Save 6Music

The recent announcement to close 6Music and the Asian Network and halve the BBC's web pages has shocked and baffled the Studio here.

But I think Adam Buxton has the answer. Utterly delightful and well argued. And he lives in Norwich. Here's Adam taking on the BBC Director General Mark Thompson on the Channel 4 News.



Don't be idle and support the efforts to save these superb radio stations.
Find out more here.

1. Studio at Four Designers: 'The Logo is Dead'

Yes, according to London advertising and branding agency SomeOne, the logo is dead, apparently.

It was Studio's second visit to the Four Designer's conference in support of Norwich University College of the Arts and Andy Campbell's Graphic Communication course. Always worthwhile, but seriously, I can't stay in the Generator Hostel again (see last years post). Prison like accommodation aside, Patrick Baglee's event consistently offers a lively programme of speakers.

But there was the controversial, which came with the ominous warning from SomeOneinLondon that they intended to start an argument. I'm an easy going fella, but even they succeeded in ruffling my feathers. So here it is, it's all over for logo design - the public's perception of branding is wildly expensive logos like the recent Olympic 2012 identity. The Daily Mail cries how much? And the result is a mistrust of designers and the creation of brand communication.



SomeOne hates logos - they believe in Brand Worlds. Which to you and me means lavish photography, film and swirly colourful patterns and I guess somewhere, the brand's belief, attitude and aspiration - all fused into the quality of their product or service. So branding then. As anyone in the industry knows, it's not just the logo, it's the application that costs all the money. But let's not forget, the logo is a symbol - all that Brand World stuff defined by one icon. Somehow, one line of nicely set typo doesn't quite cut it (sometimes it does, but not always). I'm rubbish at asking questions after these talks, but what I wanted to ask was, "how would SomeOne re-brand Superman?"



I consider designing a logo the most difficult task - it takes research and understanding to distill a client's meaning and desire (for your belief and loyalty) into one entity. Always instantly recognisable, regardless of where you are in the world. And as Mike Dempsey stated in his lecture shortly afterwards, how else does a company differentiate from its competitor?



It's good for events like these to offer a different point of view and stimulate debate, indeed poor old SomeOne admitting to receiving 'hate tweets'. But I think such posturing can be misleading - is the logo dead? Or do you agree with Tony Wilson when he said, "You're entitled to your opinion but it's...".



Anyway, I think SomeOne like to stir things up a bit - just take a look at their home page.

Studio: 34 Flights Up

Last week Studio returned to the UEA London Study Centre, to begin work on our planned 2 day photo shoot. And with us, lensman Dave Guttridge (AKA DJ78).

This prestigious new campus for the UEA is located near Spitalfields Market in East London and just two minutes walk from Liverpool Street. It's a striking new build, which has to compete for attention alongside the Gherkin and Kings Reach Tower. More importantly, these plush new surroundings will be the home and centre of study for UEA's London based international students. The lucky lot.



Although only open for a couple of weeks, we were here to record campus life, the teaching facilities and get some external building shots in the bag too. Which was going to be a challenge given the arctic conditions of January. But we were lucky, as the first day though cold, had clear skies and the glow of a winter sun. Shooting the brochure front cover at dusk, the city sunset gave the accommodation building a wash of magenta - design by nature not by photoshop.



Day Two. The accommodation building is still in construction but we gained permission to visit the 34th floor to take shots of the stunning vista of the City which in the future will greet students everyday. See how lucky they are? Dressed in construction hats, boots and tastful fluorescent jerkins we gathered in the lift which swiftly climbed the building. And out on the balcony we got an eyeful of London - 'home of the brash, outrageous and free' (name that tune).



Here's a bit of film I took on my phone. Guy Ritchie will not lose any sleep.

UEA London Study Centre from Darren Leader Studio on Vimeo.

Happy that we had completed a successful shoot, Dave and I left to catch our train, only this time to cross paths with another keyboard legend (see previous post). The tall, grumpy figure of Rick Wakeman walked past (sadly without cape): this can only be a good sign for this project.

Studio can't wait to start designing the brochure.
With thanks to Dave Amor and Rowenna Boddington.

Scouting at UEA London Study Centre

It was a typical January day when Studio visited the brand new UEA London Study Centre. It was so cold it reminded me of film footage of The Beatles playing on the roof of Apple, on another bleak January day in 1969.

Outside it may have been slate grey skies but inside the new UEA campus it was technicolour. Studio were here compiling a shot list for a two day photo shoot scheduled for later in the month. Glamourous photographers call them 'reccy's' - is that short for reconnaissance? I guess. But to quote Ben Kingsley's character Don, in Sexy Beast, the key to a successful shoot is, "preparation, preparation, preparation". Just not with Don's intensity.



Together with Studio, is photographer Dave Guttridge (or DJ78 to those in the music business). We had previously worked together a few years ago on a prospectus for City College Norwich, so it's a pleasure to work with him again on such a prestigious project.



It was cool discovering the UEA London Study Centre for the first time and ahead of its official opening too. An exclusive preview of a building in a transitional state before its first students and tutors arrive, its teaching rooms being assembled – even the library awaiting its books.

Situated in Middlesex Street in the heart of the City, UEA London is an impressive building, with a colourful, contemporary interior complimented with superb furnishings. It felt more like a classy advertising agency (I had BBH in mind, or maybe Sterling Cooper) rather than a university campus.





And that's me, standing there like a delinquent Pet Shop Boy on the empty 5th floor - Dave and I thought this position would make an interesting profile shot for the Directors and Academics. Oddly, later on Chris Lowe passed me in the street – I take that as a lucky sign for when we return and populate our photographs with real people. UEA London will be undoubtedly buzzing with excitement.



More on Dave here. And more about DJ78 just there.

Further East

The Studio/East Publishing sponsored photography exhibition 'Your East' at Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts has been a popular show for the cold, snowbound month of January. And at the weekend, featured artist Andy Crouch took a few promotional shots for our Results portfolio.







The show has been supported by good PR coverage (nice one Sal), which has been great to follow in the local press and online. Visit BBC Norfolk and hear the two Andy's being interviewed on why Norfolk and why Tokyo. Don't miss 'Your East' - the exhibition now ends 29th January.

Now where are my Kirsten Dunst pics again?

Your East – The Hanging Party

It's not often you get the opportunity to see the work put into hanging an exhibition. And now Studio can reveal the preparation for the forthcoming 'Your East 私の東' exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich.

This superb show features the work of Andi Sapey and Andy Crouch, each with their own photographic interpretation of the east but from opposite sides of the world. Andi's collected work on his visits to Tokyo, are colourful and eccentric, while Andy's images of Norfolk are equally vibrant and bonkers. And sometimes, it's hard to tell them apart.

Here are the pics of the team hanging the show - very much a creative task in itself.







Studio designed the identity, wall graphics and publicity and sponsored the event with East Publishing. We were thrilled to help the guys with their first exhibition and show it first in Norwich. Afterwards, the Andy's plan to take 'Your East 私の東' to London but I think it would be great to stage it in Japan.





Your East appears at the SCVA from Friday 8th January until Thursday 28th January. Enjoy.



For more details visit www.scva.org.uk

Jason says, 'Yes'

As we all return to work and shake off Xmas lethargy it was nice to see this image sent in by dear friend, fellow NUCA alumni and designer Jason Hyde.

Before New Year, he and his partner Kate Modern decided to leave this snowy island for Bratislava in the Slovac Republic. Doubtless seeking solace and anonymity from demanding relatives and turkey dinners. Anyway, Jason snapped this Pet Shop Boys billboard advertising their recent world tour. Yeah, the Pets had been in town.



So, a good excuse to post another example of the work of Mark Farrow - but instead, taking design off the page and to the cold outdoors. That should be pop too.

Thanks Jason, meet you for a Pet-off and a cheeky glass in the French House very soon. Happy New Year.