Design Week articles from January 2008

Design Week archives from January 2008

Fab Four-themed hotel opens in time for Liverpool 08 festival.
January 4, 2008... A Hard Day's Night, a luxury 'Beatles' hotel in Liverpool, is to swing open its doors to coincide with the city's tenure as the 2008 European Capital of Culture. With interiors and brand identity by Design LSM, the four-star boutique...

Brahma holds unpaid pitch for 2008 campaign.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Top ten global beer brand Brahma is side-stepping professional design services to engage consumers in its 2008 promotional campaign. The group is running a 'public art competition' - Visto Brahma - for a design that will be used on...

Element book.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Element, the new book by Ove Arup and Partners deputy chairman Cecil Balmond, explores the rhythms and patterns of nature from the perspective of a cultural travel writer. Designed by Fruitmachine Design, the book uses colour photographs and...

Sorrell nets knighthood in honours list.
January 4, 2008... John Sorrell, chairman of the Sorrell Foundation, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and the London Design Festival, has been knighted in the New Year's Honours List. Sorrell chaired design consultancy Newell and Sorrell...

COMMENT: John Sorrell's knighthood is an accolade for design too.(Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment)
January 4, 2008... Our congratulations go to the newly dubbed Sir John Sorrell on attaining a knighthood on the New Year's Honours List (see News, page 3). It is an honour richly deserved and acknowledges his enthusiasm in promoting the creative industries over...

Design City to push design in Birmingham.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Showcasing an array of Birmingham's design talent, Design City launches at The Interiors Show, to be held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on 20 January. Now in its second year, Design City has been organised by Birmingham...

#1.7m Wysing Arts Centre revamp ready to be unveiled.
January 4, 2008... The visual arts in Cambridge are set to receive a boost, with the opening of the revamped Wysing Arts Centre this week. The #1.7m centre, incorporating a total of nine buildings, has been in development for three years, with design by...

Unreal redesign to help publisher bash Bible market rivals.
January 4, 2008... Even the Bible, it would seem, cannot rise above commercial competition, as Hodder & Stoughton's scripture range is set to be rebranded to make it stand out in a crowded market. With designs by Unreal, the publisher's New International...

Arty cover for new pocket Tube map.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Art on the Underground has commissioned a new front cover for the pocket version of the Tube map, to be unveiled this month, designed by acclaimed UK artist Cornelia Parker. Entitled Underground Abstract, the bold cover design echoes the...

Orme departure sparks search for CCB chief.
January 4, 2008... The Centre for Creative Business is undergoing a management restructure, following the departure of its chief executive Greg Orme. Orme, who helped to found the joint venture between London Business School and the University of the Arts...

Smilers stamps.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Royal Mail will issue a range of 'smilers' stamps on 15 January, designed by Front Media. Based on the idea of a personalised stamp design that uses consumers' own photographs, the tweaked landscape format aims to accommodate portrait...

IN BRIEF: University of the Arts London branding.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Clear Focus Design and Marketing has been appointed to develop the branding for a new key conference by the University of the Arts London and London Business School. The conference, to be held at London's Royal Festival Hall, will take place on...

IN BRIEF: Logo for Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Lincolnshire-based consultancy Inspiration has created a special logo for the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, celebrating 90 years of the Royal Air Force this spring. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Allies & Morrison website.(Website overview)(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Digital consultancy ID Media has beaten six other groups to create a website for architect Allies & Morrison. Property developer Hines has also enlisted ID Media to create a website for a mixed-use development near Hayes, Middlesex. ...

IN BRIEF: Cabe asking public for best and worst home developments.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment is asking the public to nominate the best and worst newly built home developments for its 2008 Building for Life awards. For more information, e-mail enquiries@buildingforlife.org. ...

IN BRIEF: Boutique rental apartment.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Property developer and interior designer Brahm has launched a boutique rental apartment at Cadogan Square, London SW1, in conjunction with Pringle. Designed by Brahm, the apartment uses fabrics and furnishings that echo the Pringle...

NEWS IN PICTURES: Bog Life group to launch book.
January 4, 2008... The Big Life group of social businesses and charities is to launch a book to celebrate its first five years in business. It was designed by Manchester-based consultancy Love. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

NEWS IN PICTURES: Hagar opens store in Reykjavik.
January 4, 2008... Retail investment group Baugur - known as Hagar in Iceland - has opened a 7600m2 food and department store concept in Reykjavik, designed by London consultancy M Worldwide. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

NEWS IN PICTURES: Blooey to launch this year.
January 4, 2008... A new children's character called Blooey, a scruffy blue dog created by artist David Mostyn, is to launch this year in a series of books. Blooey has his own theme tune, stories, podcasts and images. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd....

NEWS IN PICTURES: Hidden Talent created.
January 4, 2008... Arthur Steen Horne Adamson has created a book, Hidden Talent, in conjunction with insurance underwriter Lloyd's of London. It contains images taken by workers at Lloyd's who took part in the consultancy's Nimbus photographic training...

NEWS IN PICTURES: Annual review for deaf and blind design.
January 4, 2008... Radley Yeldar has designed the 2006/7 annual review for deaf and blind charity Sense International. The review uses tactile embossed illustrations to communicate the issues faced by deaf and blind people. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

Study takes sensory approach to improve office of the future.
January 4, 2008... For decades, designers have been rethinking the workspace of the future. But now, with the ability to embed new technologies, the future work environment is becoming more than just a concept. In any traditional model of working life we're...

PRIVATE VIEW: Croydon blazes a trail.
January 4, 2008... David Bernstein hopes that Croydon's makeover will be as innovative as the town's 'hospital-at-home' programme, which won a Public Services Award One advantage of a regular column - and having an understanding editor - is that you can...

INSPIRED: Tricia Austin.(Brief article)(Column)
January 4, 2008... Tricia Austin, Central St Martins College of Art and Design I am inspired by my colleagues and students. Each year we take a group of graduates from architecture, graphics, media and writing. It's like setting up a design office with...

LETTER: A new generation of female designers is set to make a mark.(Letter to the editor)
January 4, 2008... Your piece last week (Comment, DW 13 December) has certainly created some debate here at Together. Either women aren't at the top in design because they don't want to be (unlikely) or they encounter barriers that their male counterparts...

VOXPOP: Defining issue for design world in 2008.(Proctor and Stevenson)(Nesta)
January 4, 2008... What will be the defining issue for the design world in 2008? What should designers be doing this year to ensure it is a successful one? The year ahead could be a tight one for design and I believe it will be increasingly about designers...

LETTER: Bichard must promote design's role in IP battle.(Letter to the editor)
January 4, 2008... Mike Dempsey made a valid point (Letters, DW 13 December) that Sir Michael Bichard should continue banging on boardroom doors evangelising about the importance of design and its rightful place in that inner sanctum. However, equally...

LETTER: There are no short cuts to a career in graphic design.(Letter to the editor)
January 4, 2008... While for the most part I agree with Alan Herron's comments (Letters, DW 6 December), I don't care for his closing remarks - 'On second thoughts, that's about as much real teaching that a student on a full- time three-year course gets...

PROFILE: R&D&Co.(Interview)
January 4, 2008... Proud of its record in making clients 'fit for purpose', R&D&Co still manages to produce show-stopping work. Clare Dowdy talks to Rob Andrews and David Carroll, the well-connected founders of this fledgling outfit What comes after Vince...

CARS: Studio style.
January 4, 2008... Free of the corporate strictures of Ford ownership, Aston Martin has just opened its first dedicated design studio. Hannah Booth gets a tour, and looks at the implications for the future of this coolest of cool brands For a brand that...

EXHIBITION DISPLAY: Product placement.
January 4, 2008... Large prints or small? Simple black frames or lightboxes? Spotlights for drama or subtle illumination to lose shadows? Dominic Lutyens discovers that there's more to the art of photographic display than meets the eye Since photography...

PRODUCT DESIGN: Dream gadgets.
January 4, 2008... Product designers take note - the most popular request for a new design gadget in 2008 is a device to pause time. We asked you what's on your wish list for this year, and here are some of your nominations Patrick Baglee, EHS Brann I...

Northern lights.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... By Fiona Sibley Most eyes will be on Liverpool as the European Capital of Culture 2008, but the home of The Beatles in fact shares the honours with Norway's fourth city, Stavanger. As local residents enjoy only an hour's sunlight per...

Wallace Collection hunts for design group.
January 10, 2008... London-based museum The Wallace Collection is to transform the main entrance of its Grade II listed building and is hunting for a design consultancy to take part in creating the space. The gallery at Hertford House in Manchester Square,...

Liverpool 08 kicks off celebrations.(European Capital of Culture)(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Liverpool kicks off its year in the spotlight as European Capital of Culture this Friday (11 January). The opening celebrations will continue throughout the weekend. A year-long programme of 350 cultural events includes just two dedicated...

Xerox unveils major rebranding.
January 10, 2008... Xerox Corporation has unveiled its first major rebranding in more than 40 years, designed by Interbrand. The new identity features a lowercase version of the Xerox name, using vibrant red alongside a sphere sketched with lines that link to...

Tough broadcast sector forces English & Pockett closure.
January 10, 2008... The screen branding specialist English & Pockett has closed its doors after 23 years, due to what the consultancy's directors call the 'changing economic environment' in the market for broadcast design. As a result of the closure, which...

Lacoste rebuffed for second time over use of crocodile logo.
January 10, 2008... Lacoste's defence of its iconic crocodile logo was widely covered last week after newspapers reported the brand was challenging the use of a similar logo by a Gloucester dental practice. But Design Week has learned that the fashion label...

Ciroc Vodka is working with eight design groups.
January 10, 2008... Ciroc Vodka is working with eight design groups to create eight new bottle designs for its grape-based vodka drinks. Jam, Inflate, Christoph Behling, Feek, Spy, Wildfire, Jake Phipps and Jason Bruges will be paired with London bars or clubs as...

Wood & Wood Design reborn as FW Design.(Wayfinding consultancy)(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Wayfinding consultancy Wood & Wood Design has closed and reformed as FW Design, retaining all Wood & Wood Design's clients and its 14 staff. The company has split from sister company Wood & Wood Signs, although it will continue to share...

Samsung create rubberized handset.(Solid)(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Samsung's design team has created a rubberised handset called Solid, which will be launched as a joint venture between Samsung Mobile and O2. Described as Samsung's 'first ultra durable handset', the phone will survive 'water splashes and...

Focus is firmly on auto innovation at Detroit show.
January 10, 2008... More than 50 new car designs will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week, the highlight of the international automotive industry's calendar. Among them is the new Mini Clubman, the first five-door,...

NLA's capital waterside spectacular.
January 10, 2008... Waterfront London, a new exhibition on the design of future building projects including those along the River Thames, opens this week at New London Architecture, London WC1. Designed by Manha, the showcase has been created in conjunction...

James Bond stamps licensed to thrill by the Royal Mail.
January 10, 2008... The Royal Mail is marking the May centenary of the birth of James Bond creator Ian Fleming with six stamp designs, featuring the covers of different versions of the most famous superspy novels. The stamps are the work of London graphic...

Lichfield cathedral to unveil new branding.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Lichfield cathedral, Staffordshire, is set to unveil new branding by Sutton Coldfield-based Essence Design. The brief was to create 'a modern and contemporary brand' that does not 'bask in a medieval tradition'. The resulting visual identity,...

IN BRIEF: Yeo Valley Organic to relaunch dairy range.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Yeo Valley Organic will this month launch its redesigned dairy range by Blue Marlin. The revamp includes packaging for adult and children's yoghurts, cheese, butter, cream, creme fraiche products and premium dessert ranges. Copyright:...

COMMENT: It's a difficult business, but digital is key to the future.
January 10, 2008... English & Pockett's quiet disappearance from the scene marks an interesting start to the new year (see News, page 3). A pioneer of screen graphics in the UK, it worked for 23 years, espousing branding when we entered the digital era. It...

Hamleys appoints its first-ever toy designer.(Stacey Dix)
January 10, 2008... Hamleys has appointed its first-ever toy designer, University College Falmouth graduate Stacey Dix. The retailer has charged Dix with creating a luxury line for its own-brand toy range. Hamleys supports an internal design team of about...

Conchango heads for Aim with 'aggressive' growth plan.
January 10, 2008... Digital media specialist Conchango is to be listed on the Alternative Investment Market later this month, following its reverse takeover of the cash shell investment company Harrier Group. The deal leaves Conchango joint managing...

Creative sector has role to play in rural areas, says Nesta.
January 10, 2008... Traditionally, cultural and economic innovation is firmly linked to urban centres, particularly those of London and the South East. But the UK's rural areas are home to almost a fifth of the population, and despite the fact that the role...

NEWS IN PICTURES: Biggest building receives planning permission.
January 10, 2008... What is claimed to be the biggest building in the world has received planning permission in Moscow. Crystal Island, designed by Foster & Partners, will stand 450m tall and contain 2.5 million m2 of floorspace. An external 'tent' will hold...

NEWS IN PICTURES: Liberty collaborating with the V&A.
January 10, 2008... Department store Liberty is collaborating with the Victoria & Albert Museum to create an exhibition on Chinese design. China Design Now will include work by Sam Buxton, Wokmedia Sizzle and Han Feng, and opens on 15 March. Copyright:...

NEWS IN PICTURES: Banksy artwork auctioning on eBay.
January 10, 2008... Portobello Post is auctioning its Banksy artwork on eBay. The auction closes on January 14. The post-production house says the street artist undertook the task last summer while hidden inside a small yellow workman's tent in the busiest part...

NEWS IN PICTURES: Second Motion Blur book and DVD to be released.
January 10, 2008... Onedotzero will release its second Motion Blur book and DVD on 21 January, showcasing work from 27 digital artists including Airside, D- Fuse, Intro, Lobo, Mk12, Ne-o and Pleix. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

NEWS IN PICTURES: Ministry of Experience creates storefronts.
January 10, 2008... Ministry of Experience has created interactive storefronts for Tommy Hilfiger Denim outlets in London, Dublin, Amsterdam, Cologne and Antwerp. They feature touch-screen technology which lets shoppers take pictures and print them on to...

ANALYSIS: Time to raise our game in 2008.
January 10, 2008... UK product design is deemed to be under threat from foreign competition and overproduction. Is the sector ripe for reinvention? asks Jim Dawton Last year's launch of the Apple iPhone was arguably one of the most successful product...

PRIVATE VIEW: Not just for Christmas?
January 10, 2008... Designers still send out Christmas cards, but Adrian Shaughnessy wonders if these are genuine displays of creativity or thinly disguised pitches for new business By now they're all in the recycling bin. One or two may have been kept...

INSPIRED: Silas Amos.
January 10, 2008... Silas Amos Jones Knowles Ritchie For me, inspiration comes from conversation. Obviously, galleries, travelling and so on fill my visual memory up for future regurgitation. But I find the feeling of being truly inspired comes from...

LETTER: Women can make it to the top, but must prove their worth.(Letter to the editor)
January 10, 2008... I would like the opportunity to respond to your editorial item on women working in the design sector (Comment, DW 13 December). For four years, I was a designer at Pentagram. I recall that there was a set of criteria which were used to...

VOXPOP: How should designers approach work to ensure creative success?
January 10, 2008... How should designers be approaching their work in 2008 to ensure creative success? Is there anything right now they should be seeking to avoid? It seems like things might get tight in 2008, but the value of effective design to the UK economy,...

LETTER: There's more to London than trendy postcodes.(Letter to the editor)
January 10, 2008... With regard to your piece on business rent (News Analysis, DW 13 December), I have to ask the question, what is this obsession with having to work in central London? I read the following with astonishment: 'Many creative groups in the...

LETTER: In a world where even Design Week fails the equality test.(Letter to the editor)
January 10, 2008... There are, indeed, many excellent women designers, plenty at a senior level, but very few at the top (Comment, DW 13 December). When I look across the design business, both now and over the past 20 years, the famous names are virtually...

PROFILE: DeValence.
January 10, 2008... French design duo DeValence thrives on producing conceptual, highbrow work, such as a 'signage book' for an exhibition, yet they dream of doing more mainstream projects. John Stones catches up with the pair It all started off as a bit of...

PROPERTY: Commercial cachet.
January 10, 2008... Things are changing in the world of business property, with developers investing much more in design and using increasingly sophisticated and lavish branding techniques to entice buyers and tenants. Scott Billings checks out the scene ...

DIGITAL: Art for all.
January 10, 2008... As a medium for preserving and promoting access to art, the Internet has great potential. Yolanda Zappaterra takes a look at four websites that harness user-generated content to create debate about contemporary art There are few areas...

BUSINESS INSIGHT: Planning for a brighter future.
January 10, 2008... By embedding planning into their business model, design groups can better serve their clients - just like ad agencies do, says Katie Lancaster Having joined Blue Marlin Brand Design four months ago, after nearly 15 years as a planner in...

Situations vacant.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... By Fiona Sibley Next week, 2008's pendulum will be set rocking by the London Art Fair, as 100 British galleries unveil their displays of contemporary art. Beyond the booths, it's worth checking out the Photo 50 exhibition, dedicated to...

Leicester Square plan benefits designers.
January 17, 2008... Designers look set to benefit from a proposed #18.5m revamp of London's Leicester Square, which aims to turn the West End site into a 'world class' tourist destination. Westminster City Council and the Heart of London Business Alliance...

Jewish Book Week 2008.(Karen Cinnamon)(Brief article)
January 17, 2008... The identity for Jewish Book Week 2008 has been created by freelance designer Karen Cinnamon. The design reflects the festival's varied literary offerings which include lectures and readings on Jewish mysticism, Jewish heritage in England,...

Liverpool 08 is 'bypassing' the industry.
January 17, 2008... Liverpool design consultancies are criticising the organisers of the city's year as European Captial of Culture for 'bypassing' them. 'The programming process has bypassed the design sector in Liverpool - there is no framework for us to...

Honour Aviation lands BMI strategy and redesign briefs.
January 17, 2008... British Midland Airways has appointed Honour Aviation to refresh its marketing strategy. The airline branding consultancy is also redesigning BMI's two departure lounges at Heathrow Terminal One, and its staff uniforms. Honour Aviation...

Opening of cultural centre gives Korea a UK showcase.
January 17, 2008... The UK's first Korean Cultural Centre will launch in London's Trafalgar Square later this month, to showcase examples of work from every cultural discipline, from visual art to theatre and food. From 30 January, the centre will open in...

Tata unveil the Nano.(Tata Motors Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 17, 2008... Last week, Indian automotive group Tata unveiled the Nano, the world's cheapest car, priced at 100 000 rupees (#1275). A lot is riding on its four wheels. Tata hopes its fresh design and low price will put cars within the reach of millions...

Hillman turns THE into a quarto magazine.
January 17, 2008... The Times Higher Education underwent a redesign last week, when it received a new look and rebrand by Studio David Hillman. Formerly a tabloid newspaper, it will now publish as a quarto magazine. Its first major redesign for 36 years will...

Leonardo on Flight.
January 17, 2008... Leonardo on Flight, an illustrated book with graphic design and layout by Italian consultancy Edimedia and cover design by Renata Silveira and Paola Zacchini, is published by Oxford Publicity Partnership. It celebrates Leonardo da Vinci's...

Premier Foods to rationalise roster following RHM deal.
January 17, 2008... Food giant Premier Foods has called for a shake-up of its design services across the group, more than a year after its #1.2bn acquisition of RHM. As part of the review, the group will 'consolidate' the number of design consultancies it...

Random House redesigns Chatwin's back catalogue.
January 17, 2008... Publisher Random House has redesigned travel writer Bruce Chatwin's backlist, with a striking series of coloured, vertically striped cover graphics. Designer Michael Salu, who is part of Random House's CCV design team, came up with the...

Moorhouse launch two new bottled ales in the US.
January 17, 2008... Lancashire brewery Moorhouse has launched two new bottled ales in the US, with brand identity, graphics and packaging by 999 Design. In developing the labelling for Blond Bitch, the consultancy has linked witchcraft with an image of a...

Music listening project tunes up with look by Sarah Boris.(The Royal Philharmonic Society)(Brief article)
January 17, 2008... The identity for Hear Here, a classical music event programme focusing on listening, has been created by typographic designer Sarah Boris. The classical music listening project - presented by The Royal Philharmonic Society, together with...

IN BRIEF: Mission Praise online launched.(Harper Collins )(Brief article)
January 17, 2008... Harper Collins has launched its hymn book Mission Praise online, making it the first hymn book to be available digitally. Visitors to www.missionpraise.com will be able to browse more than 1800 songs from the collection and download the words,...

IN BRIEF: HBOS Museum on the Mound launches new website.(Website overview)(Brief article)
January 17, 2008... HBOS Museum on the Mound has launched a new website, www.museumonthemound.com, designed by Edinburgh-based creative consultancy Basestation and exhibition design group Studio SP. The site features a section on the history of Scottish banking....

IN BRIEF: Se launches in February.(Brief article)
January 17, 2008... Se, a new UK-based furniture company, launches in February in London's Battersea, with a range of deluxe furniture and lighting. The first collection will come from French designer Damien Langlois-Meurinne and will consist of 26 pieces...

IN BRIEF: iPhone may be launched with increased memory.(Brief article)
January 17, 2008... Apple may launch an iPhone with increased memory, according to reports. A 3G iPhone is understood to be in development, but no details of the launch have been revealed. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Creative Space Agency launched.(Brief article)
January 17, 2008... The Cultural Industries Development Agency and Urban Space Management have joined forces to launch the Creative Space Agency, a service that links owners of vacant property with creative individuals and businesses looking for spaces in which...