BIG ACTIVE

PEOPLEText: Ayako Yamatomo

Big Active, a notable design studio in London that deals with art direction, graphic design and creative management. Their field is pretty wide, having worked on CD sleeves like Basement Jaxx, publicity, fashion, leisure and life style. They will release book of their work “Head, Heart and Hips – The Seductive World of Big Active” from Die Gestalten Verlag.

Could you introduce Big Active?

Big Active is a creative design agency. We are best known for our work in the fields of music and editorial graphics. We believe in the seductive spirit of collaboration, and our London based studio is uniquely associated with a number of influential illustrators and photographers, who we represent commercially.

Could you tell me about your recent activity?

We’ve been really busy art directing and designing new album projects for Athlete, Garbage, The Black Velvets and Annie as well as looking at a host of new projects that we’ve been offered. In the last year a number of new commercial artists have come to be represented by the agency including Kam Tang, Will Sweeney and Genevieve Gauckler – which we are really excited by. Also there’s a lot of work going on with JG4B, the new range of bikinis designed by Jasper Goodall which we are developing as a brand. And also Simon Henwood is just about to launch a new plush toy called ‘Klong’ – the studio is also busy developing the branding for this. ‘A Klong cannot see or hear you, but can sense your kindness’…

Head, Heart and Hips – The Seductive World of Big Active” will be published by Die Gestalten Verlag. Could you tell us about this book?

The book is a candid snapshot of the design studio and the artists that we represent. I liked the idea of doing a book that could perhaps exist outside the boundaries of the design world. Big Active has always been about producing accessible graphic design and art direction that is bold, spirited and direct. Great design should speak to, (and come from) the head, the heart and the hips. It’s all about pleasure and seduction.

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