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The Newsletter 125
Projects, jobs, mockups, books and more
Elliott Moody
May 27, 2024
Case studies
Clarity and character
The fact that development agency Ask Phill is pretty good at what they do doesn’t give them an air of stuck-up seriousness. They’re established and innovative, yes, but they’re also experimental and playful. Ask Phill wanted to underscore this seeming contrast in their personality in their refreshed identity and website; so, the team rang up Amsterdam-based independent design agency Analogue.
Stackable
All too frequently, people tend to perceive West African art as merely an exotic curiosity, as something to be observed from a distance, rather than as a vibrant and integral part of a living, breathing culture. This misperception is something the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) has recognised and is actively working to change. MOWAA has set out to reshape this narrative, redefining how we view and understand West African art.
Power to the user
In a world that seems to be drowning in an ever-expanding sea of data, eOne Solutions emerges as a beacon of simplicity, integrating disparate data sources and making sense of the complex. BB Agency had the privilege of partnering with them to craft a brand narrative and visual identity that truly represents their innovative and user-friendly approach to data integration.
Precision and natural goodness
Made by cosmetic scientists in Germany, SKŌUD Cosmetics – dedicated to effective and natural skincare – stands as the first-ever luxury skincare brand of its kind. As such, it achieves the perfect balance between beauty and scientific expertise, innovation and elegance. Crafted by the Berlin-based creative practice, Studio Last, the brand’s identity is as meticulous and eloquent as the products’ scientific formulations, where every detail represents SKŌUD’s high quality yet natural and approachable image.
Interviews
Studio DRAMA
A lot’s been happening at Studio DRAMA lately. The London-based design studio – armed with the technical excellence of a type foundry – has been crafting custom typefaces for brands, letting them tell their stories through the power of typography. They did so for Glamour Brasil, Vogue Brasil, and now, for the largest animal welfare charity in the world, RSPCA.
With every project, Studio DRAMA has been inching closer to a new phase in their creative journey – one where they function as ‘type directors,’ sculpting custom typefaces utilising both their experience in branding and their knowledge and expertise in type design. This has marked a decided shift in their business, as they position themselves as a new class of foundry, where the brand and its vision sit at the heart of each project. “We approach type design projects with a brand-centric perspective,” Co-founder William Richardson explains.
To peel back the layers of their process, we spoke to Richardson and Co-founder Chris Nott about the making of the custom typeface for RSPCA, while they charted the exciting new direction that introduces them as the ‘creative’s partner in type.’
Chloe Woo
Some of our favourite forms of entertainment wouldn’t exist without the creative minds who bring them to life. HBO, Apple, Riot Games – designer and art director Chloe Woo has brought her design expertise to projects with these industry giants, and kindly chats to us about her experiences of working in the entertainment industry. Here, she outlines her journey into this field, a path well-suited to her skills, and reveals how coffee, music, and cat videos help fuel her creativity.
Polonsky & Friends
“Food permeates every aspect of my life,” says Anna Polonsky, who, as far back as she can remember, has been enchanted by the world of food. An interest kindled by her father, an avid cook, her penchant for food – and its inherent power to convey stories and preserve histories – has shaped her work. A career in hospitality led her to start her first creative agency, The MP Shift, and later, to branding and design consultancy Polonsky & Friends (P&F), based in Brooklyn.
Although food is still very much at the heart of P&F, there are a few things that Polonsky did differently with it – for one, she set her focus on working with hospitality brands that value inclusivity, sustainability, and craftsmanship. This spoke to her own dedication to craft, which also sets P&F apart. Working with analogue techniques and a specialised focus on print and tactility, the team at the agency believes in making things with their hands, and celebrating the innate flaws and beauty of the handmade. In a hyper-digital era where almost everything is experienced and consumed on screens, P&F’s body of work is tinged with a charm that can only be experienced through the artisanal and the familiar.
With P&F’s fifth birthday just around the corner, Polonsky sits down with us for a chat and reflects on the last few years of the consultancy. We accompany her for the trip down memory lane, occasionally pausing to understand how print design reflects “the fluid and imperfect process of cooking,” unpack the challenges of running an independent studio, and also cast our eyes to the future.
News
These might just be the cleanest digital device mockups we’ve ever seen
The Blanc collection from our friends at Directory has already hosted some of the most popular mockups in the TBI Store to date, with their atmospheric, clean yet human photography of digital device mockups really proving to be a hit. So, when they told us about the Blanc 2 collection, we had to get in on it. Featuring a beautiful range of staples like iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks, as well as newbies like the Apple Watch Ultra and Vision Pro, Blanc 2 explores how mockups can be both minimal and warm by playing with light, subtle imperfections and a film-like grain.
Mockups
“I prefer to explore a variety of different options without becoming too attached to any one concept.”
Chloe Woo
22nd May 2024
Books
The Interviews: Volume One
The Interviews: Volume One documents The Brand Identity’s first 57 interviews with designers and studios from all around the world; including the original conversation as well as a new reflection on how their work, process and practice has evolved.
Featuring interviews from 2015-2018 with COLLINS, DesignStudio, Vrints-Kolsteren, DIA, Fuzzco, Spin, PORTO ROCHA and many more, the book also includes four new interviews with Actual Source, SocioDesign, StudioSmall and Soft Power.
In line with its archival nature, it is wrapped in a removable transparent PVC jacket in an attempt to further the lifespan of the book as well as the interviews found within.
Jobs
