Creative Socioeconomic Design – One Eye On The Future, One Eye On The Past

I recently found myself thinking about my goals for 2012. But then I realised I wasn’t completely sure what I had achieved in 2011. When I looked back over the past year I noticed a really interesting pattern: I’ve been lucky enough to play key roles on a handful of really exciting projects that benefit the wider community. Each of these projects has had a positive impact on disadvantaged and marginalized people at home and abroad, from promoting sanitized water in Africa to stimulating the struggling UK economy. Although it sounds slightly cheesy, I must say I have found it incredibly rewarding to work for these kinds of clients and promote their causes.

In previous years I have focused on music, advertising and marketing, but it’s really good to be able to use the techniques I have honed to actually enhance the socioeconomic situation of others. I cannot deny how fun it is working for stylish brands, and I still intend to pursue this type of work as long as it interests me. But I also plan to work on more and more projects that are designed to improve opportunities for others.

Anyway, here’s my brief roundup of 2011:

BBC Diversity – E-Learning Course (January-March 2011)

As a global broadcasting corporation, it is important for the creators of our media to be well versed in issues such as diversity. Mark Jaeckel and Atticmedia developed this e-learning course that helped demonstrate to the BBC’s employees how to practice diversity. I was brought on board to create the motion graphics for this.
Credits: Neil Lawson, Mark Jaeckel

Action for Happiness – Charity Launch Film – (March 2011)

The papers say the economy is almost as bad as it was back in the Great Depression in the USA in the 1920s. This was charity launched with one simple positive message: “to promote happiness and wellbeing”. Some people might say they are targeting the heart of the problem. Part of the fun of working on this project was being part of a great team in house at Fallon.
Thanks to: Tom Ormande, James Lowrey, Rob Hunter, Nicos Livesey

DECA – Art Exhibition/ Brand Strategy (August-October 2011)

Sponsored by adidas, DECA was an art exhibition celebrating 10 years of RWD magazine and the numerous success stories spawned from its pages. RWD has supported up and coming talent since 2001, and the aim of the art exhibition was to promote these aspirational images to the younger generation and encourage them to engage in the entrepreneurial spirit that will ignite our economy. This was a strategy I developed from concept to creation and managed the entire project – a new benchmark for me in terms of skill-set.
Shouts to my core team: Radim, Greg, Tego, Nardene

WaterAid – Waterworks Global Campaign (November 2011)

WaterAid promotes clean water and sanitation in Arica, because dirty water kills 4,000 children on the continent every day. They approached me to handle what was to be a global campaign called Waterworks. For this I directed a motion graphics film and created a series of info-graphics for print and digital. Thanks to filmmaker Adam Beasley for the hook up on this one, also Beth & Tom at WaterAid.

Underground Music Magazine Mini-Documentary

The later half of 2011 saw me managing a brand strategy for adidas. Part of the project involved directing this mini-doc based around RWD – an underground music magazine. We interviewed chart topping stars such as Wretch 32, Tinchy Styder, Roll Deep, Ms Dynamite and more. Props to Greg Bond for the filming and editing. Also Kieran Pharoah for this image.

Monotone at the east end film festival

Monotone has been selected for a screening at the east end film festival 2008, if you can’t wait that long check it out here: