Spiral Communications

For the last couple of weeks I've been spending some time at Spiral Communications in Leeds.
Currently being a job searching graduate, I'm having very little luck finding a job and I've put part of that down to the lack of experience. Along with the recession, lack of jobs in general and needing to earn some money, so spending a lot of time pulling extra hours at my part time job.

So I emailed Spiral a month or so ago and they said I could go in for a couple of weeks. Fantastic!
A fairly large design studio, consisting of the studio director, 4 designers, 2 web designers and a receptionist. I was extremely grateful for the opportunity, and to be honest, was just expecting to make tea all week. But they had the supplies for me to have my own desk AND own mac to work on!

What was even nicer, as soon as I got there they set me off on a live brief, and throughout the time I was there I got the chance to work on numerous live briefs. For clients such as Leeds University, the NHS, Leeds Trinity and Northern Gas Networks. Working alongside other designers, getting feedback on what I'd produced from both the designers alongside me and the studio director, making amends and preparing work to be emailed to the client.

I've learnt a lot about myself and about the way I work. From doing my work placement last summer, where I just worked alongside 2 other guys, I've found I can work in both a small team and a much larger one.
Also, what we learnt in the software classes at uni for Quark, and the Adobe software was only the lining. There is ENDLESS stuff I still need to learn! That being the main negative point I've discovered. So I'm determined to do as much work as possible on all programs, experimenting with as many techniques as possible.

So, since leaving, the lovely people at Spiral have posted a lovely blog about me on there website! Here's a preview, but to find out more about Spiral and 'that' blog post, go to there website.

Six

Website and blog both worth checking out at every opportunity

Music

Music is a Manchester-based design studio, who produce lots of print based work. Branding, editorial, posters, brochures, and all sorts of other beautiful resolutions.
I've been and had a look at their website, and here are is a handful of my favorites...


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Place Space & Identity
Music were asked by photographers Liz Locke and Mishka Henner to design and
produce a book that documented the responses of 14 artists to the social, economic
and environmental changes affecting North Staffordshire. The book jacket unfolded
to display the names and full interviews of all the artist


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Fruit Tree Books
Identity for an independent publisher


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Flip Flops
Identity and marketing material for a new development of holiday accommodation in
Turkey. Music designed a bespoke box to house the booklet and specification lists


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Back 2 Front
A book of four short stories written by Kevin Boniface as a follow up to
A Postman’s Diary. The solution uses a z-fold to cunning effect.


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Flowerburger Records
Identity for an independent record label. The ketchup sachet identity
developed into a tasty business card

Fabulous work!

Andrew Townsend

Andrew Townsend is the Art Director at Un.titled in the UK, he specialises in graphic design and art direction for print.
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Townsend also works on self-initiated art and design projects, sometimes under the name Wig-01.










A website definitely worth checking up on now again.

Hyperkit

Hyperkit is a graphic design studio based in London.

"We create engaging visual communication solutions for a range of clients and industries and our projects encompass art direction, branding, stationery, publications, exhibitions, websites (carrying out all technical development inhouse), packaging and signage systems. Our personal interests, fascinations and self-initiated projects inform our commissioned work." - Hyperkit website

Absolutely fantastic work, fantastic ideas to fantastic finished products.

Imagist

"We are a London-based design consultancy known for our innovative, distinctive and effective approach to visual communication." - Imagist





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Piaz - Formants

Piaz creates experimental music, mixing electronica with 80's synth and guitar pop. Imagist were commissioned to create a limited edition record sleeve for their new album.
Hand-drawn illustration to create a machine-like pattern. Choosing a natural grey uncoated stock for the cover itself and offset that with fluorescent, machine-like type. The sleeve, which fold together without glue, was die-cut using shapes created with the same algorithm as the front circles.

Strange Attractors Design

Strange Attractors Design is an international studio that "creates innovative ideas and solutions with a view to influencing culture and commerce".

Featured in the latest issue of IDN, but the website has it all too.

Loads and loads more work to check out there, especially some interesting type..

Why Not Associates

Today I came across the work of Why Not Associates.
Fantastic innovative work in a variety of media on a variety of different projects.

Main areas of the work:
- Branding + Identity
- Print
- Book design
- Motion
- Environmental

The website is definitely worth following and keeping an eye on.