Welcome to the Pleasuredome - Frankie goes to Hollywood

Art and design has always been an interest of mine too so the sleeve art always fascinated me. Former music journalist Paul Morley was catalyst for many of the ideas for the ‘look’ of the label and the brainchild of its groundbreaking marketing. Paul worked with David Smart to create some iconic designs which still look great to this day.

 

Who's Afraid (of The Art of Noise)

Dr Mabuse - Propaganda

I got in contact with David to ask him about those early days and how the whole design process worked, the agency XL and what set his own creative juices flowing.

Who were your own design influences and inspirations?

At the time I started working for ZTT I think my influences were:
1. Blue note
2. The Bauhaus
3. Paul Rand
4. El Lissitzky
5. Paul Massin’s book ‘La letter et l’image’

How did you and XL come to work so closely with ZTT?

XL Design was started by two designers, Tom Watkins and Royston Edwards. Tom worked largely in the field of interiors and Royston had a background in illustration and designing for magazines. Tom designed much of the interior of Sarm Studios in Notting Hill – where ZTT was born – commissioned by Jill Sinclair and Trevor Horn. I joined XL after about a year and met Paul Morley soon after, who was visiting our design studios in Poland Street in London’s West End. He asked us to design the cover for ‘Into Battle’ Art of Noise. I’d never designed a record sleeve, having worked largely in publishing as a book designer. Same gravy different meat. They seemed to like it and ‘Relax’ followed shortly after. It just happened.

What was the general process of creating something for artists on the ZTT label?

Paul Morley always arrived with a doodle and with words. I always loved the doodles which were sometimes made on scraps of paper, restaurant paper napkins, backs of envelopes – never on anything too precious. (I wish I had kept some of those doodles). I guess my job was to try and interpret the doodle and bring it to life graphically. To see envisage Paul’s imagining was. The process was quite fluid, a bit like a copywriter and designer working together, or two dance partners. Sometimes I would play with his words and sometimes he would play with my designs. It was always his vision. I was interpreter. I would handle most of Sarm’s advertising and graphic design, and designed almost everything for Frankie Goes to Hollywood up until the ‘Liverpool’ album. Also Anne Pigalle and Andrew Poppy bits. My co-director Royston worked with Art of Noise. Paul was also a brilliant commissioner of artwork and would often arrive with photographs, illustrations or paintings as ingredients for designs. Sometimes we would need to hunt out or create imagery. We always decided on typeface, logos, textures and colours and the layout and balance of things. But I should emphasize that this was a collaboration where thoughts were shared and laughs were many. There was always a sense of mischief in the air.

How were the ZTT logo and spattered custom sleeve and record label designs developed?

I cannot remember how the logo came about. Paul might? I suspect it came from Dada somewhere. The spattering came from the sprayed wall covering at Sarm studios. Tom Watkins used a spattered paint finish in many of his interior designs at that time. I think we mimicked this on paper.

Who were your favourite ZTT artists to design for?

Frankie and Art of Noise. I loved the bonkersness of it all (if that’s a word) and I loved that anything seemed possible. I have always held on to that notion when designing. Frankie represented for me a subversive way of being and designing. Art of Noise had a mysterious madness and a charming playfulness. But actually I loved all of ZTT’s acts as they all had a character and spirit that seems missing in much of contemporary music. A unique voice.

Who were the most difficult to work for on personal or creative level?

I could not say – even if I knew.

Was there ever a design that you personally hated but had to do because others demanded it?

No.

Were there ever any major disagreements over sleeves and advertising style between XL, ZTT and the bands?

Not really. I think that when we became known for our part in the work then other record companies wanted us to design for them. Which we did. This did create some tension between XL and ZTT, but we were an independent company so felt that we had no particular loyalty to any label.

What was it like working with Paul Morley? How easy was it to interpret his ideas?

Always a pleasure and he was always very clear.

The similarity between the sleeves of ‘Into Battle’ and the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s ‘Time Further Out’ is striking – what is story behind the look for this sleeve?

I don’t have a story – Paul might?

Why did ‘Who’s afraid of the Art of Noise’ have three different sleeves? How did you approach the re-design process?

Just a game I think.

What did you think of Morley’s writing? Was it genius or pretentious twaddle? Did it act as a catalyst or was the copy added later?

It depends which writing you are talking about. Some of it was factual and some of it like poetry. It was often fun to try and express words typographically. Words were always part of the picture.

What happened to XL and was there a connection with Accident Design?

XL broke up due to differences between the directors and because of financial difficulties. After it ended, Royston Edwards and myself formed Accident and continued work for ZTT as well as other labels and clients.

Which other label and agency’s work did you rate highly in the early days?

I have always loved the work of Verve, Blue Note and ECM. Mark Farrow worked for us for a while at XL and has went on to design wonderful things including the Pet Shop Boys. Assorted Images and Stylo Rouge were both successful agencies which I admired.

Which of your sleeves do you think have best stood the test of time?

Art of Noise seem to have a timeless quality. The Power of Love contained a painting by Titian from the Frari in Venice. I got this when on holiday there. I guess that is as timeless as it gets.

Was any artwork produced for Instinct’s unreleased single ‘Sleepwalking’ or any other of their aborted releases?

Sorry – I don’t remember

Do you still have original artwork – released or unreleased concepts – from the 80s?

We sold all our original artwork to Jill Sinclair at ZTT/Sarm. As far as I know they still hold all the rights to it. I have dusty boxes full of all my ZTT work in my loft at home. But no original artwork.

HotLINX24 magazine

The latest edition of London Internet Exchange’s magazine – HotLINX24 – is now available to download from the LINX website: https://www.linx.net/files/hotlinx/hotlinx-24.pdf

The cover story this time is on Internet pioneer Vint Cerf and his keynote address at the 6UK launch event back in November. IPv6 is understandably a big talking point in the industry right now with IPv4 exhaustion just around the corner.

Other stories featured in this edition include the Google Internet Economy Report, the Cisco Visual Networking Index and data centre news from Greg McCulloch at Interxion. There’s also a bumper member news section with Cablenet, ATMAN, Hurricane Electric and associate LINX member, Netnod.

There also the regular features from the Internet Society (ISOC) and the RIPE NCC plus a round up of recent Public Affairs news stories. Added to this is a review of the recent Internet industry events such as the 5th Polish Network Operators’ Group meeting (PLNOG5) in Krakow.

Readers may be interested to know that there is now a specific HotLINX Facebook page which includes exclusive content such as unpublished event photos and articles.

In the UK there is a TV series called the Secret Millionaire where a wealthy person goes undercover into underprivileged areas and then after a period of time comes clean and hands over money for what he considers a deserving cause, person or project. It seems that £30K is the usual amount that is given overall and it could be split several ways for repairs to a local facility, or help with a care centre or for a person or family who are doing good in the community or becuase they deserve a break. It’s quite emotional stuff on many levels.

First of all you have the successful person. Being one of those ‘in the middle’ of society that have a decent job and are doing OK, how should I react to him or her? Some will be jealous of their success saying it is down to luck or a prosperous family whether they’ve earnt it or not. Others will applaud them because they had the drive and commitment to be a success especially if they started with nothing. Then there will be cynical people who think they are doing good to boost their ego or to make some personal gain and not doing it for the right reasons.

We also have those people who need care, or are out of work, living in poor conditions or being brought up in violent areas. People who feel trapped in their circumstances and can’t see a way out. Despite any range of problems including one or all of the above there are the persons who still seem to love life and will do anything for anyone for nothing or a pittance because it is the right thing to do.

This show gets to me because I mostly sit in that middle band or middle lane. I may complain at the petty or the trivial purely because it annoys me and I think the World is out to get me. I may get fed up that I can’t afford the latest gadget right away. I may get lazy or pig out on bad stuff or spend unnecessarily and then whinge at the bank if they don’t extend my overdraft.

How we drive in the middle lane can change. If we want it, I mean REALLY want it we can move to the fast lane and be a success. The same is true of pulling over to the slow lane and making a difference to those that need it, again not because it makes you feel good but because it is the right thing to do.

The middle lane is the place to worry about things that don’t matter. If you stay there and drive straight you essentially don’t move – you ould even argue you are being mediocre. If you step up you can maybe fund a community project or step down to be hands on and get your hands dirty and help those that need it.

On the roads people who cruise in the middle lane tend to be unpopular as they are blocking the highway. Which way are you headed? What will you do tomorrow to bring a ray of sunshine into another person’s life? Make a promise now to do something and tell us what you’ve done.

Make a difference…

Internet intelligence and cybersecurity experts Renesys, LINX member BSO Network Solutions and network hardware provider Brocade, have all contributed with each approaching the Cloud concept from a different angle. The topic has polarised many in the industry so these articles are sure spark further debate in the LINX community.

LINX is a mutual, not-for-profit organisation whose 370-plus members include the majority of the world’s leading network operators. Membership of LINX provides a cost effective way of improving traffic latency and quality by direct peering with other member networks.

Elsewhere in HotLINX there is a definite African flavour to the magazine’s content. There is an overview of the peering market on the continent plus coverage of the recent Capacity Africa conference in Kenya.

“We strongly felt that by sponsoring this event we had a great opportunity to raise LINX’s profile in Africa”, said Jennifer Atherton, LINX’s Business Development Executive. “Having presented the benefits of peering at LINX to network operators in Nairobi, we are confident in attracting new members from the region to further broaden the routing options of the LINX membership as a whole”.

Initially a member only publication, HotLINX is now read by stakeholders right across the industry. Recipients also include equipment vendors, colocation providers, educational bodies, news agencies plus government officials and policy makers, concerned with Internet regulation.

All HotLINX issues including the Cloud Computing special can be downloaded from the LINX website: https://www.linx.net/publicity/hotlinx.html

END

Notes to editors:

1. LINX was formed in 1994 when five ISPs recognised that there were considerable operational benefits to exchanging traffic between their networks in the UK. From the beginning every LINX member has had an equal vote in the management of the organisation.
2. The connection of networks at an Internet exchange point such as LINX is known as ‘peering’. Network operators use public peering across the dual LINX Ethernet networks to exchange traffic with any other member by mutual agreement. LINX also offers a managed private network interconnect facility which is used for large traffic flows between two members.
3. LINX has a presence at eleven London sites connected by secure fibre and DWDM links. The core of the network currently operates across a 12x10G Ethernet link.
4. The Internet traffic at LINX consists of a wide variety of data including streaming media, website downloads, business information and emails. Peak LINX traffic on the public exchange is the equivalent of over 1,600,000 simultaneous Internet video streams.

For more information on LINX:
Jeremy Orbell
The London Internet Exchange
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7645 3505
pr@linx.net

Yellow Pages have adapted and do have an online presence in yell.com and I’m sure that will continue perform well. However, the days of the printed directory look to be numbered especially after the results of a recent survey from Vistaprint.

Article source: www.smallbusinesssem.com

Small Biz Marketing: More Bad News for Yellow Pages

By Matt McGee

Gap has nearly 300 stores in Europe and Asia, is valued at nearly $4 billion, and is reportedly the 84th most-valuable brand in the world according to an Interbrand study. Because of this the more I look at the rejected logo, the more convinced I am that this was simply a publicity stunt, a veiled attempt to generate media exposure. The original identity is still strong though it is quite obviously of its day, ie the early 90s. Maybe it is time for a revamp but their choice had nothing that would identify it as a major brand whatsoever. As one commentator had it, it look more like a logo for an IT firm.

What looks like what happened was that Gap marketers have set us a trap and by and large the public seems to have fallen for it. Facebook groups were set up condeming the logo with one such site rapidly attracting 5,000 followers with micro-bloggers on Twitter being equally damning. It’s telling that Gap themselves asked consumers to send them their ideas which makes it look like they were treating their brand, which has taken many years to develop, with little more than contempt. It’s not a colouring in competition!

Let’s face it would Gap have got anywhere near the coverage they’ve received this week if it hadn’t have been for this U-turn? I admit it’s a dangerous game but the change has been for such a short period it’s unlikely any lasting damage has been done. It just means that when the time does come to bring out a new identity they better make damn sure they get right because they won’t get away with it twice.

Yeo Valley Organic have just done that with a full two minute ad promoting their milk with an innovative commercial which sees trendy young farmers rapping. It’s certainly not the traditional way we expect to see the countryside portrayed.

As Yeo Valley aren’t the most well known of brands I’d wager that they’ve blown most of their year’s marketing budget with that ad. I’d be surprised if we see it shown in full too often, especially at prime time, but an important weapon in this campaign will now undoubtedly lie in the hands of consumers and YouTube.

Viral marketing of adverts has been around for a while but really took off with the Cadbury Gorilla which has received millions of views. If you can be find a new and interesting way to market your product or service you’ll find your ad will be shown anywhere in the world at any time of the day or night for FREE. It was also noticeable they have held competitions, shown teasers and set up Facebook and Twitter accounts to maximise the ads effectiveness.

Time will tell if Yeo Valley’s campaign is a success and if they see a return on their investment but there’s no doubt they are now a talking point and that they’ve raised their brand awareness considerably.

Now, HotLINX is quite a specialised magazine which is aimed primarily at its ISP members peering Internet traffic at the LINX exchange but it does also try to reflect some of the broader Internet industry issues such as government regulation. As a quarterly publication it is inevitable that not every article feature up to the minute news so I wanted to introduce a way of publishing related material that kept the HotLINX name in the consciousness of its stakeholders.

Facebook has two networking types: The Facebook group and the Facebook fan page. As I’ve already stated I went for the fan page which I felt better suited my needs though that will not necessarily apply to you. Rather than go into the differences in-depth I’d like to refer you to the Search Engine Journal site which actually carried out some detailed research into the two services. You can read about the findings on their Facebook Group vs Facebook Fan Page: What’s Better? page.

So how have I used the HotLINX fan page. Well, as the upcoming issue was iminent I wanted to add some teasers about the content to be included to keep followers aware that publication was just around the corner. I’ve been mostly posting daily over the last couple of weeks but if I only talked about the new issue there would end up being no point reading it as I would told everyone all there was to know anyway. For that reason I interspersed the general wall posts with snippits like the most downloaded past issues, images of the covers and photos from various industry events to keep it fresh.

Ideally I want to encourage feedback with comment of the Discussion page but this may take time. What this area does allow is the facility to make longer posts similar to a blog so I decided to add an article that hadn’t made the final issue and include links to supplementary content and images. While the content was a little dated if gives the material an outlet and something that differentiates the fan page from the magazine and therefore a reason to subscribe to the page.

While fan numbers are currently a relatively modest 35 it is noticeable that it has attracted followers from beyond the LINX membership, staff and partners. By reaching a wider audience that increases the likelihood of identifying prospects and that can only be good for everyone.

A while back I had the sum of £40,000 come into my head. I don’t know why it just seemed to present itself to me and it hung around long enough to make think about how I should use that particular  thought. In the evening I spotted a lottery scratch card where the top prize was £40,000 a year for life which felt like a sign worth following up on.

Now, I don’t normally do gambling of any sort but I did wonder whether the figure was significant so I bought a card and won!

…£5.

As that was my original stake I later decided that I would buy another and on the way to Tesco I repeated to myself, “Forty thousand, forty thousand, forty thousand…” again and again. I imagined scratching the panel and seeing the winning symbol appearing in a certain position on the card.

So I bought the second scratch card and I won again – this time it was £10! Hurrah!!

…then I won another £10!

…then another tenner!

…and then yet another!

Forty pounds all on the same scratch card. Not a big sum I know but I’ve never known to get two wins on the same card let alone four. OK, so it wasn’t £40,000 but I’ll take £40 – it’s not to be sniffed at.

On another occasion recently I had the image of ten crisp £10 notes in my wallet and the figure of £100 bouncing around my head. I wasn’t sure where this would come from but again it felt quite strong.

As I said before I’m not a betting man though I did see an advert in a betting shop window that caught my eye. It said you could win £110 from a £10 stake on Chelsea winning a game 4-0 and I was tempted for a while. What stopped me doing it was that while I’d win £100 I would end up with £110 in my wallet because I’d get my original stake money back as well. It’s a good job I didn’t go for it because despite leading 4-0 at one point, Chelsea’s opponents MSK Zilina got one back in the second half.

There was another instance of the ‘£100 in the wallet’ thought but it ended up no more profitable than the first. For this I’d decided to take another punt at scratch card and in this particular game it required the purchaser to match two symbols to win the amount below one of them. My ‘winning’ symbol was ‘£’ but I didn’t get one of those in the game. What I did get was a wallet symbol and the amount of…you’ve guessed it, £100.

So to today…

Earlier I was at an internet event at the Park Lane Hotel in London. There were 200 delegates and we were told that by virtue of filling in the feedback form we would be entered into a draw for an iPad which made the odds pretty good for what was in fact relatively little work.

I imagined holding the box, the crisp edges, the shrink wrap film covering it and again it was very real in my mind. When the draw was eventually made it was won by the guy next me, a former colleague who already had an iPad!

I got to hold the box so those feelings I had earlier did in fact manifest even though the iPad wasn’t mine. The only way that could’ve happened is if I’d won myself or if he had – there was no other reason for me to hold the box with anyone else in the room.

Next time I will make sure I imagine the box unwrapped!

Here’s the marketing spiel…

Do you have a job or task which you want taking off your hands? Has it been sat there for weeks or months just gathering dust? What would you give to just to get it out of the way so you can move forward again.

Do you need a logo creating or a leaflet designed? What about some advertising or brochure copy? Maybe you need assistance with social networking strategy or someone to review your website who will see it with fresh eyes?

Basically I will undertake any project for you and will do it for whatever you think it is worth. If you don’t feel what I have done is right for you or your business then you can decide to pay nothing. It’s that simple.

HotLINX issue 22 - Download available now

You can see an example of my work by downloading a copy of the company magazine I design and write for.

Two decades of design and marketing experience is at your disposal. You – or any of your friends and associates for that matter – could be about to net yourself a bargain! Just use the contact me facility at the top of the page to put in your request.

Offer available until the 24 October 2010.