Computer Arts

CULTURE spring 2017

computerarts.creativebloq.com

C

reative agency Build

moved into their current

studio in September

2016. Housed in Tower Works an
      old steel pin factory in Leeds the
      studio is part of a 19th century
      building that has been renovated
      with creative digital and media
      businesses in mind. It’s near the
      motorway the train station and
      the city centre and is also close to
      the canal – the team are looking
      forward to the warmer months
      when they can take water taxis
      to other areas of the city.
      Nicky Place Build’s business
      director describes the look of the
      studio as “a contemporary take on
      traditional interiors” referencing the

modern fittings sash windows and

wooden beams. “Tower Works is a

fantastic building” confirms Michael

C Place Build’s creative director.

“It’s ideally located beautiful and

convenient for the whole team –

we’re very happy here.”

One of Place’s most prized

possessions is his fluorescent pink

Ganesh ( 1 ) which he bought when

visiting Chandigarh North India.

“I really love it as it’s super minimal

just this squat blob of plastic in

the sort of shape of an elephant-

trunked God” he explains.

A less mystical keepsake is Place’s

tDR ruler ( 2 ) which he confesses

to having stolen from the Designers

Republic. “I used to work there and

when I left to go travelling I stole it”

he admits. “It’s been with me about

20 years now. I love that ruler.”

Place also treasures his Letraset

Catalogue collection ( 3 ) and has

around 13 catalogues. “I started

collecting them about eight years

ago and I am always on the

lookout for ones I don’t have.” Place

continues: “I first came across this

exotic beast while at school when

my friend Paul Kettlewell had a

copy and brought it in one day.

It completely blew me away. I had

no idea what it was but I loved it.”

Also on the bookshelf sits a

signed copy of Mode en Module

( 4 ) a monograph about the works

of Wim Crouwel which Place

describes as “the holy grail for a lot

of graphic designers.” Place got his

copy as compensation for working

a weekend while at tDR and later

had it signed by the man himself.

“Music is everything. I could

not live without music and I can’t

design without music” states Place

explaining why his OD-11 by

Teenage Engineering ( 5 ) has pride

of place in the studio. “It’s a re-

engineered version of the original

OD-11 ortho directional loudspeaker

made in 1974.” When Place arrives

in the morning he switches it on

without fail. “We work through the

day it does its thing we do ours.

I go home at night I switch it off. It

waits like I wait for the next day.”

Beau TI fuL and convenIen T

The founders of Build Nicky and Michael C Place explain why a pink plastic Ganesh and

a slick wireless speaker are equally important players in the studio’s creative environment

our design space is...

Build is a creative agency based in Leeds

that helps clients to communicate tell

their story or grow their brand with

contemporary and thoughtful design. Past

big-name clients include Virgin America

Getty Images and Nike. http://studio.build