The Sweetshop Music Video

seismik — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:14:38 +0100

"We've uploaded a music video about uploading a music video"

"The most libelous music video ever made.."

Everyday we need to login and inform our followers of our latest meander, we have to do this across multiple platforms... twitter, facebook, myspace, bebo, habbo, msn messenger ... etc... and all whilst checking out the latest youtube video of a pando sneezing. The bewildering nature of modern online communiation makes a good starting point for a music video about someone uploading a music video to get fame.

The medium of the video is media itself. Social networking becomes the canvas to create this landscape. We wanted to emulate that slowly boiling panic of having to keep on top of all your outlets of social networking. We noticed in developing the idea that we are hit by probably more branding and advertising than ever on screen but we seem slightly unawares of it taking it more for granted than we ever did with television. Branding and advertising sit directly next to, in and on the content itself in a woven way that tv never dared do. we wanted to draw attention to this fact so started to subvert that brands themselves also by which drawning attention to them.

Ironically this is being promoted through the very avenues it lampoons, reaffirming further just how much we are slaves to the new age of social networking. The video was shot around London & Nottingham in 2009 and the song and video are both available in itunes. The devil is in the detail and if you have time look out for the 3000+ in jokes!

Le Chien Et Moi Website

seismik — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:29:21 +0100

When have you ever been able to actually physically pick up, hold and flick through a website...

A website with weight..

We were recently presented with the task of communicating the look and feel of the beautiful Le Chien Et Moi, “an emporium of a diverse collection of unusual and beautiful things, old and new, with a touch of nostalgia". Housed in an elegant listed building, complete with antique fixtures and fittings and a resident Basset hound” this would be no easy task and would require more than the average website. The owners both hark from the hallowed halls of Paul Smith.

The tactile nature of the shop lead us to the idea of creating an actual book which would be photographed and transformed from a piece of printwork into interactive design (in this case a Victorian scrapbook to suit the shop) that could be flicked through and browsed to show the contents of the shop and its story. The book features hand written type and professional photography (from the award winning Scene Photography), illustration, a crafted downloadable map, video and a engraved laser cut cover. Everything is considered and complements the style and feel of the shop.

In terms of website functionality the site is easy and enjoyable to navigate (we all have intrinsic knowledge of how to browse a book!). So don't just read this, go to the actual website (www.lechienetmoi.com) and have a flick through, better yet visit the shop (and Mulberry the Hound!) ask nicely and they may let you handle the real version of the website..the book itself!

Channel 4 Creative Design Ideas

seismik — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:51:42 +0100

We’ve had a few things in the oven lately that are currently simmering/bubbling or just plain burnt! Channel 4's creative department have approached us to submit ideas for various projects recently. We have been very flattered to be on their (very small) hit list and look forward to any future developments that may come from this. These are a small fraction of the ideas generated by ourselves for just one of the projects (these are purely illustrative mock ups).

Channel 4 Creative Design News

seismik — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:49:36 +0100

We’ve had a few things in the oven lately that are currently simmering/bubbling or just plain burnt! (Click here to view an example of a project we’ve been asked to contribute to by 4Creative/Channel 4). Channel 4's creative department have approached us to submit ideas for various projects recently. We have been very flattered to be on their (very small) hit list and look forward to any future developments that may come from this. It has been an exciting couple of months here in the studio with many interesting potential projects coming up, please call back frequently for updates.

Sids Surf Shack Surf Shop

seismik — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:00:00 +0100

We were approached by a Newcastle based company to design/brand and install their new online Surf Shop also providing a full blown ecommerce solution. Working closely with the client we produced an enriched and colourful web presence. It is social networking aware which provides a cross platform way of generating more sales. We also provide monthly SEO services for Sids.

Matter London - Graphic Design

seismik — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:14:49 +0100

We welcome Matter to our roster of clients.

Matter is a club housed within the The O2 (Millenium Dome) in Greenwich. It is a multi-roomed venue specifically built for large scale club events. matter was designed and is operated by London's Fabric nightclub. It is probably the UK's most respected club currently especially being masterminded by the folks who created the ever-lasting and ever-relavent Fabric club and brand. We were approached by Matter to produce artwork and design for their live events.

Hakan Libdo - Record Sleeve Design

seismik — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:34:42 +0100

Hakan Lidbo was recently awarded as one of the 100 best producers of electronic music in the world by Urb Magazine/USA. He is frequently refered to as "the busiest man in the business". His discography holds more than 150 records and stretches from avant garde click n cuts to well produced vocal pop-house. Hakan has made music for commercials, film, TV shows, computer games and a ballet

This release comes under the "We Are Woodville" moniker. WAW is a brand new music company from Peter Jenkinson and Ben Davis, conspirators on seminal dance labels which contributed to shaping the face of house music in the 90s, breaking acts such as Crazy Penis, The Problem Kids, Those Norwegians and Salt City Orchestra as well providing a homes for the likes of Herbert, Kenny Hawkes, Eddie ‘Flashin Fowlkes’ and Parisian Erik Rug

EM Media, DVD Packaging

seismik — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:34:41 +0100

As as producing all the animation for EM Media's Heartlines project we were also asked to produced all the packaging and inserts. We carried on the theme and elements used within the animations on the dvd to create a striking and vibrant packaging. (view the animation work by clicking here)

Antenna, Branding

seismik — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:34:41 +0100

We developed the branding, identity and logo for Antenna; the new large investment media centre in the East Midlands, UK. Antenna will be providing the first truly dedicated media hub for the area. Drawing all the talent into one focal point, the state of the art facilities needed the right brand to focus attention and get the message across.

Branding is probably one of the hardest things to get right in graphics. We started off with simple geometry and shapes as we believe the best logo's have the simplistic basic make up as to not confuse the core message. The simplicity must be balanced with giving gesture ie not being so simple it conveys nothing at all. We developed the logo without colour at first, we if the logo still makes an impact with no colour then with it will only but add to the design. The client was given a multitude of ideas of which we explained in detail; shapes, symbology etc. Each stage was honed and refined before reaching the final idea.

Update...
Antenna centre was opened by Lord Mandelson in Novemeber 2009. Antenna is a new approach to creative working. A members-only centre
with offices, state of the art facilities, events, business support, a restaurant, and a fully licensed bar.

Photography by Dan Hodgett

GameCity TV Branding

seismik — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:30:07 +0100

GameCity is the UK's (if not the world's) freshest approach to the usual suit stained video games festival blueprint. This pixel powered circus lets people get involved and see a different side to what is essentially the future of mass entertainment. The festival has been running for a fair few years now and as a result built up a fairly big library of video captured at the many events/talks/games. They needed an umbrella brand for this so we created one. After much development and head scratching we combined the elements of a tv test signal, hints of 8 bit parallax and a dash of old school atari games colour schemes.

Nottingham Creative Business Awards

seismik — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:14:41 +0100

Nottingham City Council commisioned us to produce this years Nottingham Creative Business Awards Materials. We were asked to progress the already esthablished look and feel of the prestigious awards. We were asked to reflect the time and push the awards onwards in terms of visuals. The previous years materials was mainly made up of interweaving lines. We took this to represent an organic interwoven chaotic vibrant community each directly interlinked to everyone else yet all completly independent. We were to use the existing branding (the rectangle with text).

We progressed this by giving the lines more character with wires and wool etc giving hints towards the different types of creative industry now in the region. Nowadays craft and age-old hands on process is merging with technological process but in a soft rather than forced way. We decided to experiement in photography and painting at first. Initial ideas were then present at the CBA launch. We then went on to produce many various possible pathways to the client all of which not straying too far from the visual language of the lines landscape of previous years. Adding different depth to the chaos as well as different type of lines etc represented the richer diversity of the creative industry than shown in previous years.

Graphic Designer Hints & Tips (1-50)

seismik — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:25:57 +0000

We recently started publishling little hints and tips on twitter for fellow designers. This ain't meant to be preachy just a bit of mildy informative fun!
Here are the first 50, make sure to follow us on twitter to see more.

#designertips 1 - Never fear the white (empty) space
#designertips 2 - There is no such thing as creative block only fear & frustration in disguise
#designertips 3 - When a client say's the brief is 'open' it rarely is.
#designertips 4 - There are no rules to design only personal gut instinct. Following rules prevents progression
#designertips 5 - Designers are the only other force in the universe aside from black holes that can distort space-time (some clients think)
#designertips 6 - You cant teach someone to have talent but you might be able to open their eyes a little
#designertips 7 - Never send your design CV out as a word document in times new roman thats akin to playing Beethoven on a kazoo
#designertips 8 - Never ever give a quote on the spot (not even ballpark). Take at least a day to figure it out properly.
#designertips 9 - If you dont fully believe in your work NO ONE else will!
#designertips 10 - A great font choice can always turn the bland into the grand. Always go experi-mental as it can totally flip a piece
#designertips 11 - Whatever the project always start with a pen and pad. Not a mouse
#designertips 12 - DONT follow trends, your work will not stand out and will date quickly (although sometimes its unconsciously unavoidable)
#designertips 13 - Any networking is good networking
#designertips 14 - Never leave it at just an email. People dont mind pestering AT ALL. Pestering is passion
#designertips 15 - Never discourage odd or abstract initial ideas as they usually blossom. Embrace stream of conciousness
#designertips 16 - Be yourself not your peers
#designertips 17 - You are only as strong as your portfolio not your grade
#designertips 18 - work hard play harder :)
#designertips 19 - Follow your heart and not your head. Emotive not emancipated. Passionate not preconcieved
#designertips 20 - There is no such thing as good or bad work artistically, just peoples opinions (often biased through exposure)
#designertips 21 - Opportunities.. grab them!... or even better create them then grab them
#designertips 22 - Garlic will not subdue the time vampires. Be prepped for a lorra late nights
#designertips 23 - Vectors are upscalable, bitmaps are not. Vectors are made of maths, bitmaps pixels. Remember that!
#designertips 24 - Teaching others will help you learn
#designertips 25 - Start any new doc at 300 dpi, even online jobs as you never know when you gotta print that tinker out
#designertips 26 - Use sign off proofing stages with clients otherwise you will be doing a merry samba back and forth for all time
#designertips 27 - Too many cooks want too many broths. Designate a client project contact so they act as a filter of feedback not you!
#designertips 28 - If someone tell's you work is bad it doesn't mean it is. If your work pleases everyone your doing something very wrong
#designertips 29 - Aim high score highish, aim low score no
#designertips 30 - A brand is not just a logo, a brand is people, perception, reputation and more
#designertips 31 - Always, always, always carry your business cards with you
#designertips 32 - Public health warning... photoshop filters are bad for your wealth
#designertips 33 - Magic wand is the poor mans pen tool. Learn pen tool or be laughed at in the street by strangers
#designertips 34 - Always pen tool a few pixels in from where you think to avoid background bleed
#designertips 35 - For best results if an image looks like it has <256 colours (ie monotone) make it a GIF, more than that a jpeg/png
#designertips 36 - To avoid gamut muck up try to always start in CMYK
#designertips 37 - #photoshop, press 'f' then 'f' again. This allows you to concentrate on the work at hand and remove 'faff' and 'faff'
#designertips 38 - #photoshop, never flatten any layers til the final piece. Constructive destructive
#designertips 39 - EVERYONE can draw
#designertips 40 - Beware a nasty case of feature creep. The only known antidote is a contract. http://tinyurl.com/cxf7fs
#designertips 41 - White space is not uncolourful but the very definition of colourful http://tinyurl.com/dftows
#designertips 42 - The meaning of life... would prob be found in sketch books not hard drives
#designertips 43 - Save all your notes/ doodle/sketches/prep like a rabid binman. Never discard
#designertips 44 - Build/design a website like you'd make love. Passionately, then clean up afterwards
#designertips 45 - For true feedback never ask friends or family
#designertips 46 - Always try to carry a notepad for those impromptu ideas. Failing leave yourself a schizophrenic voicemail
#designertips 47 - Try to always push out of your stylistic comfort zone. Otherwise you'll end more typecast than Hugh Grant
#designertips 48 - If the paper stays blank... draw a line anyway
#designertips 49 - The customer is 'sometimes' right... no, really
#designertips 50 - All the design tips in the world can't beat plain old experience