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The 4th year students were set a brief to form their own ‘Design agency’ (4 agencies in total) with a name and manifesto. The four 4th year groups then present this to the whole ECA graphic design department. Students from the 2nd and 3rd year then applied to work for one of the agencies and the full groups were formed. They will work as a group/agency for the year and it will be a project over and above the rest of their coursework.

Tayburn was introduced to work with the student company called “Geoff Collective” and will act as their mentors for the year: setting projects and advising on any other work they choose to initiate themselves.

At the start of October we invited Geoff to Tayburn to introduce ourselves. Geoff  presented their manifesto and in turn Tayburn gave a short presentation about ourselves and our work.

Geoff worked to release their first Christmas Card as a newly established design agency. As a collective, and with input and advice from Tayburn, Geoff delivered a White Christmas to all who received a card, snow-like hole punches falling from the cards as they were opened. Feel free to blame Geoff Collective for all the excess snow this winter, they clearly sent out one too many cards.

See more of their work on their group blog, Geoff Collective.

Have you ever noticed that a number 7 set in a chunky slab serif typeface like Egyptian Bold leaves an interesting bird-like form in its negative space…? (This is the sort of thing we ponder in quiet moments – and avoid mentioning on first dates/in social settings.)

Well, we have, and that’s how this piece began. The observation was worked up to create an appealing ‘7 swans’ graphic and we asked ourselves whether the other 11 days of Christmas could be represented in an engaging and thoughtful way. Time and thought was devoted to each of the twelve days, playing with ideas and searching for relevant forms within the negative space of numbers and letterforms.

Five months later, the piece was complete, just in time to be produced on heavyweight grey stock in litho black, silk-screened white and gold foil, and sent out to 750 of our clients and friends. Much of the appeal of the piece is in ‘figuring out’ what is being communicated – “ah…the jumping aristocrat’s body is in the shape of an ‘X’, the roman numeral for ten…Ten Lords-a-Leaping!” etc. We have found that those who interpret the visual symbols in the shortest amount of time and with the least effort, tend to be those who have spent many happy moments curled up on the sofa, watching the popular television game show ‘Catch-Phrase’. The debt of gratitude we owe to both Roy Walker and Mr Chips, for sharpening the visual interpretation and lateral thinking skills of our nation is huge.

We hope you like it. Happy Christmas.

Illustration and Design by Tayburn.

Chewie is officiallly back in town!

Christmas is snow good without Chewits!

Tayburn has been working in partnership with The Yard for the last six months to produce a report that captures the ethos behind the charity. The report will be a vital marketing tool to raise awareness of the unique work of The Yard and to source future funding.

By integrating photography of the children and young people who actually use the facility, Tayburn was able to tell the story of The Yard by interspersing the pages with reveals that added an imaginative and interactive element to the report, echoing the nature of The Yard experience. As you navigate the document you learn about different materials and practices ‘The Yard’ uses all of which are informed by the choices the child makes.

“The people who manage and run The Yard are an imaginative and resourceful bunch that is able to ‘reinvent’ everyday items such as bubble wrap and remnants of fabric for use as stimuli for creativity, learning and engagement. Their ethos is that every visit to The Yard should be invigorating and enjoyable and their number one objective for their annual report was to reflect the spirit of The Yard”, explained Tayburn director, Steven Mitchell.

Spread over five easy to follow sections, the main content of the report focuses on the client groups that benefit from The Yard. Its playful style also sets out the regulatory elements clearly, enabling a good understanding of these aspects of the report.

Joan Fraser, chief executive at The Yard, added: “The team at Tayburn has really captured the imaginative and engaging experience of The Yard. They understood us from the very beginning and have produced an amazing annual report that is serious and fun at the same time. And that is exactly how we see ourselves – taking play seriously”.

To help bring the project to life, photographer Rob Brady, printer Beacon Press and paper supplier The Robert Horne Group all contributed their time, talent and expertise for the charity.