It’s a moot point now that the last few years have seen an explosion in all things vegan and ‘plant-based’ (a term arguably used lightly, when you consider the ingredients in many no-meat, no-dairy, no-animal product alternatives). There’s vegan cheese that actually tastes nice, there’s mushroom and hemp ‘magic mince’, even vegan tuna. I’m writing this while eating a vegan...
Theatre is an artform that relies not only on its visual and verbal performance elements, but the text from which all the rest of the more showy aspects are born. An obvious point, but one that often makes me wonder: why do so many theatre companies have such terrible names? Maybe it’s a sort of in-joke, maybe I’m just missing...
Organic food brands often land in the same visual territory as many vegan and eco-conscious counterparts – but when did the pursuit of consumer trust become so entwined with muted colour palettes, illustrated veg and rustic textures? There’s nothing inherently problematic with this combination of design elements, yet it has become a tired and overused formula for brands operating in...
‘Landscaping legends’, what a lovely bit of alliteration and a decent bit of positioning by Strategy for Scapegoats, a New Zealand-based landscaping company. From this, a wonderful tapestry of iconography, illustration and words come to life to construct something of a horticultural mise-en-scène of craft and creativity for Scapegoats duo Kylie and Reuben and their team, which plays out across vehicle...
Much like identity work for art galleries and publishing houses, master brand design for theatre is often neutral, leaving plenty of space for a programme of diverse productions and eclectic marketing images to ‘take the stage’. When everything is in constant flux, there are typically some constants: a straightforward, recognisable wordmark, a distinctive typographic personality, and a consistently tight grid...
London-based creative agency Among Equals recently worked with ‘below-the-waist wellness company’ Wype on its brand identity and art direction, aiming to help the company build a new brand that would set it up for its next phase of growth. Wype is a gel that was designed to ‘turn any toilet paper into an eco-friendly wet wipe, all at the squeeze...
When my partner and I first moved to London in 2014, surviving on scarcely more than minimum wage, it obviously seemed like a sensible idea to rent in Hampstead. We’d heard of the Heath, and were familiar with the Northern Line. The flat, apparently once a Sex Pistols’ squat, was tiny and hadn’t improved much since the 70s. Back then...
The MoMA logotype, set in Franklin Gothic No. 2 and designed by Ivan Chermayeff, is an icon, and has been part of the New York urban landscape and international museum graphic vernacular since its creation in 1964. With evolving communicative needs and channels, the MoMA logotype was made a central graphic device as part of a new visual identity launched in...
Sydney Design Festival has been running for 20 years, making it one of the oldest design festivals in the world. It provides its visitors with an opportunity to understand design practice in all its forms, to bring to light problem, process and response, and to foster a closer connection with the designers and businesses helping to shape our collective futures. With a...
Abodo is a New Zealand-based timber specialist producing high performance and carefully crafted materials for architectural and structural contexts, and has a catalogue of cladding, decking, screening and timber panelling. Abodo worked with Richards Partners to better articulate its brand story, bring clarity to and emphasise the company’s respect for timber; where it comes from, where it is used and by...
MOAA Architects was founded in 2010. It has an office in Hamilton, New Zealand, and a portfolio of new builds and renovations that span the residential, education, commercial and public sectors. Highlights include their work on St. Johns Church, a square plan rotated 9 degrees off the street grid, and Piako House, a renovation and extension of 1940s domestic planning to meet a 21st...
Roger Burkhard is a creative web development and interactive studio based in Bern, Switzerland, with a roster of clients throughout the creative industries. The studio worked with Scandinavian designers Lundgren+ Lindqvist on the development of a new brand identity. This included monogram, brand guidelines and website, as well as a stationery set that covered business card and promotional cards, letterhead,...