Madefire app aims to spark the next generation of graphic novels

The Madefire business was set up last year by Moving Brands co-founder Ben Wolstenholme, working with comic artist Liam Sharp, who has drawn Spiderman, Superman, Batman and other characters.

Madefire says it is aiming to ‘redefine the way stories are created, read and shared’, by developing a digital publishing platform that would allow people to create Motion Books.

Moving Brands created the Madefire identity, which it says it developed as a ‘truly moving world identity – with every element of the identity system specifically designed to appear more tactile and immersive when seen in the app’s native iPad environment’.

The identity, which is formed from four circles, is designed to form an ‘M’ and also be booklike in form, as well as paying homage to comic book visual language. Here’s a video showing that in more detail:

Mat Heinl, Moving Brands chief creative officer, says, ‘We wanted to create a powerful symbol that would be at home within the world of graphic novels.’

Moving Brands also worked on the interactive design for the Madefire app, which launches this week, and allows users to download Madefire motion books. The app also features a tool (currently in beta) that will allow authors to create their own motion books.

There are currently three motion books available: Mono, by Ben Wolstenhome; Captain Stone, by Liam Sharp; and Treatment, by 2000AD illustrator Dave Gibbons.