Will Sweeney has created an animated cover for the second iPad issue of Lodown Magazine. As well as an interview, videos and images from Will, the issue also features Lars Von Trier, Jon Rafman and Craig Ward. Available now from the iTunes App Store. Animation by Dan Britt.

18 November, 2011 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Illustration, Moving Image, Will Sweeney | | Permalink

Will Sweeney has just completed the artwork for the latest promo for French electronic act Birdy Nam Nam. The video, which accompanies new song Goin’ In, is centred around a cosmic royal wedding in the land of Nam Nam. The video is Will’s latest for the group since The Parachute Ending, which was nominated as one of the 25 YouTube Play / Guggenheim videos, marking the most exceptional talent in online video. You can see more of Will’s animation work here.

06 September, 2011 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Illustration, Moving Image, Will Sweeney | | Permalink

It has been almost two years, but we’re finally able to show you Will Sweeney’s ninety second epic paean to friendship – Help Your Friends. Will’s animation is ably accompanied by a jingle from indie four-piece DeVotchKa, and was commissioned for cult children’s television show Yo Gabba Gabba!

21 June, 2011 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Illustration, Moving Image, Will Sweeney | | Permalink

The recently relaunched Grafik magazine just keeps on getting better! The current issue features an in depth profile by Robert Urquhart on our lettering designer Letman and his journey from from graffiti kid to serious designer. Also featured is Big Active’s Mat Maitland and Will Sweeney in conversation with Angharad Lewis. They discuss Mat’s intriguing design references behind Das Pop’s new album, “I was thinking about Cluedo and Russian roulette…”, as well as exploring the story behind Will’s animated video for the album’s title track ‘The Game’. www.grafikmag.com

23 May, 2011 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Illustration, Letman, Mat Maitland, Music, Will Sweeney | - Tags: Das Pop, Grafik | Permalink

Big Active has just been awarded a Gold Prize at the European Design Awards for our art direction and design work on Mark Ronson’s ‘Record Collection’ album. The awards were announced by Ugne Skonsmanaite at a ceremony held in Vilnius on Saturday. The work was described by this year’s jury as “the perfect way to reference the musician’s influences and the collecting habits of the customer”. This trophy marks the latest in a run of nominations for the project at this years design awards – it was also short listed as a finalist at the Design Week Awards in March, and is currently featured in the 2011 Creative Review Annual. The 2011 European Design Awards book will be published next month.

16 May, 2011 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Gerard Saint, Jasper Goodall, Jesse Auersalo, Markus Karlsson, Mat Maitland, Music, Parra, Will Sweeney | - Tags: European Design Awards | Permalink

The new album by Das Pop is released this week. ‘The Game’ is the second campaign for the Belgian four-piece to be designed by Big Active. “The cover fuses graphic elements in a way that echoes the playful nature of the music,” says art director Mat Maitland, “with the cover almost appearing to be thrown together by the juggler depicted on the sleeve”. You can see more of the project here.

The band’s frontman Bent Van Looy visited London recently and came into Big Active to chat with Mat about the artwork in a feature for Cobra TV. While he was here he also caught up with Will Sweeney who directed the video for the title track (see last weeks post). You can watch the interview with Bent, Mat and Will here.

11 April, 2011 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Mat Maitland, Music, Will Sweeney | | Permalink

Will was featured on art blog 50 Watts showing off some of the sketches and storyboards for the promo made for Das Pop’s single The Game. The images offer an insight into Will’s animation process, and you can see some more here.

04 April, 2011 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Illustration, Will Sweeney | | Permalink

Will Sweeney has a designed and directed a video for Belgian band Das Pop. For the promo, Will was given free reign to to create the organic / mechanic universe in which lead single The Game comes to life.

As Will explains, ‘When I was asked by the fine gentlemen of Das Pop to create a video for their new motorik pop single The Game, the first image that sprang to mind was ‘motorbikes!’, followed by post ‘apocalyptic warrior punks’. Theses are subjects close to my heart, and I wanted to do my best to create a mini movie for the mind’s eye.’

24 March, 2011 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Illustration, Moving Image, Will Sweeney | | Permalink

Will Sweeney and Steve Scott’s promo for Birdy Nam Nam’s “The Parachute Ending” has made the final selection for the Guggenheim Museum’s, YouTube Play biennial of creative video. The inaugural event showcases the most innovative online video from around the world and the judges including Stefan Sagmeister, Darren Aronofsky, Takeshi Murakami and Laurie Anderson had their work cut out going through the 23,300 submissions to produce a final selection of just 20.

22 October, 2010 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Illustration, Will Sweeney | | Permalink

The new Mark Ronson album ‘Record Collection’ features many different record covers that are used to create the actual design. The album campaign was directed and designed by Big Active with collaborative imagery by Mat Maitland, Jasper Goodall, Will Sweeney, Jesse Auersalo, Parra and Markus Karlsson. The ‘Record Collection’ is available as a CD, 12″ Vinyl, iTunes Interactive Format and Collectors 7″ boxed set – featuring the individual sleeves from the album collages and housed in an 80’s inspired leatherette record carry case.

04 October, 2010 - Posted in Art Direction & Design, Gerard Saint, Illustration, Jasper Goodall, Jesse Auersalo, Mat Maitland, Music, Will Sweeney | - Tags: Big Active, Mark Ronson, Music Design, Record Collection | Permalink