You may have read our recent blog post on the importance of a good signage system in retail destinations, outlining the key issues you need to consider when developing and implementing a system. Following the success of this, we have written a similar document focused on branding. It can be a complex and woolly area, but hopefully we can dispel any confusion with our guide. Click here to download it.

Mr Brainwash, the street artist made famous by the infamous Banksy, has reopened his recent London show due to its massive popularity.

Situated in the old sorting office in Holborn, it is an apt venue for the mass of commercialized street art inside. On display are all the tried and tested symbols of cultural iconography from Marilyn to Warhol, and let’s not forget Obama with the now iconic Shepard Fairey ‘Hope’ graphic. Mr Brainwash uses every technique and material already utilised by well known street artists, but the finished result is still rather good. If you look closely, you can see Bansky hidden in works and the hand of Shepard Fairey is also alluded to.

So is Mr Brainwash a construct? A parody of popular street art? Are the artists creating a unique statement from nothing? Or maybe he is for real? Go find out for yourself. Coincidently Shepard Fairy also has a new exhibition on now, his first in the UK in 5 years in the open galleries in Brick Lane, E2.

-Seán-

The last few weeks have seen Air appointed on a whole host of projects, from marketing communications to signage. Multi disciplinary? Of course we are!

First is Rentokil Initial’s Corporate Responsibility report, which we are designing for the sixth year running. The interactive PDF sits on the company website; making use of colour, illustrations and pull outs where possible to create a lively and engaging document. This year we’ll be working to help them win big business by creating a tool that can be used by the sales team as they pitch for new contracts, as well as inspire new recruits around the world. To see the 2011 report click here, or go to our website for information on our previous work for Rentokil Initial.

Next up is signage for the Kanyon Centre in Istanbul. The huge mixed-use development, designed by the Jerde Partnership, features a 37,500 sq m mall, 26 office floors and 179 residences within a stunning metal and glass construction. Our remit covers the signage for the retail element, prompted by upgrades to the surrounding architecture. We have been asked to develop a more effective system for the four levels of retail and six levels of underground parking.

Finally, there’s a website update for an Italian law firm. We’ve only just got started on it, but we’ll keep you posted on progress soon!

-Rose-

It’s been a busy old month in the studio, but Seán has been to Kiev to kick off our latest branding project with TPS. I’m just trying to convince him to bring that car back with him…

Air has recently completed its first project in China for property developer Shui On Land. The huge mixed-use scheme in Wuhan features over 100,000 sq m of retail space, leisure facilities, offices, hotels and restaurants, making it one of the largest and most exciting projects in the country. Air was asked to create the brand identity for the retail element, scheduled to open in 2014.

We firstly undertook a thorough strategy phase where the positioning, values and mission were established. This ensured that the following name generation and creative solutions were rooted in the development and appropriate for the market. Tiandi Hui was selected as the name for its link to the location, heritage and sophisticated connotations.

The finalised brand is stylish and high end, putting a modern twist on traditional Chinese forms with clean and cool colours. Essentially, it is also appealing and relevant to the Chinese market. Our network of local designers was invaluable in supporting the London studio for this purpose.

Our solution included developing a look and feel for corporate and consumer brochures, magazines and websites, as well as various promotional items, such as this lovely umbrella!

The tenth London Design Festival took place earlier this month, celebrating a decade of cutting edge design in the capital. Spanning ten days, the festival played host to a range of events from international exhibitions, installations, trade events, seminars and talks, product launches, private views and parties.

The V&A acted as the hub for the festival; with a stunning traffic cone installation by Heatherwick Studios at the entrance (see our previous blog entry for a full review of their exhibition). Thomas Heatherwick, along with many other leading designers, also spoke at the Global Design Forum to discuss the industry and inspire ideas and new directions for the coming year.

In our neighbourhood, the Shoreditch Design Triangle featured events in bars, restaurants, studios and shops – the Nordic O Food café certainly got our seal of approval, with beautifully designed print, interiors and menu, of course. Here’s to another 10 years of fabulous London design!

-Rose-

Air has been working with Inter IKEA Centre Group to update their wayfinding standards across malls in Europe.

The Group’s portfolio features three types of site: retail park, open air and enclosed, all with the same brand and sign design. Our brief was to update the Global Signing Guideline, a comprehensive document outlining the use of all elements within the system. This incorporates the various types of sign within the family; graphic and product design; pictograms and internal, external and car park signage. As part of this process, Air audited the three site types to develop a system that will work effectively across all, with a view of testing our solution once finalised.

The purpose of this manual is to ensure that any new sites, or changes to signs in existing malls, are consistent. Its simple and informative format will allow project managers to be able to implement signage successfully; ensuring it remains legible and easy for visitors to understand.

Alongside this, Air has also been developing a Wayfinding Principles Manual, outlining IICG’s philosophy and approach to signage; an online and printed Checklist for use during signage implementation rollouts, and a Toolbox, an online resource featuring an archive of solutions for staff to reference.

For more information on Inter IKEA visit www.iicg.com.

-Rose-

Air’s first branding project in Ukraine is now underway at Ocean Plaza in Kiev. The TPS managed shopping centre is due to open in November 2012. The 160,000 sq m GBA super regional centre has 5 trading levels, 6 floors of parking and a full entertainment offer, including Eastern Europe’s largest aquarium.

Our first stage will be to develop the brand strategy, before looking at the design and implementation with thorough guidelines for use. The solution will need to have Ukrainian, Russian and English versions and consider the relationship with TPS’s other mall brands. We look forward to getting started!

-Rose-

The London 2012 Games are finally over, with the Paralympic Closing Ceremony rounding off what has been a glorious summer in our capital. Most of us got to see some events, but even around town there were installations aplenty to keep us entertained.

We’ve also been back to Copenhagen and St Petersburg, where bizarre guerilla graffiti was the order of the day.

-Rose-

Air’s latest interiors project at Waterfront, Bremen, is now complete. We were appointed last year by Resolution Property to overhaul the mall, which as a former space park attraction, was somewhat vast and cold. Our brief was to introduce some colour and warmth, focusing on key dwell areas such as the food court and rest spaces outside shops.

Wood finishes are used throughout, complemented by a patterned nature graphic to add colour. These vinyls were applied to bulkheads and corridors to add interest to surfaces which would otherwise be blank and dull. On lift cores, the colour makes them visible in sight lines and aids visitor navigation.

Comfortable seating offers visitors the chance to take the weight off their feet between stores, surrounded by lush planting. In the food court, robust but attractive seating invites shoppers to spend time eating, drinking and socialising, in a light and airy environment.

Air also redesigned the signage within the mall, taking the green graphic and grey type on a solid surface to create a sophisticated, simple and legible system.

And in the car park, coloured diamond grade vinyl provides a vivid and reflective service for drivers to use as they navigate the car park.

-Rose-