city and talent pool of world-class
freelancers across a range of
disciplines is a huge part of the
attraction for a start-up like Zenko.
“It also provides a great work-
life balance,” continues James.
“Manchester’s amazing music, arts,
food and social scenes keep us
inspired, and having the likes of
the Peak and Lake Districts on our
doorstep helps us relax. Both really
important in maintaining a healthy
creative mind.”
Then there’s the studio’s
name, which is unique and has
a fascinating provenance. James
wanted to choose a name that was
flexible yet also personal to him
and his approach. Delving into
his interest in Japanese folklore,
he came across stories about twoTop: Studio Zenko
has worked with
luxury fashion
brand Julien
Macdonald
on several of
their licensed
partnerships.SEPTEMBER 2019
types of fox, or kitsune as they are
known in Japanese. Yako is the
bad fox, while Zenko is a good fox.
“Benevolent and celestial, deliverer
of messages of wisdom to humans,
guardians of households, and
bringer of wealth and happiness
to those in their care. It seemed an
appropriate name for a branding
consultancy,” says James.
“It was also unique from a
search perspective and available as
all social media handles, which is a
tough thing to find these days!”
The agency has already
established a strong relationship
with the luxury fashion brand
Julien Macdonald, and has created
a new brand for the fashion
start-up Bella Unica, which is full
of personality. Behind the scenes,Zenko is supporting other clients at
a strategic level, working with them
on how they communicate their
values and helping build an internal
brand culture.
While there may not be full-time
work available at Zenko straight
away, the agency is looking to
extend its network of freelance
designers, creatives and consultants.
James’s advice to young designers
is to keep an open mind, try new
things and get out there and talk
to people. “Speak to everyone you
can in that sector, go to events,
network, be nice to people – they’ll
remember – and keep producing
and showing good work. Genuine
passion will always shine through.”
Discover more of Studio Zenko’s
work at studiozenko.com.Above James
Fox, founder,
Studio ZenkoCULTURE
COMPUTERARTS.CREATIVEBLOQ.COM