electric angel /design for life

renaissance friends

‘renaissance friends’ launches today at the ‘looking back, stepping forward’ event in scarborough. it’s a yorkshire forward project aimed at supporting the renaissance programme in which towns in yorkshire are given opportunity to think afresh about architecture, urban space, culture and everything else that contributes to a vibrant place to live. renaissance friends are people who promise to support the process and the places they love.

we were commissioned to develop the logo, a website, produce sign-up postcards and credit card style membership cards with a unique membership number that compliment the site. friends also receive a metal pin badge. the website enables people to sign up, gradually building a database of friends. it’s driven by the drupal content management system. we invited ross kendall to join us on this project and he’s built the back end of the site while we handled the design. it’s been a pleasure to work with you ross!

you can visit the site at: www.renaissancefriends.org.uk – it’s worth a look to see some of the ideas and completed projects around the region. and if you love one of those places, become a friend!

your town, your future… you decide

we’ve been kinda renaissance mad (in a good way) this last few weeks. as well as the renaissance friends work for regional development agency yorkshire forward and the monthly scarborough’s renaissance news we’ve been working on designs to promote an event taking place in scarborough this weekend.

run by yorkshire forward, ‘looking back, stepping forward’ aims to celebrate the successes of urban renaissance in yorkshire over the last 5 years, and to look forward to the future. friday will see people from renaissance towns across the region gather in scarborough for a day conference and dinner, and saturday will see the harbourside transformed with marquees for a day featuring drama, music, discussion and a ‘renaissance marketplace’ at which all scarborough’s action groups will be able to show what they do.

it’ll be a big weekend for us – friday will see the launch of ‘renaissance friends’, the town is already covered in posters (top – we call this unusual shape ‘A3 sliced in half’), leaflets (above & below – these are compliment slip size with an extra tear-off bit on the end) and banners advertising saturday and our design will form the backdrop to the theatrical performances, plus we’ll be there with creative coast too. it just leaves one question – how will i get time to watch the footie…?

you can just turn up for the marketplace on saturday but do book (it’s free) to see a performance too: www.scarboroughsfuture.org.uk booking deadline is thursday 11th so hurry!

quick notes about the design – there’s a danger that renaissance can fall into the trap of becoming a bit of a club for those in the know. the aim however is to involve as much of the community as possible in shaping the future of the town. we’re been trying to combat the club thing happening in scarborough with the redesigned newsletter and it was clear that we needed a populist approach to promoting the ‘your town, your future…’ event. the police box stands on scarborough seafront just round the corner from where the event is taking place and with doctor who back in vogue it’s having a new lease of life for family photos with ‘the tardis’. the time travel metaphor seemed totally appropriate given that the drama performance will show two alternate views of scarborough in the future. we’ve set it against a timeline comprised of the original renaissance ideas for the sandside area and the revamped seafront illustrating the transition from ideas to reality.

the design has gone down really well – we really ought to have a satisfied customers section on this website and start collating some quotes. police box photography, artwork and text all produced in house at electric angel. no sonic screwdrivers were used in the production of this piece.

ea to help boys’ brigade celebrate 125 years

whilst the scouts have been celebrating their centenary this year, the boys’ brigade have been planning for their 125 year celebrations next year. [little known fact - baden powell started the scouts after spending time as a boys' brigade leader.]

following our rebrand of the boys’ brigade in 2005 we’ve been asked to design a 125 years logo to help the youth organisation celebrate. [i realise we've not blogged our work for the bb yet - must do that soon. so much to blog, so little time to blog it...]

what we [james] are/is listening to [10]

well as adrian is away on holiday it’s just been me in the studio this week. i’ve been busy! here’s the albums that have got me through a testing week:

shine eyed mister zen by kelly joe phelps is an album i’ve had for a few years and it makes a comeback in times of stress and need. this is seriously heart-felt acoustic blues, its not feelgood music, it’s pure and simple with nothing but kelly joe’s rasping yet soft voice and beautiful acoustic picking. it reminds me of camping at the end of summers at deserted beaches, when the air is starting to chill and the nights begin to draw in, playing guitar with friends.

sufjan stevens album come on feel the illinoise is the second of sufjan’s 50 states project album’s, where each album relates to one of america’s states. whether he seriously intends to do this is debated but if he does and all the albums are as good as this it’d be worth owning them all. sufjan’s style of folk is original and beautiful, and very emotional, referencing the places and people of illinois. his lyrics often relate to his faith and you’ll best know his songs for being used in the FiveUS pre-programme stings on TV.

elephant eyelash by why? is a strange album. i’d call it folk hip-hop. why? began life as a solo project but has since become a full band. they are part of the anticon collective of artist who have produced some very original work, taking hip-hop to a more poetic level with elements of electronica, folk and minimalist music. why? features some of the more pop tinged elements of this genre and is really fun.

extend your horizons

recent prospectus for tourismfirst, part of craven college, who provide training for the tourism sector. phil liked the renaissance news we design (tourismfirst currently sponsor it) and wondered if a fold-out format might work well to promote their training opportunites. it’s been out a few weeks now and phil tells us he’s had a good response with people signing up for courses. photo of hole of horcum (on the north yorkshire moors) taken by james.