We’re back
22 January 2013
Sorry. We are here. We are alive. Luckily we didn’t kick the bucket when the World (didn’t) end a few weeks ago. Today is the first day we’ve been able to pause for breath – so Happy New Year and all that. Such has been the intensity of the past few weeks we’re a little bit flummoxed as to what to say on this post. Possible topics for discussion included (1) A new number layout for Darts (2) How good is ‘Silent D’ Django? (3) Why do people draw phalluses in the snow? Instead, we decided to break our own rule of not talking about things you’ve already seen, and say how in love we are with the new WWF Together App. No, it’s not about wrestling – but it is equally joyful, utterly beautiful and packed with huggable beasts. Jamie likes the Elephants. I like the Whales. Thanks to visuelle.co.uk for originally bringing it to our attention. Our new, New Year’s resolution is to do what they say you shouldn’t – and work with some animals.
Goodbye cruel world
21 December 2012
When you walk down the streets of Bethnal Green it can occasionally feel like the world has already ended – whether it’s BG’s Zombie-like population or the peculiar sights and smells we’re not sure – but if the worse happens in 32 minutes or so, we’re ready for it. Over and out.
Gammel Dansk
11 December 2012
Today marked a unique moment in Greenspace history. Our Scandinavian contingent providing us with a unique insight into all that is good about the Danish way of life.
At 38% proof, Gammel Dansk is not your typical breakfast beverage, but it would of been rude to decline such an invitation – so we necked it. Not that you’re supposed to – instead it’s a gentle winter warmer, designed to be sipped slowly in preparation for a day spent hunting in the bitter cold.
Happily, big game is not prevalent on the streets of Bethnal Green so we resisted the temptation and did some kerning instead.
Once upon a time...
09 December 2012
Without wanting to start a ‘Richard & Judy’ book club. We thought we’d share the odd literary piece that excited us – so first up is E. H. Gombrich’s ‘A Little History of the World’.
Written in 1935, Gombrich at the time was struggling to earn a living in Vienna, when he was asked by a friend
in publishing to look over an English history book for children. Originally he was asked to translate it, but upon reading the text he was deeply unimpressed and told the publisher as much. With a print deadline six-weeks away Gombrich was challenged to do better. So he went away and spent his mornings researching and afternoons writing – citing his efforts to his girlfriend on his days off.
The book itself is quite an achievement. Gombrich managed to simplify the story of human history from stone age to the atomic bomb in a manner that’s engaging and understandable to everyone – young or old. And while it seems obvious to say... Those who succeeded tended to have the best designers and thinkers.
The Romans for example, created a civilised way of living through technology (bar slavery, gladiators and continent-wide war). Alexander the Great was taught by Aristotle and went on to capture most of the ancient world before he was 30. Imagine that. And when people were rolling around in the mud like Monty Python during the Dark Ages, the only ones who were truly literate and behaving themselves happened to be monks teaching from the good book... These definitive moments are captured and at the same time unpacked,
to explain their subsequent impact.
In short, everyone needs a copy of this book – and a Stephen Fry level of information retention would be useful too.
Tough crowd. Tough job.
03 December 2012
We all think we have a tough job. The designer stereotype of the all-nighter, the last-minute client amends at the end of the day or the print job that’s just that little bit too complicated... But spare a thought for those who are there to lift the weight. Those who make us laugh on a Friday night, either at a venue or on the box. The pressure of standing alone... the dodgy sound-system... the heckling... the audience of three.
Friend and Mighty Boosh primate Dave Brown has done just that. Capturing the highs and lows of a comedy elite on film in an exhibition starting tonight in aid of the charity Afrikids... From Julia Davis to Bill Bailey, they all give an insight into the darker side of a profession we all need sometimes – but maybe don’t really appreciate.
‘Tough Crowd’ is at the Strand Galley, London WC2, 4th to 16th December (020 7839 4942). Afrikids http://www.afrikids.org
‘It’s the only way to travel’
03 December 2012
We’ve spent the past couple of days putting together our automotive credentials.
To say it took a while is an understatement… Four Formula One teams and a bootful (or trunkful) of car brands. Luxury to everyday... VI systems to product launches… It felt like an endless but reassuringly enjoyable task.
We’re not sure if it’s childhood memories of Gumdrop, Toad and his cars in Wind in the Willows, or the pure joy
of the Wacky races that’s caused this obsession.
Either way, we love telling a good car story.
Much more than just a G thang
30 November 2012
Yes. Yes. I’ve done it. I succumbed to temptation and purchased some Beats by Dre... I didn’t even need new headphones and I can’t work out if it was the Dre factor that made me do it, the red cable or the strangely likeable ‘b’. Perched in a coffee shop, I began the ceremony of unleashing the beefy packaging, a big guy sat opposite leaned in: ‘Are they your first beats?’... ‘Yeah’... ‘I can tell by the look on your face’... Brilliant. Now all Dre really needs to do is finish #Detox...
The Sketchbook Project
29 November 2012
Thinking about it some more ‘The Sketchbook Project’ was more than just a throw-away cool store – it is
a simple, brilliant idea – executed beautifully. We all like to doodle and while Lee has a penchant for drawing himself being eaten by various animals (don’t ask), a sketchbook can inspire and offer a real insight into the person behind the pen.
The Project is a library and host to thousands of designers / artists works and like any library you can check
them out and take them home – but in this case you can also create your own, contribute and even file it on-line. The project now tours and was recently in London.
Expect to see a sketchbook full of macabre drawings filed under Deverill on the bookshelf soon...
Probably the greatest city on Earth
29 November 2012
After a recent trip to the East Coast, what’s clear is that Americans do actually do everything bigger,
better and well, cooler. Whether it’s brunch at Egg in Williamsburg or the inspiring ‘Sketchbook Project’ http://www.arthousecoop.com/ around the corner, everything feels fresh and entirely effortless.
And whilst the temptation to spend all day photographing yards and graffitied trucks is understandable and exhilarating, the true pleasure you get from walking around New York, coffee in hand, remains the feeling
that this is a totally iconic and one-of-a-kind city. Every street, truck – even person – feels like something or someone you’ve seen before.
Believe us when we say we very nearly didn’t come back :)
A Greenspace toast for Lys
27 August 2012
We are pretty lucky at Greenspace... we aren’t a huge company so we all know each other really well and over the years have become firm friends.
Last night Steph and Jenn travelled to the Wiltshire countryside to attend a 50th birthday bash for our very own Lys. Lys rented out a huge house along a gorgeous river for the Bank Holiday weekend. There was food aplenty and live music too. Amazingly, Lys managed to track down one her favourite bands from yesteryear to play some kickin’ folk tunes on everything from the banjo and pipes to the cello and the fiddle. A great time was had by all!
Lys has been at the centre of Greenspace for four years now, keeping the team on track and ahead of the game. Thanks Lys – for all the good times and the wise council over the past years. Here’s to 50 more!
Off to Gothenburg
24 August 2012
Gothenberg, Sweden: home to the Scandinavium ice hockey stadium, Crazy Frog... and our latest client.
Our team will be soon be whisked away to present our insights so far, and to gather some new ones at a workshop with the client and key team members from across the organisation. We're so excited about this project we're even working the Bank Holiday! So think of us as you tuck into your jerk chicken at Carnival, we'll be sampling the local speciality of pickled herring instead...
We will let you all know how it goes and what we come up with over the next month. Wish us luck!
Greenspace Gets A Virtual Makeover
24 August 2012
Welcome to the new website, our 3rd since we opened in 2003... But this bad boy’s a bit different – because it's all optimised for teeny tiny mobile screens, with a full desktop version in the works too.
Some of us will miss our old website and it's idiosyncrasies... but our client list has grown a lot
over the past few years and we needed something completely new to accommodate a bigger portfolio of work, more video content and any delightful stuff we want to show off.
Our design team have been drawing shapes, exploring new ways to showcase our work fuelled by strong iced coffee alone. Meanwhile, our marketing maven has been tapping away at the keyboard, piecing together and crafting the Greenspace story.
We hope you like it. Do come visit us again to test drive the new big desktop version. Once it’s live, we’ll be sure to let you know so until then...
