D&AD New Blood 2010

Promoting D&AD's showcase of the best student work (New Blood) is a tricky job. While the spotlight is firmly on the graduates, the invitation needs to attract a wide range of visitors from the creative industry.

NB: Studio created a series of A1 posters for the 2010 New Blood campaign  "Sorry old blood, the new blood has arrived". Photographed by the now eponymous David Stewart, the images show how the creative elite might react once the new students unveil their work ...exhaust pipe through the car window, gun to the head, jump off a tall building etc. 

The A1 posters which folded down to A5 were printed on Offenbach Bible in 60gsm because at this weight (and if folded correctly - i.e. concertina and concertina, therefore allowing all air to escape) there are no "crows feet" appearing - if you're not familiar with that term, it's where a rather ugly crease appears parallel to the fold.

This is the A5 folded example:

Which concertina's out to this:

To reveal the A1 size poster:

As in previous years, it's famous faces that get the interest up, so characters such as Michael Wolff, Dick Powell all seemingly declaring "I won't be there, 'cos I've topped myself!"  - eyecatching stuff!

Here are some of the other images:

Creative Directors are Nick Finney and Alan Dye. Designer is Ed Wright.

http://www.dandad.org/

http://www.nbstudio.co.uk/

http://www.davidstewwwart.com/

Posted by Justin Hobson 07.09.2010

Daniel Lock arrives!

Now many of you may be reeling at the recent news of Ben Stott's departure from NB:Studio but there is yet another piece of news from the Bankside based studio. In a totally unrelated departure, Senior designer Daniel Lock is also leaving NB: Studio to pursue freelance work.

Over the last six years Daniel has been designer on several projects that I have worked on at NB:Studio including HOUSE magazine for Soho House (printed on Omnia, Redeem 100% Recycled and Concorde Pure Brilliance):

and a wide range of other projects including this D&AD awards promo poster (on Offenbach Bible 60gsm)

Now it's a little ironic being on this blog, that his new business cards are printed on a Dark Grey 700gsm board with a cord emboss from a paper merchant based in Hull, but I'm not bitter! (sadly, no prizes for guessing the paper range). But they have been very beautifully produced by Gavin Martin Associates using Holographic Foil.

Daniel is now actively looking for engagements, so you can find him on http://www.daniellock.co.uk/ ...and don't forget to stick my commission cheque in the post!
http://www.gavinmartin.co.uk/
http://www.nbstudio.co.uk/
ww.daniellock.co.uk

Posted by Justin Hobson

Blog goes live!

My blog has now gone live (whatever that means) ...well, actually it just means I've told some people about it!

Thank you to all the people (and anyone else who knows me) who've sent encouraging e-mails, including Ian Gabb, the Letterpress "guru" at the RCA which says "...Yeah, fascinating! Sorry I'm being mean. I know no other way" - Just getting a response from you, Ian, is accolade enough!

I also have to thank Nick from NB:Studio for his lovely e-mail with the Subject title of "nicksfantasticresponsetoaninvitationtoviewjustinsnewblog.com"

I've taken Nick's suggestion very literally and scanned it in for the blog!

Thanks Nick

Channel 4 Annual Report

I have just received some copies of the new Channel 4 Annual Report designed by NB:Studio.

This is a lovely piece of literature which has just the right "feel" in the hand. The size is 325x240mm - nice size.

The covers are "wrapped" in single sided posters. There are four different versions of the posters reflecting each of Channel 4's public purposes. All the posters have a sticker affixed.

This 138pp document is printed on Marazion Ultra 90gsm which some might consider a bit light - but it works really well. The paper has got a really good opacity and has taken the images really well (but I would say that wouldn't I?). The spine is around 8mm thick.

The job was printed by Push (http://www.push-print.co.uk/)

My advice is to see if you can get hold of a copy. Given the dire quality of the vast majority of annual reports that I see nowadays (unlike some of the great pieces of work produced in the 90's!) , this one is really worth seeing.