News
Designed in Devon/PM-P - Extended Play
Designed in Devon and Plymouth Media-Partnership are presenting the Extended Play event at Devonport Guildhall, on Friday 6th August from 6:30pm.
Extended Play is positioned as Plymouth’s (if not the Southwest’s) first Games Design event and will showcase an emerging industry happening right here in Plymouth!
Living in these convergent times, the Games Industry interacts with all the creative industries including web, mobile, film, sound and animation - creating virtual and interactive experiences that go far beyond the console.
We think it’s time to celebrate that and would love you to come along and help us do so!
We have assembled an exclusive panel of experts from across the UK, asking them to investigate how Plymouth, Devon and the wider Southwest, can take advantage of an Industry very much on the rise. In addition they will look at how our creative businesses can benefit from building a community that is alive and very much kicking!
With supporters now including SW Design Forum, Plymouth CC, City Development Company, University of Plymouth, Plymouth College of Art, Tamar Science Park, Formation Zone, RIO, Francis Clark and of course our creative community, this event is positioning itself to become a regular spot in the Region’s creative diary. We aim to take Extended Play to a City-wide two day festival in 2011 and your support in attendance will be part of that process!
If you will be making it along to Extended Play, and if you haven’t done so already, we are asking that you sign up to ensure catering is adequate for our numbers. To manage this registration process, we are using EventBrite - http://explay.eventbrite.com
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly, chair@designedindevon.co.uk or check out the website at http://www.explay.co.uk
Research + Design win Highly Commended category in national award
Architecture and design office Research + Design has won the Highly Commended category for CIAT’s national award The Alan King Award 2009 for their first completed project, an innovative timber clad residential extension located in the Barbican area of Plymouth. A plaque commemorating the award is scheduled to be fitted to the building in a ceremony on site in the Barbican this Friday 9th of July at 12:30. CIAT President Barry Le Beuvant PCIAT will be attending the ceremony along with the judging committee and various representatives from CIAT, Research + Design and the local contracting firm responsible for the build, Milehouse Construction.
The award demonstrates achievement in technical excellence in design and construction for projects valued at £500,000 and under. The judging panel noted:
The integration of the extension within the existing property was impressive as well as Research + Design’s attention to detail.
The project features a sunroom that can be configured in a variety of ways utilizing custom panels that disappear into wall recesses. The space can also accommodate yoga and study when closed or entertaining when open or as a children’s play area when partially closed.
Director of Research + Design Robert Bedner commended the team for the project and high level of craftsmanship that had been achieved by the builders Milehouse Construction. Joinery and timber detailing utilising Siberian Larch also played a major role in the project including larch doors, window sills and stair handrails - all expertly crafted by local joinery firm Watson and Gardiner.
Mutant Labs shortlisted for University of Plymouth Outstanding New Business Award 2010
Formation Zone client Mutant Labs has recently made the shortlist of companies nominated for the award for outstanding new businesses that have emerged from the University’s commercialisation/entrepreneurship support programmes.
The winner will be revealed at the enterprise awards dinner in September - good luck lads!
Giglocator scoops second prize in University’s Business Ideas Challenge
Formation Zone client Miles Noble is celebrating coming second in the annual Business Ideas Challenge with Giglocator, his website that combines ticket sales with other features including social networking.
Miles wins a cheque for £1000 and a support package.
Online marketing Fuels growth
One of the region’s fast growing integrated marketing companies has just boosted its numbers by appointing two senior web development and online marketing professionals.
Fuel Communications, which started up just two years ago from the University of Plymouth’s Formation Zone, now has ten staff working for clients across the region including National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth Pavilions and Foot Anstey.
The company has appointed Ben Masters and Nikos Lemanis, who for 3 years jointly ran their own IT & Web Development agency, to manage and grow their range of web services for clients.
Ben has an extensive background in software development specialising in content management systems, collaboration software and project management. In addition, he has particular expertise in building web applications on a number of development platforms.
Nikos has a wealth of experience in meeting clients’ online needs. With a background in psychology and statistics in addition to web development, he focuses on user-orientated web design and marketing business online through search engine optimisation and utilising social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.
Dave Smith, Director of Fuel, said: “Ben and Nikos’ arrival comes at a time when online marketing continues to grow in importance. Their knowledge and experience will integrate well with our recognised strengths in brand strategy, public relations, graphic design and print management - allowing our clients to extract even greater value from their marketing budgets. This integrated approach has proved to be attractive for a rapidly growing list of clients looking for guidance in what are still tough trading conditions.”
The expansion for the company has led to the launch of their new website at http://www.fuelcommunications.com/ where companies can register for regular updates on the latest trends and request a free consultation and report on marketing their business.
Another Class of 2009 Digital Art and Technology graduate moves into Formation Zone!
It appears that 2009 graduates from Plymouth University’s Digital Art and Technology course are an enterprising lot as another former student moves into Formation Zone.
Adrian Brown from ACB Design graduated from the same course as the founders of Mutant Labs.
ACB Design specialise in web design and development, content management systems and flash based projects.
Formation Zone client Altitude reawakes a Sleeping Lion!
Altitude is helping Holiday Inn, one of the world’s best known brand names, to undertake the biggest relaunch in the history of the hospitality industry.
Altitude have been busy redesigning individual Holiday Inn websites and are helping to ensure that new brand standards are also applied to promotions, digital and advertising materials across the group which includes over 3200 hotels in nearly 100 countries.
The relaunch is due at the end of 2010.
Two Formation Zone clients shortlisted for 2010 Media Innovation Awards!
Mutant Labs are shortlisted for the New Talent Award and Joakim Boren is shortlisted for the Photographic Award. We’re all looking forward to the Gala event on 18th March to find out if we have any prize winners!
The shortlist for the Media Innovation Awards 2010 has been announced and Plymouth companies are strongly represented across the categories with eleven nominations. Twenty-four entries have been shortlisted altogether for the awards which will be presented at a gala dinner at St Mellion International Resort in Cornwall on Thursday 18 March.
The event is being run in association with the University of Plymouth and South West RDA and event sponsors include: Pyramid, South West Screen, PR Dogs, Plymouth College of Art, Northcliffe Media, and South West Design Programme. Award sponsors are listed below.
Karen Stockdale of the Media Innovation Awards said, “The Media Innovation Awards have gained a reputation for showcasing only the finest work in the region and all the companies nominated have done extremely well as only work of the highest calibre has been shortlisted by the judges.”
The judges decided not to shortlist the Mobile Communications and Multi-platform Project entries as there was a clear winner in each of these categories.
The awards recognise the innovative use of media and design in the region, and members of the creative industry from Cornwall through to Dorset and Gloucestershire were invited to enter the awards.
New Formation Zone client turns self-proclaimed transatlantic widgeteer!
An impressive LinkedIn profile page has secured Andy Sargeant from Mutant Labs a new transatlantic Client! On Call Learning Systems (OCLS), a 12 year old company based in Virginia that specialises in online training for nurses software, contacted Andy via the specialist networking site.
Andy from Mutant Labs said: “OCLS contacted me via LinkedIn. They had found my name on an actionscript coders group. From there they read my blog and my dissertation (titled ‘What is the potential of haptic technology in education?’) which are on my website. They decided to contact me as I was one of the only developers on the actionscript group who had experience of widgets and was interested in eLearning techniques.”
Mutant Labs and OLCS have now been collaborating for 6 weeks. During this period Andy has successfully put together three widgets for the company. These widgets are small interactive applications that are embedded into the training slideshows and allows the user to be tested on the use of the software. Andy hopes this will provide OLCS the edge on their competitors and looks forward to continuing their working relationship.
University of Plymouth Press (UPP) win International Engagment Enterprise Award
From over 30 applicants, UPP won the Romanian Cultural Institute’s invitation to bid to publish an ambitious translation series of 20 Romanian Writers, to be published and distributed world wide bringing in over £120,000 in funding to the university. The first 4 books (of short stories, a novel, poetry and philosophy) will be published in November 2009 at a Peninsula Arts Launch, with the series now extended to include the publication of visual works.
The initiative of director Paul, UPP is extending the traditional range of university press, with publishing ventures dedicated to academic research, community and student projects. General Editor of the 20 Romanian Writers Series in consultation with the Romanian Cultural Institute, Anthony Caleshu is responsible for editing the books, coordinating authors and translators, and making the series plausible for specialist and general readers. Sarah Chapman is responsible for overall typographic layout and book design, and coordinating the visual arts exhibition in November. As Director of Peninsula Arts, Simon Ible will supplement this publishing venture with a gallery exhibition, musical and film programme, including the re-scoring of Romania’s first silent film.
This package has expanded to be a major event of Romanian Culture in four artistic formats, premiering in Plymouth then travelling to London and Bucharest.
FORMATION ZONE CLIENT WINS REGIONAL MEDIA INNOVATION AWARD
Formation Zone attended the glitzy Media Innovation Awards gala dinner in Bristol at the Ashton Gate Stadium on Thursday 12th March. As well as being sponsor of the ‘Most Innovative Newcomer’ category, three of Formation Zone’s clients were shortlisted for awards which is a terrific accomplishment for these new enterprises. Joakim Boren Photography was shortlisted for Most Innovative Newcomer and Outstanding Contribution to Innovation, Fuel Communications Ltd was shortlisted for Branding and Young Motion Plymouth was shortlisted for Collaboration between Business and Young People.
L-R Joakim Boren, Terri Reeves (Fuel), Dave Smith (Fuel), Dawn Melville (Motion Plymouth), Eleanor Butland, Martyn King (Fuel).
At the end of the gala evening Joakim Boren came away with an award for Most Innovative Newcomer, for demonstrating outstanding creative and technical ability across a range of work. Stockholm born photographer based in the UK, Joakim has a Degree in Design Photography specialising in Location photography. Joakim is keen to use this opportunity to continue to grow his company http://www.joakimboren.com/. You can view the award presentations online at http://mia.silverstream.tv.
“I was really thrilled by the news of being short listed and to actually pick up the award for Best Newcomer is a great achievement in such a competitive market. By winning the award I have already managed to gain new commissions in the region and it will be used to further expand the business in the Southwest. It will also help funding some interesting side projects and collaborations we have in the pipeline so it is a very exciting time right now”
The judges included Kate Bradshaw of ITV, Mark Leaver of SW Screen, Colin Porter of the Brand Foundry, Lisa Sargood of BBC and Jo Taylor of Channel 4. They commented that “Joakim Boren presented an accomplished body of work that illustrated confidence”
Karen Stockdale of the Media Innovation Awards said: “The quality of the entries was very high and the fact that entries came from all over the region shows that the South West is a centre of excellence for media and design.”
December 2008: Formation Zone celebrates its first anniversary
An important business incubator and support unit for Plymouth’s creative sector has celebrated its first anniversary. Formation Zone, based in the University of Plymouth’s Roland Levinsky Building, provides incubator and pre-incubator space for new and developing creative businesses. It is an integral part of the work that is taking place in the South West to increase the number of businesses in this sector, which is worth £9.3 billion to the regional economy.
It opened a year ago and the first businesses moved in in February. Now, Formation Zone is two-thirds full and has supported 12 businesses in that time. “Formation Zone has already supported enterprises working in many different areas of the creative industries including film, architecture, digital media, theatre, photography, music, graphic design and marketing. We are really making headway with our support for the creative industries and that will have a positive effect on the creative economy of Plymouth and surrounding areas,” said Formation Zone Programme Manager Eleanor Butland.
“One of the key successes of this first year has been the value of offering support to individuals that are just at the very first stages of developing a business idea. Before they are at a stage to hire a work station in Formation Zone, we work closely together to support the development of their plans and guide them through researching their market and testing their product or service. We have had great results so far and will be extending this service further in 2009.”
Professor Maureen Neal, Deputy Vice Chancellor, opening the event
In 2009, the number of clients are set to grow and Formation Zone’s virtual network will also expand with the addition of a Connect members’ area to the website and a Facebook group to strengthen the creative community that is forming. Key events such as the regular One Stop Ideas Shop meetings will continue, with meetings taking place on the second Monday of every month, including 12 January, 9 February and 9 March. These see experts from organisations including the Tamar Science Park, Business Link, the university, a patent attorney and the Patent Library giving one to one advice to people with a business idea. And Formation Zone’s annual industry symposium will also be held again, with organisers expecting an increase on the 80 delegates that attended this year’s event, in October, to discuss current issues in the industry.
  
IT and digital media recruitment company Aardvark moved into Formation Zone in September. Director Sarah Symonds said: “Previously, I was working from home and rather isolated from the facilities and people that could help me in my business. Working at the Formation Zone allows you to be in a ‘networking environment’ and has allowed me to use the facilities and workshops available that are relevant to my business. The office is also in a fantastic location in the centre of town with great views from huge windows looking out over Plymouth, so you actually enjoy working from this location.”
Fuel Communications, who offer marketing and PR, graphic and web design, sales consultancy and media planning, moved into Formation Zone in April. Director Martyn King said: “Running our business from such a landmark building has given a real boost to our brand. We have had three national organisations in who have been absolutely blown away by the facilities. In each case this has helped us in the sense that we look ‘big’ enough to do the work.”
3rd December 2008: University of Plymouth Enterprise film
A short film has been commissioned by the University of Plymouth to explore what we mean by enterprise and showcase some of our existing excellence in this area. Formation Zone features in this film, click here to view.
2nd December 2008: On Form, the Formation Zone Enterprise Showcase
At 5pm on the 2nd December Formation Zone celebrates its first year and highlights the work of creative enterprises across film, photography, architecture, graphic design, theatre, music and digital media. A showcase exhibition is being launched in the Roland Levinsky Building and will stay open to the public until 4pm on the 4th of December. So if you’d like to know more about how Formation Zone supports new and developing creative enterprises then come along to this exhibition where you can view examples of case studies and displays of creative work.
22nd October 2008: Formation Zone On Media report
On Wednesday 22nd October the University of Plymouth brought together people working and studying in the media sector from across the region to the ‘Formation Zone On Media’ event.
82 people attended this half day symposium, including media businesses, organisations, artists, students and academics from the University of Plymouth and other colleges around Devon and Cornwall. The event focus was to address current issues affecting the media and new media industries, share best practice, make new contacts, form collaborations and showcase talent.
This was the first in a series of annual events that will focus on different areas of creative enterprise.
More information about the speakers and podcasts of the sessions can be found by clicking here
12th June 2008: The Perfect Match
Thursday 12th June saw the second Connect networking event take place. Fuel Communications Ltd and ArtsMatrix gave the session a focus on self-promotion for creative businesses, but it wasn’t all work as there was plenty of time to enjoy a drink and get to know new faces. We’re looking forward to the next Connect networking event on the 9th July with HSBC looking at finance for creative businesses. Link to our events page for more info.
4th June 2008: ArtsMatrix in the Zone!
Creative development agency ArtsMatrix moves its highly successful Plymouth office to the dynamic Formation Zone at the University of Plymouth this week as part of a visionary new partnership to support creative businesses in the city. The partnership launches with The Perfect Match, a networking event for creatives on 12th June at Formation Zone.
ArtsMatrix is the skills and enterprise development agency for the creative sector in the South West. The company’s Creative Enterprise Specialists support thousands of artists and creative practitioners to achieve their goals through one-to-one coaching, development workshops and seminars.
Karin Jordan, the company’s Plymouth Specialist, has been based at Plymouth Arts Centre for the past three years. The company will maintain a strong relationship with Plymouth Arts Centre; the two organisations have a history in delivering joint initiatives supporting artist-led groups in the city. Ian Hutchinson, Director of Plymouth Arts Centre said: “This is a great move for ArtsMatrix and we wish them the very best for the future. We will continue to develop joint initiatives that support artists and creative practitioners”
Formation Zone, based in the award-winning Roland Levinsky building, aims to help turn creative ideas into business success. It provides space, support, profile, IT, resources and events to enable creative people in Plymouth to start and build successful businesses. Eleanor Butland, Formation Zone Programme Manager, said “We’re really excited about this opportunity to work so closely with ArtsMatrix in our support of creative businesses”
Annie Warburton, Chief Executive of ArtsMatrix, said “this new partnership with Formation Zone supports ArtsMatrix’s goal to enable Plymouth’s talent to flourish, creatively and economically. The partnership launches with The Perfect Match networking event for creative businesses and that title says it all!”
For more information on ArtsMatrix services contact Karin Jordan on 01752 588967, plymouth@artsmatrix.org.uk or check out the website http://www.artsmatrix.org.uk/
For more information on Formation Zone, contact Eleanor Butland on eleanor.butland@plymouth.ac.uk call 01752 588954 or check out the website http://www.formationzone.co.uk/
April 2008: Fuel Communications Ltd - new business launches in the Formation Zone
1st April saw the launch of a new breed of marketing consultancy that Fuels business growth. Fuel Communications Ltd brings together the design expertise of Dave Smith and marketing expertise of Martyn Smith and Steve Gyseman. The company held a launch party at Urban Brew in Plymouth’s Royal William Yard on 24th April which was attended by over eighty people and raised £230 for the charity Jeremiah’s Journey. Fuel are based in the Formation Zone and any enquiries can be directed to 01752 210048.
March 2008: Media Innovation Award winners
Individuals and businesses from across the South West were recognised for their contribution to the screen-based media industry at the Media Innovation Awards on the 14th March. The glittering awards ceremony held in Plymouth celebrated and recognised the innovative use of screen based media in the region. To see highlights of the awards go to http://www.silverstream.tv/, where you can also see Luke Angell of HMC receiving his ‘Most Innovative Newcomer’ award sponsored by Formation Zone.
February 2008: First clients at the Formation Zone
The University of Plymouth welcomes its first clients to the Formation Zone in February. Motion Plymouth, the moving image and light festival for the city, and graphic design studio The Darc Group will be using the pre-incubation units that form part of this pioneering support service.
Katie Thompson of Motion Plymouth said “We didn’t really know what to expect when we first arrived at Formation Zone, but we had a number of business problems that we have already had assistance with. To be honest, we have had more help in these first few weeks than has ever been offered to us before. The Formation Zone has made a real difference.”
February 2008: Media Innovation Awards 2008 - the shortlist is out
Media companies from across the South West are celebrating after being nominated for the 2008 Media Innovation Awards. The shortlisted entries for the Newcomer Award being sponsored by Formation Zone are; Luke Angell of HMC Interactive, Simon Hammett of Pangaea TV and Sam Lanyon of Concept Shed. For the full list please go to the awards website http://www.mediainnovationawards.com/.
January 2008: Formation Zone sponsors Newcomer Award at 2008 Media Innovation Awards
The Media Innovation Awards celebrate the innovative use of screen-based media across the South West. Formation Zone is sponsoring the Newcomer Award for consitent creative editorial, technical or commercial innovation by an individual with less than five years in the media industry. Karen Stockdale of Plymouth Media-Partnership, which is organising the awards said “There is a huge range of talent across the region and this initiative will celebrate the very best screen-based media work.” For full details and the opportunity to book your ticket to the gala award ceremony in March please go to http://www.mediainnovationawards.com/.