Design Week articles from November 2005

Design Week archives from November 2005

Design industry backs plan for UK design centre.
November 3, 2005... Soundings taken among senior design industry players suggest there would be little opposition to any Government plans to back the building of a UK design centre, Design Week can reveal. With the findings of the Cox Review due to be...

Media Square acquires design groups from Huntsworth stable.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Media Square this week secured the #63m takeover of a clutch of marketing services groups from communications network Huntsworth, including design consultancies Lloyd Northover and Holmes & Marchant. The deal, which received the...

Survey shows starting pay down.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Salaries for senior appointments in design have fallen over the past year amid signs that costs are being further reined in, according to Design Week's latest salary survey. The salary for a managing director in London has dropped by more...

STOP PRESS: Interbrand refresh for Camelot range.(National Lottery games)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Camelot is relaunching its National Lottery games, with a series of refreshed identities by Interbrand, in collaboration with its in-house design team. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

STOP PRESS: Antidote sting for BBC Broadcast.(BBC Broadcast relaunches as Red Bee Media)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... BBC Broadcast, the former creative wing of the BBC, acquired by Macquarie Capital Alliance Group this year, has relaunched as Red Bee Media, with an identity created by Antidote. See Hot 50, page 5. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd....

Revenue up for staple WPP sectors.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... WPP saw revenues at its branding, identity, healthcare and specialist communications division jump by 26.6 per cent year-on-year in its third quarter. Omnicom Group, parent of Interbrand, Wolff Olins and Siegel & Gale, has also posted its Q3...

Motorola turns 'radical' with plans for London design studio.
November 3, 2005... Motorola's senior vice-president, Geoffrey Frost, has confirmed that the company will open a design centre in London, relocating its eight- strong UK design outfit from its current base in Basingstoke (DW 7 July). Frost, who is also the...

Alessi is launching two collections of wall clocks.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Alessi is launching two collections of wall clocks for autumn-winter. The stainless steel, black and white Momento is based on the company's watch of the same name, designed by the late architect Aldo Rossi. The playful Sole collection is...

Geometry sparks up BAT sensory branding.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... British American Tobacco is opening experimental interiors at its London head office, as the tobacco giant continues to seek ways to express its brand through 3D and sensory means. BAT has commissioned a series of branded environments -...

Identity overhaul for Schweizer Fernsehen DRS.(Schweizer Fernsehen DRS enters into a marketing contract with Dunning Eley Jones)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Dunning Eley Jones has completed an identity overhaul for Swiss public service broadcaster, Schweizer Fernsehen DRS, after winning a pitch against local and UK consultancies in June (DW 16 June). The identity - which drops DRS from the name...

Senior staff shake-up in branding and packaging sector.(appointment of Jill Marshall)
November 3, 2005... The brand and packaging industry is being shaken up by a series of appointments that will see key players from rival consultancies changing roles. Jill Marshall, chief executive officer for brand and packaging at Design Bridge, departs to...

John leaves Ergo to pursue new directions.(Simon John resigns from Ergo-ID )(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Ergo-ID founding partner Simon John has left the brand consultancy to pursue his own business interests, leaving co-founder Stuart Mackay in control of the group. The pair split to allow each to pursue his own interests, which, John...

Video installation.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Artist Michael Pinsky has constructed a video installation that will relay images of weather conditions from around the world to 30 screens suspended like a chandelier in an atrium at Clacton County High School. Entitled Weather Cluster, the...

Christian Aid reveals life after the tsunami.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... A host of designers and artists will contribute to a Christian Aid exhibition documenting the rebuilding of lives and places in Sri Lanka, following the catastrophic tsunami of Christmas 2004. 'Every time I see the sea... Life after the...

IN BRIEF: Identity and marketing materials for XPAX.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Ravensworth has designed the corporate identity and marketing materials for start-up company XPAX, which will provide home information packs to independent estate agents nationwide. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Identity for Lake Garda region.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Minale Tattersfield will launch its identity for the Lake Garda region of Italy on 15 November (DW 4 August). The marque will be used by the Italian Tourist Board to promote the region, which was previously managed by three politically...

IN BRIEF: Thompson appointed.(Leeds Media enters into a marketing agreement with Thompson Agency )(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Leeds Media, an organisation promoting the city's media, communications and e-business sector, has appointed member consultancy Thompson to overhaul its brand identity. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Redesigned Sky News studio and newsroom.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Jack Morton Worldwide has redesigned the Sky News studio and newsroom. It features a purpose-built LED screen that mirrors images projected on to the news wall and a rotating, motorised presentation desk. Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: Number of customers visiting Boots the Chemists fell.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... The number of customers visiting Boots the Chemists stores fell by 2.9 per cent in the year to 30 September, despite a #45m investment in store improvement, featuring design work from its Creative Hub of consultancies. Profits fell by 10 per...

COMMENT: Investment in the future is about more than just cash.(Editorial)
November 3, 2005... BY LYNDA RELPH-KNIGHT, EDITOR We have to thank Rodney Fitch and Oliver King for keeping the discussion about value in design going (see Letters, page 11). What better time for the industry to restate its terms of engagement than in the...

Somerset House eyes new photography centre role.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Somerset House is considering establishing itself as a national centre of photography, following its announcement last week of the appointment of Gwyn Miles as director. Miles joins the organisation in January after 20 years at the...

Creative North London to boost local design economy.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Creative London is to launch the first of its physical hubs, dedicated to growing creative businesses in London's Wood Green, on 18 November. Called Creative North London, the centre is tasked with generating 680 new jobs and 1500 new...

Report reveals big brand groups suffered losses.
November 3, 2005... By Mike Exon Delving into the minutiae of Willott Kingston Smith's latest report, The Financial Performance of Marketing Services Groups 2005, makes for some illuminating study. Not only did independent design groups massively...

ANALYSIS: Medical packaging design.
November 3, 2005... An official report outlining good design practice for pharmaceutical packaging means more opportunities for designers, says Scott Billings It is estimated that around a third of medication errors occur due to confusion triggered by...

D&AD 2005 Annual.(British Design and Art Direction )(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... D&AD will unveil its 2005 Annual next week, designed by Spin, with photography by Lee Mawdsley. The images document the journey an awards entry goes through, from its arrival at the D&AD offices. The design is 'an antidote to some of the...

The Chase London booklet.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... The Chase London has designed a booklet for the Oxford, Swindon and Gloucester Co-operative Society which will be mailed to members. It illustrates how the co-operative sources local produce for its stores. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

Design Made in Africa Exhibition.(at Brunei Gallery in London )(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Design Made in Africa runs at the Brunei Gallery in London until 25 November, showcasing contemporary African design. Pictured is Cheick Diallo's Segou rocking chair. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Art Deco House published this month.(by Michell Beazley)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... The Art Deco House by Adrian Tinniswood is published this month by Michell Beazley. Design is by John Round and Christie Cooper is executive art editor. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Zip designs cover for Feel Free.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Zip has designed the cover for Feel Free, the first single to be taken from Zero 7 vocalist Mozez's debut solo album, So Still. It is released on Apace records on 6 November. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

HP Foods launch.(HP Foods contracts with DJPA Partnership)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... HP Foods is launching two products under its Amoy brand - Amoy Stir Fry Sensations and Amoy Premium Soy Sauce - with packaging designed by DJPA Partnership. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

PRIVATE VIEW: Rising above it.
November 3, 2005... When a great editor teams up with a talented designer, the results can mark an evolutionary leap to the next level, says Adrian Shaughnessy Most of the design juries I've been invited to sit on have been made up of designers. But a...

Inspired: Katja Thielen, Together Design.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... I've always been inspired by the craft of good typography. I was taught in Gutenberg's home town of Mainz, learning about Bauhaus typography, letterpress printing, grids and structures. I had a passion for black and red, as we Germans tend...

Voxpop.
November 3, 2005... Is it time for the UK to have a new national centre for design and innovation? If so, what should it include? Scotland already has a national centre for design and innovation - The Lighthouse - and, of course, there ought to be a UK...

Letter - IN REPLY: Magpie branding?(Letter to the Editor)
November 3, 2005... News Analysis (DW 13 October) prompted a sense of deja vu. The cover of the Unilever brochure bears a close resemblance to Hans Schleger's Edinburgh Festival identity programme of 1966-78. Marks for originality - zero. Patrick Argent,...

Letter: Anti-smoking campaigns have to be more inventive.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... The old model of advertising is dead, but the Government still insists on using it. Everyone in the ad industry knows that young people in particular don't respond any longer to billboards and TV advertising. They spend most of their time...

Letter: RIBA to throw open its doors to designs of all disciplines.(Letter to the Editor)
November 3, 2005... In response to this week's Voxpop, yes, it is time to have a new national centre for design and innovation, and I am tempted to say it should be at the Royal Institute of British Architects. I really want to throw open the doors of our old...

Letter - IN REPLY: Fitch misses big picture.(Letter to the Editor)
November 3, 2005... Rodney Fitch (Letters, DW 27 October) should thumb a few pages further forward if he thinks that Richard Eisermann's reference to design being about value was all about money. It wasn't. The point Eisermann was making is that design adds...

Profile: Rafael Lozano-Hemmer.(Biography)
November 3, 2005... Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's interactive installations, using light and shadows, are designed to engage the public intimately. Richard Clayton talks to him about his plans to illuminate the East Midlands It's a long way from Mexico City's...

PHOTOGRAPHY: Slice of life.(The Quiet Life Camera Club, vol. 1 book by Andy Mueller)
November 3, 2005... Andy Mueller's latest project - collating an eclectic range of photographs, by amateurs and professionals - is typical of his unconventional, collaborative approach to design. Liz Farrelly meets the man behind the Camera Club DRIVE south...

SALARY SURVEY: Meagre pickings.
November 3, 2005... Despite optimistic predictions, design salaries have taken a downturn over the past year, particularly at the higher end of the scale. But the picture for juniors and freelances is looking far more rosy, says John Stones, with research by...

DESIGN BUSINESS: Design for the real world.
November 3, 2005... As B&Q follows other DIY chains into the home furnishings market, what does the future hold? David Worthington puts his view Over the past year, several retailers have gone under, including Courts, All: Sports, Furnitureland, Klaussner and...

REVIEW: Brazilian street art.(Graffiti Brasil)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
November 3, 2005... Graffiti has become so ubiquitous and commercially harnessed that if, walking through central London, you encounter hooded youths with spray cans in their hands, they are as likely to be creating graphics for a brand wanting to seem edgy, as...

Vibrandt to rekindle Mr Kipling's heritage.(contract)
November 10, 2005... Turner Duckworth's high-profile redesign of Mr Kipling cakes (DW 20 January) is to be scrapped for a more traditional look, as food group RHM looks to pull back loyal customers amid declining sales. In a surprise move, the company has...

Reckitt Benckiser revitalises with roster.(contract for industrial design consultancies)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Reckitt Benckiser, the global household cleaning and personal care conglomerate, confirms it has put in place a new international roster of design consultancies to drive its product innovation. It is understood that an initial global pitch...

Independents kick-start M&A activity.(mergers and acquisitions forecast)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Merger and acquisition activity among design consultancies is on the rise, industry deal-makers claim. Deals are quietly being lined up as buyers and independent consultancies take advantage of favourable market conditions for the first...

STOP PRESS: Birdsall wins Prince Philip Prize.(graphic design executive Derek Birdsall)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Graphic design supremo Derek Birdsall has won this year's Prince Philip Designers Prize, at a ceremony held last night at the Design Council in London. Birdsall is known for his design work with the Church of England's prayer book Common...

STOP PRESS: McDonald's adds nutritional guide to packs.(McDonald's Corp. launches new packagings)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... McDonald's has unveiled its forthcoming packaging, featuring a nutritional labelling system. Designed by design consultancy Boxer and The Marketing Store, it uses five graphic icons to represent levels of calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates...

STOP PRESS: Sydney base for Frost Design.(Emery Studio runs independent from Emeryfrost)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Frost Design founder and creative director Vince Frost has disconnected the business from Emeryfrost, the studio he formed in Australia with Garry Emery in April 2004. Emery Studio, in Melbourne, will now be run independently from Frost...

STOP PRESS: Last chance for entries to DW Awards.
November 10, 2005... Tomorrow is the final deadline for entries to next year's Design Week Awards. Please ensure that all entries are submitted on-line at www.designweekawards.co.uk by the close of play on 10 November. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd....

Team of designers restructures Fortnum & Mason brand.
November 10, 2005... Fortnum & Mason's #24m refurbishment scheme, announced last week, will turn to a multidisciplinary team of designers to invigorate the store's brand and retail environment. The upmarket retailer has drawn together a squad of consultancies...

Sweeping history of Islamic design.(DAG Publications offers a book on 'The Timeline History Of Islamic Art and Architecture')(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... The Timeline History Of Islamic Art and Architecture, designed by DAG Publications and the Nour Foundation, is a sweeping history of Islamic design stretching back to the 7th century. The book features 14 chapters, covering a range of Islamic...

Pringle makes room for designers at RIBA.(Royal Institute of British Architects' Jack Pringle plans to launch a membership scheme)
November 10, 2005... Newly-appointed president at The Royal Institute of British Architects, Jack Pringle, has pledged to continue to build alliances with the design community, as he reveals plans to launch an alternative membership scheme for the design sector....

Poochie Amour launch.(promotional materials on the web site)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Poochie Amour, an on-line boutique for 'stylish dogs', launches this month at www.poochieamour.com, with identity, packaging, Web design and promotional materials designed by Allies. The marque - a 'pastiche of 1950s black and white chic,...

Jago Design creates sharing sets for BBC news.(British Broadcasting Corp.)
November 10, 2005... The BBC has appointed studio design specialist Jago Design to overhaul three of its prime-time news programmes - Newsnight, Working Lunch and children's news bulletin, Newsround. The consultancy was commissioned following a three-way...

Hempel hotel revamp by Max Bentheim.(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Interior design consultancy Max Bentheim has revealed design details of the second phase of its project to revamp the boutique Hempel Hotel located in West London, as it completes a redesign of the building's ground floor. Max Bentheim...

Coco gears up for chief design post at Ferrari.(Donato Coco)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Ferrari has appointed the Italian Donato Coco as its chief designer, replacing Frank Stephenson, who has been promoted by parent company Fiat to become head of the Fiat, Lancia and Light Commercial Vehicles styling centre in Turin. Coco...

IN BRIEF: Shape the Future campaign.(Royal Academy of Engineering )(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... The Royal Academy of Engineering is launching its Shape the Future campaign on 28 November with a brand identity designed by Spencer du Bois. The campaign aims to raise awareness of engineering as a career. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

IN BRIEF: Portland Design appointed.(Florence Airport redesign contract)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Portland Design has been appointed for the refurbishment of Florence Airport. The redesign aims to accommodate the anticipated expanding visitor market to the region. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Redpath appointed.(Scottish Museums Council brand identity contract)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Redpath has been appointed to work with the Scottish Museums Council to create a name and brand identity for a weekend-long museum and gallery event. The Edinburgh consultancy has also designed the annual report and accounts for Sport...

IN BRIEF: First in a series of restaurants for Yo! Sushi.(Philip Watts Design )(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Nottingham consultancy Philip Watts Design has created the first in a series of restaurants for Yo! Sushi. The site in Brighton has been designed to have a look and feel befitting of its seaside location. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

IN BRIEF: Graphics for next year's Modernism exhibition.(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Pentagram Design partner David Hillman is designing the graphics for next year's Modernism exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum. The show, Modernism: Designing a New World 1914-1939, will run from 6 April to 23 July. ...

Comment: RIBA could bridge gaps between design disciplines.(Royal Institute of British Architects)
November 10, 2005... BY LYNDA RELPH-KNIGHT, EDITOR Royal Institute of British Architects president Jack Pringle is an astute businessman. Soon after he set up Pringle Brandon with Chris Brandon in 1986, recession hit, so they shifted from just designing...

JHP flies masterplan for Shanghai Hong Qiao airport.(JHP Design )(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... London consultancy JHP Design is set to present concept proposals for the commercial masterplan of Shanghai Hong Qiao international airport in China. The consultancy is working on the RMB63m (#4.4m) scheme in collaboration with Bangkok...

Together Design to create a friendly face for Select Spain packs.(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Select Spain, a wholesale Spanish food and drinks supplier, is planning to launch its first range of consumer products, with packaging design created by Together Design. The consultancy will work up a range of designs that will feature...

Creative Capital Fund boost for London designers.
November 10, 2005... A venture capital fund to back businesses in London's creative industries is hoping to draw interest from enterprises in the design sector. The Creative Capital Fund formally launched last week, with a #5m funding pot that will provide...

ANALYSIS: Makeover culture makes news.
November 10, 2005... As TV channels proliferate, Sarah Balmond looks at their efforts to suck in viewers with elaborate, action-packed sets and multimedia content The news is much in the news at the moment. Aside from the after-hours exploits of newspaper...

Garry Hunter produces photographic essay.(JG-80MMV - Name, Rank and Serial Number)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Photographer Garry Hunter has produced a photographic essay of the life of Durham Light Infantry soldier John Gaffney, also his uncle. The book, JG-80MMV - Name, Rank & Serial Number, is designed by Truth Studio. Copyright: Centaur...

Quintessential New York cab overhaul.(Design Trust for Public Space, Blue Marlin Brand Design)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... The quintessential New York cab has been overhauled by Blue Marlin Brand Design, as part of an exhibition run by the Design Trust for Public Space, looking at ways to improve the vehicle. The exhibition runs at Parsons, The New School for...

Nokia unveils three multimedia devices.(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Nokia's design team has unveiled three multimedia devices, as part of its N Series of products, under a programme to push convergence of phone, television, Internet and multimedia functions. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

Drawings for The Carnival of the Animals book.(Satoshi Kitamura)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Japanese illustrator Satoshi Kitamura has created the drawings for The Carnival of the Animals, a picture book based on Camille Saint Saene's classical music of the same name. It will be published by Walker Books on 5 December. ...

Redesigned packaging for Limonce.(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Minale Tattersfield's London office has redesigned the packaging for Italian lemon liquor drink Limonce, rolling out across the country before Christmas. The marque's design suggests 'Lemons here' in Italian. Copyright: Centaur...

Campbell's relaunch with packaging by Springetts.(Campbell's UK Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Campbell's is relaunching its range of condensed soups, with packaging designs by Springetts. The consultancy has also updated the brand's marque, dropping the 'condensed makes double' strapline from the logo. Copyright: Centaur...

I Shot Norman Foster exhibition.
November 10, 2005... The I Shot Norman Foster exhibition of building photographs opens on 17 November at the Architecture Foundation in London. Pictured is the Great Court at the British Museum, by Norbert Schoerner. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

PRIVATE VIEW: Virtual reality.
November 10, 2005... Usually Hugh Pearman would rather watch TV than see something in person - except when it comes to good design, which has to be experienced for real There I was, perched high in the north stand of Arsenal Football Club, staring down at...

INSPIRED: Michael Peters, Identica.(Bauhaus movement brings designers together)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... I have many design heroes - Paul Rand, Charles Le Corbusier, Robin Day, AM Cassandre, Raymond Loewy, William Morris, Christian Dior, Gerrit Rietveld, Charles and Ray Eames, and, of course, the living legend Alan Fletcher - but one abiding...

Letter: Honesty is the best policy when building a brand.(Letter to the Editor)
November 10, 2005... Mr Kipling redesigned itself recently with a more premium look but, according to BBC radio this week, the brand has fallen into decline. So what went wrong and what should be learned? I would suggest that perhaps the 'exceedingly good' pack...

Voxpop.
November 10, 2005... Last week's World Usability Day stated that every citizen and customer has a right to expect products and services that are easy to use. Is the onus on designers or their clients to achieve this, and what is the biggest challenge in trying...

Letter: Creatives need a strong collective voice.(Letter to the Editor)
November 10, 2005... David Revell's column (Design Business, DW 27 Oct) struck a resounding chord with the creative community in Lancashire. On 19 October, The Hub launched GroupHub, a forum specifically for creatives in Lancashire. The rationale is twofold:...

Letter - IN REPLY: Design Bridge deserves recognition too.(Letter to the Editor)
November 10, 2005... While not wanting to take the gloss off Stand's recent mention in the Hot 50 (DW 3 November), the Tennent's branding work shown has been incorrectly attributed to Stand. The development of the Tennent's brand, the design of the new bottles...

Profile: Stuart Haygarth.
November 10, 2005... Bored with photographic illustration, Stuart Haygarth made a chandelier out of discarded party poppers. It went off with a bang at Designersblock and he is now forging a new career, says John Stones Most people, by the time they have...

SIGNAGE: Lost in translation.
November 10, 2005... When signage goes wrong, the results can be highly amusing for the public, but costly for clients. Doug Lansky shows why they ought to invest more in signage, with a book of interesting and amusing examples from around the world. Trish Lorenz...

PACKAGING: Value judgement.
November 10, 2005... With supermarket value lines more popular than ever, the challenge is to balance cheapness with an assurance of quality. But achieving stand- out with minimal, no-frills packaging is one of the toughest tasks a designer could face, says David...

NEWSPAPER DESIGN: Small is beautiful.(Interview)
November 10, 2005... Celebrated editorial designer Mario Garcia has just completed his most recent redesign - a compact international edition of the Wall Street Journal. Simon Esterson talks to him about the future of newspapers and just how small they can get...

TELECOMS: Press all the right buttons.
November 10, 2005... Instead of perpetuating a flawed design, Gavin Thomson developed a mobile phone concept with a keypad that puts usability first As designers, we survive by solving our clients' problems. Our thought processes are generally focused around a...