New creative head for South Bank Centre

The South Bank Centre in London has scrapped its creative director position following the departure of John Pasche (DW 28 April) and has appointed Tim Hodgson to the newly-created role of art director.

Hodgson will lead the organisation’s five-strong in-house team and focus more on artistic direction, rather than administration. He has been promoted from senior designer.

His first ‘big job’ will be to oversee the implementation of the organisation’s rebrand, which is currently under review by Wolff Olins (DW 10 March). The consultancy has already ‘presented several routes’ as part of its pre-design research, according to Hodgson.

He aims to ‘police’ the SBC identity more and ‘tighten things up with a clear, consistent branding so that everything has the right look and feel’.

Hodgson will also be responsible for all of the SBC’s graphic work across promotional literature, posters and on-line design for the centre’s four venues: the Royal Festival Hall, Hayward Gallery, Purcell Room and Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Taking up the position officially in October, Hodgson will report to design manager Steve Russell, who heads up the team.