Produced 2005 / Recycled newsprint / 48 pages
Theme content direction, photography, image making, design and layout
Publication, signing, posters, invitation

The end of year publication for undergrad at Swinburne University’s Design Faculty serves many purposes – to document students, their work, communicating this output to family, the industry sectors as well as other design institutions.

In 2005 the Studio was asked to put together a publication that communicated the Faculty and its achievements, using a united editorial and writing team, cohesive image making, along with a curated collection of graduate work all within a modest budget. Inspired to illustrate the transformation process of tertiary eduction the theme “transform me” followed up “people, place and work” theme established the year before.

This publication was recognised at the 2006 Australian Graphic Design Association Award for editorial design.

We started making brands 20 years ago and we combine tried experience with contemporary methods and technology. Our experience in developing brands crosses, manufacturing, government, corporate, business to business products, arts and culture, entertainment and lifestyle sectors.

According to wikipedia, a brand is the identity of a specific product, service, or business. A brand can take many forms, including a name, sign, symbol, color combination or slogan. The word brand began simply as a way to tell one person’s cattle from another by means of a hot iron stamp. A legally protected brand name is called a trademark. The word brand has continued to evolve to encompass identity – it affects the personality of a product, company or service.

Our brand work assists clients in several capacities:

The overall outcomes of the brand graphics or marks that we make for clients:

• assess, craft and refine existing brands
• evolve existing brands
• develop new brands

We also develop outcomes beyond the brand graphic itself

• we conduct extensive market research of competitors and sector trends
• we identify image and proposition opportunities
• we develop new brands stories or concepts
• we develop the brand positioning and propositioning
• we develop names, naming systems, tag lines, or marketing statements

The development and crafting of the brand graphic

• we develop unique and highly crafted graphic outcomes
• we are constantly investigating the development and application of brands in an ever changing environment of media, technology, and users
• we develop custom typefaces
• we develop colour and type palettes
• we develop and test brands for a range of applications, to ensure that brand is best represented in all mediums and media
• we assist with the process of proposing the brand to a range of stakeholders
• we develop user friendly style guides and manuals

The application or presentation of the brand graphic

• we identify image and marketing opportunities
• we develop unique, creative and innovative marketing stories outcomes
• we model and research innovate media in digital, apparel, environment and print

We are dedicated to developing brands and applying brands which engage with audiences and markets in relevant, robust, enriching ways and means.

The studio has relocated back to our Balaclava studio this weekend. Reading back when we moved in – The point of the project was to challenge the public perception of designers, studio and the process — Do designers wear black, are they kooking out being creative, does a computer do it all, is it magic that makes the work, or is it a whole lot of passive huff and puff.

The realty of the project was – over a thousand people passed by the shop front a day, and we still have little idea of whether the project had much impact in changing perceptions of designers. Never-the-less at least ten to twenty people a day read the text on the window, we had hundreds of people drop by, many friends and clients, some strangers. We sold a few products, we won an award for the project, made a few new clients, many new friends, and we have the months ahead to see whether people, ideas, projects pop out of the wood work having seen, been to, or noticed our shop in the last eight months.

Was the effort in doing the ‘pop up’ project worthwhile? – is a question we are often asked. The change of scene was definitely worth it, designers can often be closely wed to their space and we discovered that a studio can happen, very quickly, and potentially anywhere. We are open to the ‘idea of the studio’ to be a state of mind, rather than a physical space. We also observed that the modern phenomena of – having a studio – runs parallel with modern society’s occupation with the material. Upon reflection of the studios one has experienced around the world, it is remarkable how much effort is poured into a studio space, when often many designers will admit that their clients rarely visit their space in the daily runnings of work process.

The question remains when considering the modern studio – So who are we making these spaces for? To impress suppliers, staff, or peers, to create a perfect space to make great work, a financial investment, or to invest our time in finding our expression in the build space? This process has certainly uncovered and challenges some ideas built up in contemporary design. This idea of place reminds one of the climax in E.M Forster’s fluffy book– Room with a View, with a line by Mr. Emerson senior to Mr Emerson Junior, proclaiming his feelings in terms of contentment – he proclaimed that in his imagination – Here is where the flowers bloom, here is where the birds sing… One doesn’t need much in terms of studio to produce rewarding work.

That said, one could not imagine the Gollings Pidgeon Flood Slicer’s annual Christmas knees up anywhere else, but in their great studio in East St Kilda, on a balmy Summer’s eve. One also recalls that Horniack & Canny had a similar tradition that rocked number 1 Barrack Street Sydney on a Summer’s eve too. Those guys know what it takes to make a get-together, great.

Many warm thanks goes to Michael Yates and Ben Buxton for this opportunity and making a great space happen. David and Chris Jolly at Jollytel for the great phone system and IT support, Jardan Australia for the fantastic comfy uber furntiture, Gunn & Taylor for your great print love and Paperpoint for the fine papers.

During the project we had several fantastic sponsors and services partners of which we are greatly indebted and thank :

• Seven Yarra for making our “pop up” space available
• Jardan Australia is showcasing their Australian designed and made furniture at our space
• Optix paper by Australian Paper is the official studio paper manufacturer
• Paperpoint is the official paper and envelope supplier
• Gunn & Taylor is our printing partner
• Jollytel and JollyMac is our wonderful IP telecommunication and computers partner
• PLAnet Cup is our compostable paper cup
• Kate Keane Publicity will be telling our story to the media

Let’s see what happens when you add a dash of design, and if there are any funds spare next time have a party…

Homewrecker 101 A

Homewrecker 101 B – detail

Homewrecker 101 C

Homewreckers series, Melbourne / Studio Pip and Co. image making project
Photographer Andrew Ashton / November 2010

In the suburbs a Homewrecker can mean several things – a building demolition crew, or an adult outside a family unit that tempts the mother or the father into a extra marital sexually based affair. Homewreckers have strewn history and have made trouble across classes and cultures, as well as making sudden big gaps in the streetscape. Beware the Homewrecker.

2007 Melbourne Fringe Festival tvc / Melbourne Fringe Festival
Festival image by the Studio, spot conceived and produced by Studio XYZ
15sec spot
*** 2008 AGDA Finalist award

Melbourne Fringe Festival 2008 HD from Peter Lundgren on Vimeo.

2008 Melbourne Fringe Festival tvc / Melbourne Fringe Festival
Festival image by the Studio, spot conceived and produced by Studio XYZ
15sec spot

The excellent motion piece developed by Studio XYZ in response to the theme we put in place for 2007 and 2008 Melbourne Fringe Festivals.

The Melbourne Fringe Festival in the lead up to, and during the event run a community based television ad campaign. Melbourne’s XYZ studio was appointed to develop a 15 second spot.

The 2007 TVC project was a chance to see how the “everyone is a designer“ theme translated to a different media form by another creative organisation. We supplied artwork components, had a couple of productive telephone briefings and then let time and XYZ do their thing. XYZ embraced the project and resolved a work intensive, stop motion, animation fest. In typical fashion XYZ generated the most interesting and engaging expression of the whole campaign.

The concept in 2008 explored the idea of alter ego. We explored the methods and means that people use to achieve their alter ego. We sort out the simplist of methods of acting out alter ego, something everybody could do – putting hands, or something as simple as a blank piece of card in front of one’s face, creates an interruption where a new form is allowed to take place, the team at XYZ transformed the images palette we developed and transformed it into a compelling piece of motion design.

2010 AIA National Conference Extra/Ordinary from pixelshifter with Studio Pip and Co. on Vimeo.

2010 National Architecture Conference conference stings / Australian Institute of Architects
Conference image by the Studio, spot co-conceived and produced by Mr Pixelshifter
165sec
*** 2010 AGDA Distinction award

The 2010 National Architecture Conference held in Sydney is Australia’s most anticipated forum exploring architecture. extra/ordinary will dwell on the culture of the extraordinarily ordinary. As an antidote to the incessant abstractions of globalization, we will be gathering together those who have an enthusiasm for engaging with the contingency of the everyday: inventing new ways of operating; embracing collaborative approaches and initiating direct action on the ground. Producing outcomes that are innovative and utilitarian, provocative and pragmatic. Resolving ordinary problems in extraordinary ways.

On Wednesday night (14 April), seven days before the conference, we uploaded the 40 page programme artwork. On Thursday morning we woke to the news of the Iceland volcano, that put airways in northern Europe in grid lock and subsequently knocked out half of the international speakers (who ended up telecasting live via satellite).

The motion graphics were being finalised on the weekend in between (17and 18 April), we re briefed digital designer Scott Richie of pixelshifter to start the intro graphic to include a volcano sequence. Mel Dodd the conference director, in passing mentioned that her opening speech would reference the volcano and we felt that it seemed appropriate to reference the volcano as a new graphic element.

I am Amsterdam spot / 2005 A-G-I Amsterdam conference
Written and shot by the Studio, edited by The Mighty Wonton
40sec spot

As part of the Alliance Graphique Internationale Congress in Amsterdam participants where asked to respond to Amsterdam’s marketing theme “I am Amsterdam”. Thanks again to Lee at Little Irrespressible Wonton for putting the clip together. Visit the congress’s website

The studio has been involved in volunteering, developing projects and producing communication work for design industry. On the odd occasion we are given the chance to make a poster, typically with next to no budget and wanted yesterday.

1998 AGDA NSW Events Calendar / Australian Graphic Design Association
Jan 1998 / Concept, publication design, writing, image making
Photography by Karl Schwerdtfeger
***  1998 AGDA Pinnacle  award

2002 AGDA National Awards Call for Entries poster / Australian Graphic Design Association / Febraury 2001
Concept, publication design, writing, image making
***  1998 AGDA Distinction  award

2005 AGDA National Conference poster / Australian Graphic Design Association / March 2005
Concept, publication design, writing, image making

2008 AGDA forty-eight poster / Australian Graphic Design Association / March 2008
Concept, publication design, writing, image making

2009 AGDA forty-eight poster / Australian Graphic Design Association / March 2009
Concept, publication design, writing, image making

2009 AGDA Beer O’clock poster / Australian Graphic Design Association / March 2009
Concept, publication design, writing, image making

2009 AGDA Optimism Conference poster / Australian Graphic Design Association
September 2009 / Concept, publication design, writing, image making

A poster is a space to give pleasure, call for action, evoke change. Given the right brief and more importantly a sensitive and exciting response, a good poster can change a whole lot of things. We often make posters for the sheer pleasure of making posters and sometimes we are invited to make posters for causes, ideas and occasions. We can’t help to see what happens.

1999 Studio Christmas card celebrating a change millenia

2005 Australian Poster Annual finalist

2006 AIGA NY, NY – Urban Tree Project submission

2009 Australian Poster Annual entries

2010 Australia Project entry

Outside of Australia, Australia is perceived to be one big tourist park filled with strange animals, poisons bugs, big skies, big rocks, sandy beaches, the pub, the boomerang, sporting heroes, the bush people, and long haul flights.

Tourists the world over love a bargain, love to barter, love the challenge of finding a good purchase. As a tourist culture it seems at times that everything in Australia is for sale, everything has a special price, everything is reduced to clear – be it Australia’s natural resources, local products and brands, ideas and innovations. Much of what Australia has to offer leaves its shores to be converted, profited from and or prosper – be it Australia’s coal, iron and timber; the sale of Australian brands – Vegemite to Orbital Engine; or the departure of great minds and talents of Germaine Greer, Barry Kosky, Robert Hughes, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Elizabeth Blackburn.

The legend of colonial anti hero Ned Kelly is called upon in this poster. Kelly stoically peers out of a crude and barren world of “the sale” and invites to the viewer to discover and materialise Australian culture and identity.

Visit the Australia Project here

2009 IMEPO (migration) posters – Greece

Migration is a major influencing factor that has shaped, developed and formed Australian culture. Many people from the far corners of the Earth have migrated to Australia and called it home and with them they brought their tastes, smells, textures, sights and sounds. It is an exciting place to be, and the opportunity in such a space is enormous. Layer on layer of cultures have graced our shores and this drove us to think that migration, particularly in Australia is not a Baby Boomer, or a Gen X’er, or a Gen Y’er, moreover it is a new generation people – Gen Now.

The poster project had a life of its own, we embarked on photographing range of local people in Melbourne – Japanese, Anglo Celt, Philippines, New Zealanders, Welsh and Nepalese and layered them on a vale constructed from all of the borders of the world. The Gen Now brand was developed during the poster printing process for the Melbourne Museum of Printing fund raising project.

2009 Eyesaw Invitational, Sydney

Established in 2006 Eye Saw invites designers to respond to a theme in the poster format. Eye Saw is overseen by Mark Gowing Design – it is an invitational poster exhibition held in Omnibus Lane, Ultimo, Sydney.

This year the studio was honored to be invited to produce a poster for Eye Saw. The brief invited participants to consider the theme humanity/equity.

Posters design is an individual process and it is difficult to develop a poster image that speaks of the idea, means something to its designer and connects with an audience. We thought of humanity/equity in terms of grooming compassion, nurturing our hearts. Everyone knows that to care for a plant you have to think to water it regularly for it to grow, so we twisted this metaphor and invited viewers to nurture their hearts.

The poster was cost effectively produced as four A0 black and white plan prints with fine streams of fine silver light plastic streamers flowing from the watering can’s spout.

2010 Australian Poster Annual finalist

We were troubled by the latest Australia Poster Annual brief, the first paragraph in particular, as it seems to be again – too design sector focused – and not aligned with big picture issues such as:

• discovering Australian identity,
• the idea that everyone is now a designer,
• addressing public perception of design and their designers
• bringing about a discovery of the ways in which Australian designers solve design problems,
• helping clients tune into a locally developed product rather going overseas for creative outcome,
• the proliferation of the designer idea
• developing an Australian creativity position.

It is no secret that we feel that designers moan about on about how clients should understand design more, etc. We, as a practice, strive to find the balance between making work that works for clients, along developing a product that excites, inspires audiences and looks good.

It is concerning that our industry feels the need to write such briefs, and we believe that to bring about a positive change might be found by taking a lead from fine artists, fashion designers, chefs, coffee, wine makers, writers and musicians – who create, lure, attract, clarify, excite and challenge people with the an exciting product. Allowing then, the key drivers such as business innovation, thought leadership and cultural change will make sense to people who use it.

This situation reminds one of that old adage – quality relationships come about from inspiring respect rather than commanding respect.

Birthday posters are the perfect touch to any home spun celebration…

Event brand, illustrated version

Folder, event programme brochure, invitation

Programme brochure that folds out to A2 wall poster

Café postcard, event brochure and invitation

Programme front cover and a selection of spreads printed using two colours

A one colour presentation folder that doubles as a wall poster

Competition t-shirts and carry bag

Chamber Music Australia (CMA) facilitates this region‘s largest and most revered chamber music events. The studio was tasked to develop a suite of communications items – from the brand to programme, apparel to advertising, signing to certificates and the web.

We wanted to put in place an image that positioned the event on the world stage — employing a confident and engaging graphic that suggests music, excellence and a sense of excitement.

The event programme was particularly rewarding project. With the guidance of CMA we assessed how the audience uses the programme and restructured the information to make the reading and review process intuitive, visually exciting, efficient with increased legibility.

The brand mark had several renderings a striking true mono solution, two to four colour outcomes and outcomes that are illustrated interpretations of the event graphic.

The event was declared the most successful competition on all fronts in CMA‘s twenty year history by the CMA‘s President Bill Forrest. With this result under our belts, we felt that it was timely to resign our eight year design and sponsorship partnership with CMA. We are focusing our energies on cultural partners in greater need of raising their brand and communications profiles in the community.

The studio ensured that materials had a extended usage life, building into the design outcomes multiple purposes and functions. We used sustainable printing, recycled papers and local manufacturing to produce desirable and highly reusable objects.