The summer edition of Eye magazine focuses entirely on design for music – from the first sleeve graphics by Alex Steinweiss to the performance art of Laurie Anderson. The special issue also features an extensive profile on the work of Big Active and interview with creative director Gerard Saint – discussing the challenges of packaging music for the digital age – and why in his opinion design will always have a compelling role to play in making music visible. Eye #76 is out now.

04 August, 2010 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Gerard Saint, Home News, Music | - Tags: Art Direction & Design, Eye Magazine, Gerard Saint, Music Design, St Brides's Library | Permalink

Mallorca Rocks is the bad-ass brother of Ibiza Rocks. The brand new Mallorca Rocks Hotel opened it’s doors with a sell out show by The Kooks, Zane Lowe and Bombay Bicycle Club. Designed in collaboration with Big Active the hotel features more shows this summer by The Prodigy, Dizzy Rascal, Calvin Harris, The Courteeners and Pendulum. ‘The look and feel of the hotel are a natural extension of the work we’ve developed for Ibiza Rocks for over the past four years’ says creative director Gerard Saint, ‘these last few months have been a really busy time getting everything together, so it’s amazing to now see the place really come to life…’ Designer Markus Karlsson described the opening as ‘an absolutely crazy party – no sleep for 24 hours…’ Big Active are design directors for the Ibiza Rocks and Mallorca Rocks brands. Respect.

21 June, 2010 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Gerard Saint, Home News, Music | - Tags: Art Direction & Design, Ibiza Rocks, Mallorca Rocks, Music Design | Permalink

‘Saturday Night’ is the strictly limited new 7″ release from Das Pop – and it’s out this week. Designed by Mat Maitland for Big Active.

14 June, 2010 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Home News, Music | - Tags: Art Direction & Design, Das Pop, Illustration, Music Design | Permalink

The new album from Foals is out now. ‘Total Life Forever’ is the follow up to their 2008 debut ‘Antidotes’ and sees an evolution in the band’s sound which is reflected in the new imagery created for the band by their good friend and outsider artist Tinhed. The underwater shots of the band are by Steve Guillick. Big Active made the art work.

15 May, 2010 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Home News, Music | - Tags: Art Direction & Design, Foals, Music Design, Total Life Forever | Permalink

This month’s Grafik magazine features a provocative special report on the future of music design – essential reading we think. Gerard Saint our creative director shares his opinions on page 65. More…

07 May, 2010 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Gerard Saint, Home News, Music | - Tags: Art Direction & Design, Gerard Saint, Grafik Magazine, Music Design | Permalink

The new album by Kate Nash is out today. Produced by Bernard Butler – “My Best Friend Is You” – sees a development in her direction towards a more indie sound and features a rawer more stripped back approach to her music. To reflect this attitude Big Active were commissioned to create a campaign that has been inspired by references as diverse as 1920/30’s constructivist collage to stateside girl-band iconography from the 1960’s. Mat Maitland art directed the campaign working in collaboration Kate Gibb – who produced all of the silkscreen imagery. Reflecting the personal sentiment in the album’s title the printed imagery takes the form of collages all incorporate keepsakes belonging to Kate Nash, “The silkscreen process gives the visual flavour a much more hard edged organic feel – in keeping with the spirit of the album” . The imagery is integrated across all aspects of the promotional campaign.

19 April, 2010 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Home News, Illustration, Kate Gibb, Music | - Tags: Kate Gibb, Kate Nash, Music Design | Permalink

To celebrate Record Store Day – this coming Saturday 17th – we’ve created a special edition cassette version of the new Goldfrapp album for Mute Records. The format is strictly limited to 500 copies and available over the counter at UK Independent stores from tomorrow…

16 April, 2010 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Music | | Permalink

Here’s a new track from Parra’s music side project with LeLe.

07 April, 2010 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Illustration, Moving Image, Music, Parra | | Permalink

The new album by Goldfrapp ‘Headfirst’ is released today. Featuring the single ‘Rocket’, this is the fourth album release we have designed for the band – and marks yet another new direction in the band’s sound and imagery. The campaign has been art directed by Mat Maitland in collaboration with Alison Goldfapp – with photography by Serge Leblon, styling by Cathy Edwards, and set design by Shona Heath. BBC6 Music likened the album to ‘…the first sun of spring’ – rather appropriate we think…

22 March, 2010 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Mat Maitland, Music | - Tags: Cathy Edwards, Goldfrapp, Music Design, Serge Leblon, Shona Heath | Permalink

We have directed a short trailer announcing the launch of the new album by Goldfrapp – the teaser introduces the new campaign which we have created for the band. The website goes live next Monday and the physical album is released on the 22nd March. More to follow in the coming weeks…

10 March, 2010 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Moving Image, Music | - Tags: Goldfrapp, Headfirst', Music Design, Mute Records | Permalink