WECHATTOTHETEAMATPOKEDSTUDIOABOUTITS
QUIRKY CHARACTERS, MESMERISING WORLDS ANDHIGHPROFILE CLIENTS
POKEDSTUDIO
EYE ON DESIGN STUDIO INTERVIEW
V
ibrant colours and quirky characters are all
in a day’s work for pokedstudio, whose
illustrations stand out a mile from their
peers and who aren’t afraid to have fun with
their designs. The international illustration, design
and animation studio, based in Cardiff, was founded
by illustrator Jonathan Ball who already had a solid
reputation for his character designs and the intricate
worlds he created.
“Specialising in quirky characters and wacky
worlds, we have created illustrations, graphics and
designs for mobile apps, videogames, print
campaigns, packaging, books, magazines and
merchandise for many of the world’s biggest
youth-focused brands,” is the studio’s description
of itself.
It’s not surprising, then, that a whole host of
well-known brands have wanted to work with
pokedstudio and have a slice of this colourful,
occasionally eccentric, world to help promote their
products. Clients have so far included MTV, BBC,
FHM, Sony, Microsoft, Fight My Monster, Britvic, the
National Library of Wales, Digit, Argos, Channel 4,
AVG, 02 Mobile, E4 and a plethora of magazines.
These clients are attracted to pokedstudio
specifically for its style, says Jonathan Ball: “[Our
style] is primarily what people come to us for. They
have seen pokedstudio’s work somewhere and
want something similar for their project. I’m happy
to oblige.”
Having such a distinct look and focus is what sets
this studio apart from its peers – it knows what it can
do and it can do it very well indeed, though they are
still incredibly flexible. “We have a unique style and
take on design. It means we can sell ourselves as a
brand. You can go to pokedstudio when you need a
certain look. But we are also open to many other
types of projects and have done work for banks and
very business-orientated companies. We would like
to think we are friendly and flexible too.”
The style has evolved over the years, which can be
clearly seen through Ball’s many social media
presences (find him on Instagram, Facebook,
Pinterest and more). Browsing through his
Photostream on Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/
pokedstudio), for example, you can visually see the
change in style from his personal beginnings in retro,
grunge effects mixed with street art, through to
highly polished 3D renders that his studio is now
famed for. What has remained the same, however, is
the love for quirky characters and intense colours,[Our style] is primarily what people come
to us for. They have seen pokedstudio’swork somewhere and want something similar
for their project. I’m happy to oblige