A presentation at The School of Design by Mr Murphy
Naomi Atkinson (White) Christopher Murphy The School Of Design · 2020
Naomi in one slide… • Whosit + Whatsit • Adobe MAX • Branded by Naomi (.com) • STARKADE • logoarchive.gb Mr Murphy · @fehler
“I worked as a Senior Designer within various agencies: TH_NK, GT (a WPP advertising agency, now folded into others), and Pollitt and Partners.” —Naomi Atkinson Mr Murphy · @fehler
Whosit + Whatsit Mr Murphy · @fehler
“In 2013, I took on a 17th century building and built a retail store specifically to benefit designers and makers. We represented over 180 independents. Whosit + Whatsit opened in 2014 and closed in 2016.” —Naomi Atkinson Mr Murphy · @fehler
Murphy · @fehler WhenMrI look back on this now… Taking on a building, establishing a design shop… ! ! !
Mr Murphy Touchpoints are· @fehler so, so important, and Naomi’s for Whosit + Whatsit were beautifully designed.
Every little detail needs to be considered: colour palette, apps, loyalty cards… everything.
Testimonials are critical, serving as ‘trust signals’ and an opportunity for others to tell your story.
“Fear of failure should never stop you in life or business.” —Naomi Atkinson Mr Murphy · @fehler
Q. How did you overcome ‘the fear’? • A building. • Stocking 180 designers. • Staff. • Touchpoints. •! Mr Murphy · @fehler
Q. What lessons did you learn? • Bricks and Mortar → Online Mr Murphy · @fehler
Adobe MAX Mr Murphy · @fehler
Highlights • Content for Adobe… • Trialling the Apple Pencil. • XD UI Kit • @adobedesigners Instagram • Spiekermann × Bauhaus… Mr Murphy · @fehler
“One of the first Instagram ‘influencers’ before the word became dirty, and celebrities took over.” —Naomi Atkinson Mr Murphy · @fehler
Q. Tips for Instagram? • Early adoption? • Content? • Cadence? Mr Murphy · @fehler
Branded by Naomi Mr Murphy · @fehler
Branded by Naomi
“brandedbynaomi.com is my main focus. Full brand work for social good organisations (charities, non-profits, social enterprises and orgs with positive change at their core).” —Naomi Atkinson Mr Murphy · @fehler
Social entrepreneurship is growing.
I can see the link into LogoArchive, but hold that thought, we’ll get there.
Unfulfilled celebrates a decade of Branded by Naomi and has been featured in Creative Boom and The Creative Factor.
You can do incredible things with digital print in 2020.
“I’m currently working on the launch of minimum skincare. A ballsy, inclusive skincare brand everyone. It’s fun. We’re creating something with a lot more attitude (measured against our more ‘corporate-like’ clients).” —Naomi Atkinson Mr Murphy · @fehler
Lovely, distilled branding.
Language is a critical component in branding.
Q. Tips for a studio…? • Niche (social / good) focus? • Risks vs. Rewards? Mr Murphy · @fehler
STARKADE • Kickstarter, April 2021 Mr Murphy · @fehler
April, 2021
An 11 year old. (Stories, stories, stories!)
× Collaboration. 1 + 1 = 10
Q. What’s the plan? • Why Kickstarter? • What is Starkade? Mr Murphy · @fehler
@logoarchive.gb, Curator Mr Murphy · @fehler
Q. How did this opportunity happen? Mr Murphy · @fehler
Questions… Mr Murphy · @fehler
Thank you, Naomi. Mr Murphy · @fehler
I’ve known Naomi Atkinson (now White) for a long, long time. We met originally at… Brooklyn Beta… perhaps? I can’t recall, but every time we meet we enjoy a long and lovely discussion about all things design.
Atkinson used to run a lovely design shop – Whosit + Whatsit – which was filled with lovely things by designers for designers. She shared the story of setting up a bricks and mortar shop and all the lessons it taught her, mapping from physical to digital.
She also talk about her studio, Branded by Naomi and her recent collaboration with Richard Baird (LogoArchive) on the logoarchive.gb archive.
Atkinson talked about Unfulfilled, a zine celebrating all of her logomarks that never saw the light of day.
As ever, my thanks go out to Atkinson for graciously giving us her time to support The School of Design community. (Thank you, Naomi!)
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