Thompson Brand Partners

P = The Protagonist

 '22 Stories'

Apparently it doesn't matter which Hollywood film you look at, the plot will follow one of these 22 stories. See here for the full shebang. Using this model, my analysis tells me this:

1. Transformers = a classic 'Monster'

2. The Rock = somewhere between 'Quest' and 'Pursuit'

3. Gran Torino is another classic, this time of 'Maturation'. Albeit 'Maturation' with slight hints of 'Tragedy'

4. Zombieland, whilst an amazing tale, involving 'Escape', 'Maturation', 'Discovery' and 'Rescue', is ultimately a total 'Underdog'.

Rachel x

PS I hardly need point out that our 5th learning is my questionable taste in films.

When it rains, it pours.

Despite a long and productive relationship with this fantastic institution, never before have we had the pleasure of working on quite so many amazing projects with Leeds College of Music!

From the (newly revamped) prospectus, to banners, sticker and adverts, their new branding is really coming to life. But my favourite is the incredible vinyl wall installation that went up on Saturday morning - a collage of over 200 photos of students and alumni, Leeds music scene, visiting professors and everything in between. We're taking pictures as we write... Stand by!

Rachel

New release from Fontsmith

We've been dying to show you this for ages. Its our first job with Fontsmith, introducing their brand new library font FS Pimlico, which was officially launched today. Here are some pics of the booklet mailed to their customers. 

And this is just the start! The next project is the big one. Its a set of booklets to celebrate Fontsmith's last '10 Years in Type' and it shaping up to be a classic. The booklets will feature the real stories of various classic library fonts including FS Me and FS Lola, bespoke typeface projects including Channel 4 and The Champions League, and the leading type design studio's client logo work. The booklets will be published in July, and you can register for a copy now at 10yearsintype.com.

Fontsmith chooses Thompson Brand Partners to help launch a new typeface and celebrate 10 Years in Type

London-based Fontsmith, has appointed Thompson Brand Partners to develop a marketing campaign for a new typeface that is due to launch in this month. The launch will also be the start of a larger campaign to celebrate Fontsmith’s last 10 years as a leading type designer.

Details of the new font have not yet been released, but we can confirm that it will be called FS Pimlico. Designed by Fernando Mello the font is described as a powerful sans serif designed to solve difficult typographic problems, available in a range of weights and styles.

Over the last 10 years, Fontsmith has become established as one of the leading international type design studios designing typefaces, fonts, logos and logotypes for a range of clients including UEFA Champions League, BBC, Channel 4 and Telefonica. The studio, led by Jason Smith, consists of a team dedicated to designing and developing high quality typefaces for independent release as well as bespoke fonts for international clients. The Fontsmith library includes such modern greats as FS Lola, FS Me, FS Albert, FS Sally and FS Joey.

The 10 Years in Type campaign will celebrate Fontsmith’s greatest achievements so far. For each, the compelling story of how the project came about, the inspiration and how each was taken through to completion will be told in the words of the individual designers involved in each. The campaign is due to break after the launch of FS Pimlico.

Founder Jason Smith is delighted with the progress made: “The last 10 years have been phenomenal for Fontsmith and we felt it was the right time to celebrate our achievements and share for the first time the inside stories of how each came about. Working with Thompson has been great. They are like-minded souls, type fanatics and get the way we think.

Ian Thompson, Creative Director of Thompson Brand Partners, is thoroughly enjoying the relationship: “We have been customers of Fontsmith for years and love what they do, so the opportunity to work with Jason and his team has been a bit of a dream for us. There have been so many highlights over the last 10 years, our biggest challenge has been deciding what to include and what to leave out.”

We're looking for a new Account Manager to join our team

If you have at least 4 years experience (maybe more) and have lots of design and brand work under your belt, we'd like to meet you. We need a new account manager to join our team, and all we ask is that you are super organised, can spin a few plates and can build sustainable client relationships.

In return we'll provide an excellent package, lotss of lovely clients to work with and some of the very best creative to work on.

Just forward your CV to nick@thompsonbrandpartners.com and we'll be in touch.

Creative Space

I'm not entirely sure why but I love to have a good nosy at the insides of design studios, there is something really interesting about how different creatives make their space truly unique. This studio in particular caught my eye for its sheer wow factor.

(Via Design Sponge)

The studio is called Parliament, in Oregon. I love the wall made of logs, it gives it a kind of homely, cottage type feel whilst having that lovely clean look that every design studio tends to have, I do however feel like I would just want to play pool all day.If, like me, you enjoy a good nosy at interiors try checking out the book Creative Space, it features designers work spaces from throughout the world, well worth a look for some inspiration.
–
Guy

Typetastic

I'm not sure why, but I'm always surprised when articles on typography hit the mainstream press. Maybe its because my working life is so heavily involved with the great artform that I presume 'normal' folk will not be as interested. Or maybe its because I've seen so many clients who don't give a jot. But this week alone there was an excellent piece in The Observer and bbc.co.uk is getting in on the act today, with a debate on the merits (or lack of) of Comic Sans. In our new world, technology and communication channels evolve every day, but the very basis of that communication remains very much the same. The typefaces that work best on screen, as well as in print, are usually the very same typefaces developed over the last 100 years or so, by skilled type designers who understand what it takes to communicate. Hopefully, those that are interested, will learn to also love the art of the typesetter. How type is used, spaced, weighted and crafted are just as important skills as the type itself, and will hopefully long be recognised and cherished. And we can talk for days on the subject if you want to know more.....

 

Has Neville Brody lost it?

Not on this evidence.

This was one of the rejected designs for the front cover of the next edition of Wallpaper. The published cover was slightly less controversial than this one.

Magazines have to work their socks off at the moment to stay alive and I think graphic design at its purest and most controversial can deliver attitude and shelf presence.

Thanks to the consistently excellent  Creative Review blog for this.

Southbank Centre

We've just received the first printed piece for Southbank Centre. 

As part of our ongoing brand development work with them we've designed a new monthly publication that contains every single event that takes place at the world famous arts venue in London. Believe me, there's a lot of arts going on there.

It's a lovely piece of print - the paper is fabulous (smells amazing) and the way the ink sits on the surface is just beautiful. 

Tactical pleasure aside, it's a perfectly pitched piece of marketing that's bang on brand. It's what we do.

The Dana Centre

If ever you're in the vicinity of South Kensington in London, try and pop into to the cafe at the Dana Centre.

It's part of the Science Museum, it has a programme of avant garde scientific events that push the boundaries (or at least that's what it looks like to me). We have some clients based in the there so, it's a good place to chill pre meeting with good food and free wifi.

The cafe is famous amongst design types as its USP is the 'all over typographic application' approach to interior decoration, Cool type and interesting words combine to create an exciting and stimulating space where creative types tap furiously into macbooks and drink gallons of lattes. It's where it's at, I can tell you.

Of all the words I saw, the one that was hidden by the salt and pepper cellars is my favourite. See below.

And before you ask, the club sandwich was excellent, if a little large, and the glass of wine a complete treat and very welcome.