Mar 2008

The London Development Agency has announced it is to partner with Design London and accountant Grant Thornton to deliver Designing Demand, the Design Council’s national business programme, in the capital.

DIUS to unveil Government innovation strategy

Thu, 13 Mar 2008

The Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills is set to publish its innovation strategy today.

Frayling to quit RCA rectorship

Tue, 11 Mar 2008

JKR redesigns Bulmers cider

Fri, 7 Mar 2008

Brewer Scottish & Newcastle is relaunching its Bulmers cider brand with a redesign by Jones Knowles Ritchie.

Media Square shares tumble

Fri, 7 Mar 2008

The share price of beleaguered marketing and communications group Media Square dropped 14 per cent yesterday following revelations by its executive chairman, Roger Parry, that the AIM-listed company was held together with ‘string and Blu-Tack’ before he j

Design Week Awards podcast goes live

Thu, 6 Mar 2008

Design Week Award winners were queuing to be featured on our awards podcast on Tuesday at the London Hilton, Park Lane.

China’s rise hits graphic design

Wed, 5 Mar 2008

After decades of inward-looking central planning, China is joining the international community. On the eve of a major exhibition at the V&A, how are the country’s graphic designers responding to the sweeping changes of reform? asks Zhang Hongxing

Creative Exchange event set to push China-UK design link-ups

28 February 2008

The Creative Exchange with China conference, a meeting point for creative industry companies from China and Britain, including design consultancies, takes place on Thursday 13 March.Key speakers on the day include Sir Michael Bichard, rector of University of the Arts London and chairman of the Design Council, alongside designer Sebastian Conran.The day will provide designers and others working in the creative sector with an insight into how China's creative industries are ...

Design Week hits the Hilton

Tue, 4 Mar 2008

The 20th annual Design Week Awards takes place tonight at the London Hilton, Park Lane, W1.

Branding performs well for WPP

Fri, 29 Feb 2008

Landor Associates, The Brand Union, Addison, The Partners and Fitch have been singled out as having performed particularly well in 2007, according to WPP’s preliminary results for the full year.

Future brand trends uncovered

Wed, 27 Feb 2008

The shift towards softer, more emotional and intuitive brands and products will be just one of the trends that designers need to be aware of next season, says trend research group The Future Laboratory. ‘Womenomics’ – or ‘soft branding’ – is just one of five trends that will be explored at Future Laboratory’s forthcoming bi-annual Trend Briefing Day in April. Chris Sanderson, creative director at Future Laboratory and Viewpoint Magazine, says, ‘We don’t ...

Merger of specialists to create Arts University Cornwall

21 February 2008

The South West region is a step closer to having a specialist arts university with the news that University College Falmouth and Dartington College are to merge.The merger in April between the renowned design, graphics and media school, and the music, theatre and dance institution, will pave the way for the new specialist Arts University Cornwall by 2012, says University College Falmouth principal Alan Livingston (pictured).Livingston explains that Dartington's need to ...

Landor recharges Uniross batteries packaging

Thu, 21 Feb 2008

Brand packaging for the rechargeable and environmentally friendly battery brand Uniross is set to launch nationwide, designed by Landor Associates Paris.

Redesigning the toothpaste tube

14 February 2008

Pizza brand Goodfella’s

14 February 2008

Pizza brand Goodfella’s is launching new-look packaging designed by Jeli. The nascent consultancy claims it beat a Northern Foods-rostered group to clinch the job.

Hot fifty - Apple

14 February 2008

If design head Jonathan Ive's proven creative prowess isn't enough, the launch of the iPhone last autumn guarantees Apple a place among the 2008 Hot 50. Its touch-screen technology has changed the way in which we expect to communicate, and brought new hand gestures into international sign language.The early models of the iPhone are not without their problems, and the West Coast company has been accused of cynicism in the way it dropped the price dramatically a couple of months ...

Hot fifty - Beck's Fusions

14 February 2008

Public music events aren't new, but the concept behind Beck's Fusions takes them into a different dimension. The brainchild of lager brand Beck's and London's Institute of Contemporary Arts, this series of multimedia events, held in a temporary performance pod during September last year, combined music with visual art at prominent venues across the UK and Ireland.

Hot Fifty - Blogging

14 February 2008

There are times when a phenomenon, rather than a person or organisation, merits a mention for the influence it exerts on design and related creative media. One such phenomenon is blogging, the vogue for running Internet diaries that encourage comment and criticism from anyone who happens by.

Hot fifty - Gordon Brown

14 February 2008

Controversy surrounds Gordon Brown's Government as we go to press, but design still has much to thank the Prime Minister for.

Hot fifty - Sheridan Coakley

14 February 2008

Sheridan Coakley has long been a champion of great design. Through his SCP stores he has promoted and commissioned largely British or UK-trained furniture and accessories designers, creating a number of modern classics in the process.

Hot fifty - Comme des Garçons

14 February 2008

Last December, fashion brand Comme des Garçons delighted the Mayfair set with a guerrilla store in London's Burlington Arcade to promote the launch of its Comme des Garçons 8 88 perfume.

Hot fifty - Professor Martin Darbyshire

14 February 2008

While he glories in the title of professor, Martin Darbyshire is a practising product designer and also chief executive of seminal London design consultancy Tangerine.

Hot fifty - Tom Dixon

14 February 2008

If an overseas design aficionado was asked to put a face on British design, you can guarantee that Tom Dixon would be in the running.

Hot fifty - The Drawbridge

14 February 2008

In this age of on-line blogs, it is refreshing to see an independent magazine that gives good copy on a mix of cultural and social issues and blends it with great art direction.

Hot fifty - Martino Gamper

14 February 2008

The highly inventive designer Martino Gamper has a wonderfully mixed background, which shows through in his eclectic work. This was evident in the exhibition A 100 chairs for 100 days, which was held in London last autumn to coincide with the publication of his book, which bears the same title. For the show he made a chair a day in a bid to make 100 chairs in 100 days.

Hot fifty - Helen Hamlyn Centre

14 February 2008

It is often hard for an organisation to redefine itself once it is established. This is particularly the case in academia, where habits tend to stick more easily than they do in the commercial world and change can be slow.

Hot fifty - Gary Hustwit

14 February 2008

It is rare for design of any kind to make it on to the entertainments circuit, let alone a specialist area such as typography. But the documentary Helvetica, directed by Gary Hustwit, had showings in several major cities across the world, not least at Oxford's BritDoc festival and London's Institute of Contemporary Arts, and even made it on to national TV in the UK.

Hot fifty - Nick Jones

14 February 2008

Members' club supremo Nick Jones has long catered for the creative community at work and play, with venues such as Soho House in London and New York, Electric House in west London and a 'country hotel', Babington House near Frome in Somerset.

Hot fifty - Land Securities

14 February 2008

For the second year running, property developer Land Securities has made it into the Hot 50. It is here again for the consistency of its design management process and commitment to great creativity, of which there has been even greater evidence over the past 12 months.

Hot fifty - Robin Levien

14 February 2008

Robin Levien has long been acknowledged as an expert in industrial ceramics. His taps and toilets are legendary, particularly for UK bathrooms company Ideal Standard, for which he became non-executive design director in 2003.

Hot fifty - John McAslan Family Trust

14 February 2008

Architect John McAslan is behind the John McAslan Family Trust, which supports projects largely relating to young people in the arts and education, as well as film, TV, music, dance, drama and sport.

Hot fifty - Sophie Murray and Jane Wood

14 February 2008

It is rare to see a mother and daughter combination featuring in a listing such as this. But in this instance it is justified, given that both were involved in commissioning Thomas Heatherwick's first building in the UK - the East Beach Café at Littlehampton on the South Coast.

Hot fifty - Nokia

14 February 2008

In February, Nokia finally opened its long-awaited flagship store, designed by Eight Inc, in London's Regent Street, after some three months' delay. But you have to applaud the Finnish telecoms giant for its plans to take the West End by storm and consolidate its UK design team at the new central London offices.

Hot fifty - Royal College of Art

14 February 2008

The Royal College of Art hasn't made it into the Hot 50 previously. Its high-profile rector Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, now also chairman of the beleaguered Arts Council, made the listing when he was chairman of the Design Council, and its inclusive design arm, the Helen Hamlyn Centre, features this year . But though it fulfils its remit admirably, the London postgraduate art and design college wasn't deemed to have gone beyond the brief before.

Hot fifty - At Six Cities Design Festival

14 February 2008

Organisers of Scotland's Six Cities Design Festival are still considering how to take the venture forward, but they should be applauded on what they achieved first time round. It ran from 17 May to 3 June 2007 and the programme included a host of business, design and learning activities as well as public events.

Hot fifty - Sir John Sorrell

14 February 2008

If a knighthood doesn't qualify you for a place in the Hot 50, it would be difficult to know what does. An award in the New Year's Honours List therefore puts Sir John Sorrell here as an untiring champion of design.

Hot fifty - Peter Spence

14 February 2008

Peter Spence is an unlikely champion of design. But the former business advisor set up the South Coast Design Forum in May 2006 as a response to local designers who had moved out of London for family and other reasons, but missed the buzz of the capital.

Hot fifty - Michael Thomson

14 February 2008

Regular conference-goers in design will be aware of Michael Thomson. The self-effacing Irishman may seem an unlikely champion of design, but for years he has battled on the international scene to gain greater recognition for design among European governments.