1993 – 1996
Studies in Graphic Design at Liverpool School of Art culminated in the developmental studies of sonic typography, in which recordings of regional accents were converted into alphabets.This method of creating images made in response to music and audio inputs, gave rise to developing projects in the field of design, music and interactive systems.
1996 – 1998
A range of sound and image interactive works were developed that encouraged users to create music. Audio from users playing theremins would be sent to a computer and then convert these signals into images - allowing music to be made that was visually responsive. Following his graduate exhibition fashion designer Katherine Hamnett purchased a number of sound images for use in her fashion collection of 1998.Following graduation from the Communication Design MA at the Royal College of Art, these ideas were developed into commissions for the Sonic Arts Network, providing real time visuals for electronic musicians Pole, Scanner and Spring Heel Jack's performances at the Sonic Concrete Festival at the ICA and Monolake's performance at Mutek in Montreal, Canada.
1999
Dividing time between commissions for the Science Museum and also working as a Graphic Design Research Assistant in the Computer Related Department at the Royal College of Art, the publishing identity and a series of research titles were produced for its research fellows.A collaboration with electronic musician Scanner on the installation titled Sound Polaroids at London's ICA was awarded a Cap Gemini Digital Arts Award and Creative Review magazine also awarded the title Creative Future for this interactive work.
Austrian digital arts festival Ars Electronica commissioned a graphic score for Michael Nyman's residency Klangpark.
2000
This year Studio Tonne was founded and the first generative audio sound toy was commissioned by the Lovebytes digital arts festival. The British Council featured this project in their European touring exhibition Lost & Found.Following a performance at Canada's Mutek festival, the Sonar festival commissioned a set of audio responsive visuals for its opening night, supporting live music performances from David Morales and Marc Almond.
2001
Design book publisher Rotovision commissioned Interactive to be written and designed that detailed the developments and skills needed for print designers to design for the web.Appointed by the UK Forestry Commission, to raise national awareness of the work of Grizedale Arts. A new identity, website, signage, publications and all print collateral were produced.
Prada book
Hybrids
Channel 4 and the Department for Education commissioned Music Studio
2002
Hospital
This is the software I made for my first solo album 'SoundToy' on BiP-HOp. Which probed the possibilities of screen-based custom-built sound toys, featuring collaborations with Scanner, Hakan Lidbo and si-cut.db. Released to widespread acclaim in 2002 it quickly led to numerous higher profile projects, not least recent work on a Depeche Mode sound toy and the development of Moby Hotel (www.mobyhotel.com) for Mute. Unfortunatly this toy for the MAC only runs on OS9, so only the old classic boys will be able to play this one.
Penguin
2003
Atlantic Waves Spin n Groove Cinecity VIA
2004
Mute founder Daniel Miller discovered the Bip-Hop 2x12 Soundtoy album and commissioned a series of digital projects for Moby, Depeche Mode, Simon Fisher Turner, Richard Hawley, Maps and Nick Cave.The first project we produced for Mute was Time:Tone. Based around a fascination with measurement - this downloadable toy plays music (from Mute's extensive back catalogue) based on intervals of time. Different sounds play on the year, month, day, hour, minute, second, etc. It also automatically downloads news, releases and live event information on Mute's stable of artists.
Lilium was released on the Spanish record Klitekture.
2005
For the launch of Moby's album Hotel, an accompanying website was created. Upon visiting, users register with the hotel and are then given a particular room. The design of this site aimed to match that of a real hotel experience - as you entered the site you would be welcomed by virtual reception staff, a newspaper email would be delivered to your inbox every monday morning and every week for 12 weeks new floors were added. This site was so succesful we had 42,345 users register rooms and it was nominated for a BT music award.For the release of Depeche Modes album Playing the Angel, Mute Records commissioned a desktop application that would receive the latest news and information about the band, as well as exclusive music videos and track previews from the album.
Simon Fisher Turner invited a sound toy to form part of the album Lana Lara Lata release on Mute. The toy allows the listener to manipulate musical extracts from the album. “It is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen,” enthused Simon Fisher Turner, “It is just wild. I adore it.” This toy was designed with the idea that music doesn't have to start and end - it could just play forever.
Berlin's Native Instruments commissioned the GUI design of two Reaktor virtual music instruments, Aerobic and Sine Beats.
Collaborating with Vaughan Oliver and Chris Bigg, 4AD records commissioned a navigational interface for their new site. The tool had to be durable enough to allow for swift exploration, and to easily search through the label's 25 year back catalogue of releases, but also remain entirely self-contained. The result was a highly innovative and playful circular industrial device that sits in the corner of the site, aiding and enriching the user throughout his/her 4AD experience.
2006
Eyestorm New Scientist Mute Snowflake Naughton Gallery logo
2007
William Kentridge ACM illustration Salvia logo Pedro Amaral
2008
William Kentridge ACM illustration Salvia logo Pedro Amaral
2009
Imperial Seats Vodafone RCA Alumni Hospital Pop
2010
ESAD DMK Liverpool Kiosk