For all the virtues of email traffic, there's nothing quite like getting together in a room to share thoughts and ideas. One such recent occasion enabled us to gather and chew-over the workings of our digital tools. A rare opportunity to step back and consider each of the numerous data-capture, visualisation and communication applications we've been advancing over the last several years and, most importantly, how they all work together.

Predominantly, we operate in the field of 'workplace design' - but it's a vast subject. From bases to breakout rooms the common theme remains; space, and how to solve the challenges associated with it. We've developed our tools, not to always offer the absolute solutions to these challenges, but rather, to assist us in asking the right questions. There will always be a need to interpret and rationalise the powerful data outputs from digital tools - whether from video voiceover, stand up presentation or a chat in a pub.

The eclectic mix of disciplines in the room enabled us to see the priorities from numerous directions. Not only did we refocus the vision and direction for our tools, but re-emphasised the advantages of just talking to one another. In a digital-first world, there's always room for face-to-face interaction. An important hybrid of digital and analogue.

Great to see some of our recent work for Small Woods being displayed at their AGM. We've received really positive feedback for this project from both staff and public alike - it's always exciting to see branding projects coming to life. If you'd like to find out more about Small Woods activities - visit their instagram page and drop them a like.

https://www.instagram.com/smallwoodsuk/

Photo credit: Ed Bagnall

A great afternoon building a model of the future of the highstreet. It was fantastic working with the team from adp, learned many new thing and had great discussions. Plus won two awards!!

There were over 400 events that took place across the festival, plus 150+ resident showrooms and 10 exhibition venues to explore. Visitors listened in on topical talks at Conversations at Clerkenwell and weaved their way around EC1 as the cobbles of Clerkenwell came alive with street sculptures, artistic installations and much more. Fantastic and inspiration event.

We’ve recently been commissioned by the Small Woods Association, experts in the field of sustainable woodland management and social forestry, to refresh their brand guidelines. The UK-wide charity stands for the environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits of woodland, and we’re excited to be part of a project that will help to promote these valuable natural resources and their local communities.

We’ve moved our London Studio from the West Wing to the South Wing of Somerset House. With views across the historic courtyard on one side and the iconic Thames as our backdrop on the other, we love being part of this eclectic community of creative practices. If you're ever in Central London, do pop in to see us!

A photo of our three Directors in London enjoying a beer wouldn't ordinarily attract much fanfare - but on this occasion, it's the first face-to-face meeting in over 16 Months. If the last 16 months have proved anything it's that work still continues (at pace, we might add) in the virtual world. However, there sometimes really is no substitute for an informal collaboration (and thirst-quenching beverage) in person. Cheers!

What a nice way to start the month! Our office design for Paragon Interserve has been selected as a finalist at the Mixology Awards. We’re delighted to be in the running for Workplace Interiors of the Year (sub 5k sq ft).

We'll wait to hear on our other submissions with fingers crossed...

There's no doubting that 2020 certainly was a perculiar one. Hard to remember the beginning of the year when the office flooding was the biggest disruption to our working lives. As the year closed out we produced a short film to document just what a crazy year it's been - in a funny way, perhaps bringing us closer together than ever.

See our 2020 here.

Show, don't tell. It's kind of been a mantra of ours for a few years now. The power of visual imagery to provide context and narrative never ceases to amaze us. Pictures really do tell a thousand words. So what about moving pictures? Can you imagine!

For this reason, we're pleased to be able to point you in the direction of our Youtube channel. So much more of our work is 'alive' these days, so static visuals just don't cut the mustard any more. At least, not on their own.

After some really positive feedback on the content we've shared privately (maybe it's the fact that little effort is required on the part of the viewer...) we'll be jumping both feet first into more video production. And we'll be sharing it all here. So subscribe to our channel to be kept up to date with the latest in moving picture technology. Have a browse, we've been busy...

Take me to the movies.

We're proud to say we've once again renewed our Cyber Essentials Plus Accreditation. Not only something which has proved more challenging, owing to the remote nature of our working environments, but also, more vital, for the same reason.

It's something we've quietly considered before posting - not because we doubt its significance, but because it's become such an ingrained aspect of our everyday working lives. However, we take the security of our data very seriously, so it's a testament to the internal team that we've once again proved we have the procedures in place to justify this certificate.

We’re never ones to stand still for long. In our 27 years, design trends have shifted, new techniques been adopted - but most significantly - technology advanced. Massively. Alan Kay, renowned Computer Scientist and pioneer of the Graphical User Interface (and the screen you’re reading this on) had the right idea:

“People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware.”

We feel exactly the same way about the digital tools we develop to inform our workplace strategies – tools which empower us to help you solve your spaces and evolve your workplaces.

If you know us, you’ll know we’re huge advocates for internal R&D. Rarely do we discover something ‘off the shelf’ which can satisfy our clients’ needs – we much prefer to let our talented team of Web Developers, 3D Artists, Animators and Strategists work their magic and develop in-house.

If our experience tells us anything, it’s that no two design challenges are the same, so if you need help solving a space - whether it’s a single office or an entire campus - we’d love to develop something with you.