INTRODUCING: Shahin Haghjou

THIS WEEK IN OUR “INTRODUCING” SERIES, WE AGAIN LOOK ABROAD AND CHECK OUT ANOTHER CREATIVE TALENT AND MEMBER OF THE   THE PALACE ‘ALUMNI’. SHAHIN HAGHJOU IS A SWEDE, BORN IN IRAN, AND CURRENTLY BASED IN BARCELONA WHERE IS LESS THAN A SEMESTER SHORT OF A DEGREE IN GRAPHIC DESIGN AT THE EUROPEAN DESIGN INSTITUE, IED. 

To say that he’s a “natural” might seem like a cheesy way of describing a person’s talent, but for someone that is yet to complete his degree Shahin has a lot to be proud of. The first time I met him a couple of years ago, he already had several stunning freelance projects as a designer under his belt. He was also commissioned by IED to do some of their ad and print campaigns, already during his 3rd semester. Shahin has also worked with us on a couple of impressive projects, most recently the Hebe Media branding, including the logo and graphics for the website and prints!

Since then he’s developed his skills towards motion design and print, with some of the most notable freelance projects being; Jamon Barcelona for the legendary San Francisco skateboard label For The City, FTC, and more recently; video and motion project Vamos a la Playa together with the Catalan videographer and photographer Hector Ferreño. (They are also rumored to be launching their own studio soon, but don’t tell anyone!) 

At the moment he’s at the Barcelonian super star studio Vasava, following the foot steps of last weeks “Introducing” Albin Holmqvist. 

I had the pleasure to catch up with Shahin, so I asked him about a couple of questions on creativity and the future of graphic design and art direction. Here’s what he had to say. 

What is your ideal environment to be creative?

My ideal environment would be my balcony, normally when I'm stuck with something or if I have run out of ideas I'll go sit there for 15 min or so, and nine out of ten times the ideas come. The good thing about my balcony is that it's facing a wall, so there's no distractions. I'm very easily distracted, so it might as well work with a pair of those sleeping glasses you get on the airplane, haven't tried it yet but might just work!  

The second best would be anywhere where there's likeminded people that you can share your ideas with, the space itself doesn't really matter, it could be at the local bar or in the park, as long as you're with the right people the creativity will flow. 

What is important for an aspiring art director/graphic designer today? 

I think it's really important to try to get work constantly and not to be picky. Yes, some jobs might be boring as hell, but you'll always learn new things. Try to work for or with people that have experience and do not expect to learn everything just by signing up for an expensive design school. You might learn a lot from going to school, but you'll always learn more from real life situations. Keep your steam up and work hard, cause as we all know by now, if you snooze you lose! And finally, never think you already know everything, not even if you have been working all your life. 

 Why is the future in motion graphics? 

I honestly don't know how to answer this question, I love motion graphics and think there's many opportunities within it, but I don't think you should limit yourself to just one specific thing. Cudos too those who can earn a living from drawing the same thing over and over again. Either you have the skills to do that, or you try to broaden yourself which in the long run I think is more satisfactory. 

Check out some of Shahin’s recent work here: www.shahinhaghjou.com, some of his little less current here: The Boo Hoo Boy, and even older, but still cool, here: The Equally Foolish. 

We wish Shahin all the best, and we strongly recommend keeping an eye out for whatever he’s up to next! 

Introducing: Albin Holmqvist

In the latest of our 'introducing' series, we look internationally, to a creative who we have known for quite some time now. We got to know Albin Holmqvist in Barcelona, in fact he helped create our Barcelona Creative Space: The Palace. Since then Albin has gone on to do some amazing things, including being featured recently on Fast Company.

Albin is a true all-round designer and artist that has been plying his trade at one of Spain’s most famous design studios, Vasava. Just to give you a snapshot of a few of the clients he has worked with there - street wear label 55DSL, NIKE, MÖET, Jay-Z’s ROCAWEAR, fashion giants MANGO and plenty more that you can find on the Vasava website. We will never forget Albin coming over to The Palace and debuting Adam Tensta's Back Before You Know It video that he had worked on while still studying... we were all blown away!

You just can’t limit an artist to their 9-5 though, and thats why Albin has been keeping himself busy with photography, painting, typography and a couple of really great freelance projects. If you’re a reader of Fastcompany.com it is quite likely that you have seen the much loved EF Language commercials that Albin played an integral part in with his amazing typography. 

Obviously you should watch them for yourself, but if you still need some further convincing about how brilliant they are, then take Fastcompany’s design and film writer John Pavlus’s word for it. This is what he said, and you just have to love it. 

“Commissioned by language-teaching company EF, these magical promos use kinetic typography to capture the pure beauty of speaking mother tongues in Paris, London, Beijing, and Barcelona. Take the video for Paris, for example. Jean-Luc Godard famously said that all you need to make a movie is a girl and a gun, but after watching this and literally tearing up at the end, I propose an amendment: all you need is a girl and a font.” 

Read the full article here: 

We asked Albin what he considered the most important conditions for creativity to flourish:

"To be able to be creative in todays environment you HAVE to have a Nespresso machine. To key element to this contraption is the purple capsule! Intensity 9. Arpeggio! I mean how is one able to think clearly on some crappy Intensity 3 capsule with almond flavor? Get outta here.

The second most important part is people. If you surround yourself with people who has something to say, then you're golden. It doesn't matter if they are typegeeks or make pottery. Good energy is key. I think that is the problem today, as many freelancing creatives shut themselves into their bedroom with their fancy laptops. Social media will never replace real human interaction."

Obviously the role of 'Art Director' is changing and elevolving in the current climate and we asked Albin what he thought was important in the role moving forward:

"As an Art Director today, having a network of talented people will definitely make your life easier. To meet with people and being able to level with them is very important. All the most interesting projects I've been working on comes from real life encounters! But don't get me wrong, the technological revolution is the key to moving forward, but it's important not to let that fact take over the creative process."

One of Albin's photographs taken in CopenhagenAlbin's work for Swedish brand: Happy People

We suggest you keep an eye out for what Albin might be up to next. There are already plans being made for more typography work, art direction and “everything” - which is how Albin himself likes to describe what he does for a living. We think Albin in heading for great things and as one of the originals from 'The Palace' we wish him every success in the world!

Introducing: Sam Ward

As the people who follow our blog will know already, we are big fans of independent fashion and designers. We love projects that showcase this talent and scene, and although the catwalk show and the magazine photo-shoots are the things that catch the eye and write the headlines, the people behind the scenes that make things happen are the driving force behind that end result. We recently sat down with one of those very people: Sam Ward.

Sam has been heavily involved in the 'Leeds Scene' for a number of years. This is based in both personal and professional roots - She is friends with pretty much every cool indie designer and store owner in the city and she has worked for Leeds Guide and Harvey Nichols in the past, something she looks back on fondly:

"The Leeds Guide, was possibly the most fun you could have at work. Everyone talks about how great The Leeds Guide is, and I still love reading it now – there’s nothing like it in the North, they’re a great bunch of people with a true passion for the city, being independent themselves, they have this hugely balanced view of what Leeds needs. From there, I fell into the Press and Marketing job at Harvey Nichols. I was well out of my depth and learnt a lot of very harsh lessons very quickly. Luckily, I had a great mentor who pushed me right over the edge – I needed it in order to prove to everyone (including myself) that I could do that job really well. I miss the store every day – it has this really eclectic mix of people engulfed in this crazy fashion bubble – I love it!"

We got to know Sam last year during two Marketing Leeds projects: Leeds in Vancouver and Leeds in Barcelona. The Barcelona project gave a taster of the fashion talent Leeds has and the Vancouver project showcased that talent in a huge way to an international audience. Sam was one of the main players in the Vancouver project and we asked her how it had come about:

"I think we were all a little stunned with how it came about. I knew that Lisa Chadderton (who used to be Marketing Manager at Corn Exchange) was working on Vancouver Fashion Week and thought it would be a fantastic opportunity for James (Steward). I spoke to Marketing Leeds very briefly about what a fantastic opportunity it was for not only the designers but to promote Leeds as a city on an international stage, put a proposal together overnight and crossed my fingers. I was a bit teary when we got the go-ahead as I knew it was such an exciting project for everyone involved.

My primary role was to build relationships with international media, and maximise every opportunity to promote the designers and our wonderful city. In reality, I looked after everything from writing the press releases to dressing models on the day – it was an overwhelming experience, and in spite of a couple of hairy moments, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I also had some fantastic support over there from Katherine Busby – she is now the Events Manager at Harvey Nichols, having previously worked as Marketing Manager for Marketing Leeds – we had never worked together before, but made a fantastic team and it would be great to work with her again in the future."

We followed the project with interest back here in the UK. We always believe in the talent from our home city but to receive international acclaim and recognition is proof that the belief in well placed. We asked Sam to talk about the reaction to the show:

"Everyone has been unbelievably supportive and positive about the project. I think it changed many people’s perceptions about Marketing Leeds, and rightly so. It’s not easy for them as an organisation to keep everybody happy, and this was a fantastically creative way of promoting Leeds as a leading retail destination.

I wrote guest blogs for The Guardian which was a major highlight, and the comments on there were amazing – it was just good to see that so many people believed in what we were doing. My Dad told me that my three blogs were like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy – great start, a bit confusing in the middle but with a cracking final chapter. I was like, ‘Cheers, Dad’! I added all the blogs to my Facebook and people who I went to school with  15 years ago were messaging me to say how amazing the project was. The best feedback was from Leeds innovators and those pushing for change in the city – they have a completely different approach and it was great to see that they were just as excited as I was.

James and I have some very exciting plans in the pipeline which we can’t really talk about just yet. It’s been such a whirlwind since we returned from Vancouver, and we’ve gone from spending every second either together or on the phone to each other to having a little bit of time out. We’re working on a list of target boutiques, talking to manufacturers and getting some fantastic advice from Marketing Leeds on how best to take the James Steward brand to the next level. I’ll continue with my day job – I’m very lucky to work with a team of incredibly talented people; it just means that I’ll be burning the midnight oil for the foreseeable future!"

As we have said in lots of our 'introducing' posts, we are developing a number of projects at the moment, working with some of the city's most interesting talent and influencers. We actually had our first 'official' meet in December. Team Hebe are very excited about some of the projects coming out of this group of people and Sam feels the same:

"I’m excited and humbled to be collaborating with so many talented individuals on upcoming projects. When Lee sent through the introductions e-mail I couldn’t believe I was going to be working with all these amazing people. I’ve followed Bangs and a Bun for ages; she’s nuts but I just love her – she’s straight talking, and that’s super-important in a project like this. I think there can be times when influencers meet and talk a lot, without saying anything at all – that won’t happen with us – I can see us all having an opinion on everything, and leaving each meeting with a list of action points as long as our arms – and that’s definitely a good thing!

In terms of how it can help the city, having a team of highly creative, dedicated individuals who are all pushing to challenge perceptions of our city can only be a good thing. I think we all know from experience that a project doesn’t have to be big budget and ‘jazz hands’ in order for it to be successful – all you need is a lot of people who want to make it happen."

We agree 100% with Sam and are looking forward to working on things with her this year. She is one of the most important cogs in Leeds' underground and provides brilliant support to some of our best talent. Keep up the good work Sam!

More 'introducing' posts here:

Introducing: James Steward

Introducing: Marc Leaf

Introducing: Muireann Carey-Campbell

Introducing: iCallShotGun

Introducing: Bethanie Lunn

Marcus arrives at the Hebe Office

Marcus Carlsson is the newest member of the Hebe team and I, for one, am very happy he has joined us. I met him through Lee in Barcelona a few years ago and I have, along with the rest of the Hebe team, spent some fun and creative times with Marcus AKA ‘The Pap’. We have shared strawberry mojitos, sang Billie Jean at the Karaoke bars in Barcelona and Marcus along with Lee lived in the Palace and co-built the DJ Booth of Love(In fact in The Palace blog you can see him in the background on his Mac).

So you can all learn a little bit more about the man behind the beard I asked him a few questions:

Marcus! Can I ask you a few questions?

Yes, you can! 

Who are you?

Well, I see myself as a bit of an explorer, meaning that I believe in the concept of life long learning (I really do!) and i also have a constant lust for trying new things. I also think I'm a positive guy that sometimes feels that naivety is the best way to approach life. Why? Basically because I think that what you can learn from failures is miles more valuable than what you can learn from success. Leaving my own personal "safety zone" is something that I've pursued the last couple of years, both personally and definitely as a student and a professional...  I think this started with a move to Barcelona in 2005, where I also got to know fellow Hebe teammates Lee and Shang Ting through our studies at Instituto Europeo de Design. 

Anyway, since 2005, I've worked quite a lot as a freelancer with projects in fashion, music and design, while also completing a bachelor in marketing and communication and my master's degree in Design Management. My experience and studies have given me a quite sober way of looking at business or result driven projects. 

However, it's only just now though, after going through a life changing year studying creative techniques, innovation, and strategy during the Design Management master, I have realized that my passion is the always the path... not the end result. Basically, as soon as I complete something I need to take a new turn, try something new, or just start over again... 

I'm going on a bit here I think, but to sum up, I came to Leeds to work on exciting projects with a fun, creative and daring team that's not afraid to fail... 

Why are you here?

I might have mentioned some if that already, but basically to keep pushing myself to develop as a person and a professional. In addition to that I want to be able to inspire and also push my surroundings towards new unexplored land. 

What are the top 3 things you want to do while in Leeds?

''Hmmm... Good question, for sure, since I'm quite the football fan, I want to go to a Leeds United game, drink some beer from the local brewery, and maybe see some of the music and try the nightlife scene around here. I've heard that it's supposed to be quite good...''

And anything else you want to add!

''I like people!''

And what do the Hebe team think about our newest member?

Lee: ''It is great to have Marcus working with us. We studied together in Barcelona at IED and worked together on the Leeds in Barcelona project last year and he always gives a new dimension to the things we do. We have some amazing projects coming up this year and Marcus will be helping Hebe make those even better by adding his creativity and a bit of Swedish-ness to everything we do!''

Shang Ting: ''I always remembered Marcus was one of the most friendly, genuine person in my class, so I'm very happy he can join us for a while. When we were in school, Marcus' was brilliant of bringing his passion into his projects, like music, technology, Swedish heritage, and youtube videos. We are all confident Marcus will bring lots of creativity and energy to the Hebe team.''

Simon: ''I am very happy that Marcus is here and i am excited about all the projects we have lined up, and having Marcus here as part of it all will be beneficial for our team. Plus we will show him Leeds and have lots of fun like we did in Barca!''

Well I hope you have learned a little bit more about Hebe’s newest member because, for sure, you are going to see his face out and about town, so don’t be afraid to say hello!

The Palace, Barcelona

Yesterday I attended an event called Innovation Lab in Leeds. As I sat and listened to some of the conversations taking place I began to think about the place I felt most 'innovative' and how that special feeling was created. There is no doubt in my mind, one place stands out above every other: The Palace, in Barcelona.

The place I am talking about was not pre-made or planned by a strategic agency, it simply evolved and changed as we went along. During the second year of our studies at the European Institute of Design, myself and a friend: Marcus Carlsson decided that as well as having somewhere to live, we wanted to have a 'space' big enough to share ideas, play music and drink beer.

Background

An apartment came on the market, it had small bedrooms but an amazing open-plan living area. As soon as Marcus and I had seen the space, it was decided and we took the 2 year lease. The apartment was completely empty but we decided the first three things we needed shipping in: Massive TV, PS3 and CDJs. Once they arrived, the first building blocks were in place for our very own 'Barcelona Innovation Lab' 

The look and feel of The Palace was really created as we went along, what was for sure was that plain white painted walls would not inspire creativity. We invited in some of our friends: Albin and our soon to be third roommate Shahin (both amazing graphic designers) to basically do what they felt like on one side of the room. The result was really cool as you can see in the picture. On the opposite wall, we had a massive painting of a super-hero (maybe that was our inner-child taking over) and the two sides contrasted well and both caught your attention equally. 

The main feature of the room had to be 'the booth of love'. What started out as a simple table with decks and a mixer quickly turned into the 8th wonder of the world: a 10 foot high, 2000 can Dj booth made of our empty Estrella cans. This structure took me around a year to make and is still one of my greatest achievements!

As the weeks and months passed, The Palace became a hub for some of the city's most exciting creative types. But this did not just happen overnight and neither was it planned this way. It actually started out very simple: come round to listen to some good music (depending on who was dj-ing!) grab a coffee or a few beers, read a book, sit on YouTube for hours, have a nap, whatever you want. We had certain projects we had to work on for our education but most of the coolest ideas that came forward were actually completely separate from our course work and more often then not included people from totally different creative backgrounds and countries.

Lessons

So the lesson here is to create a place where people can drink, smoke, play music, watch YouTube and then come up with ideas for projects? Not very realistic for a brand or a city, obviously. But there are things we can take from this moving forward. I firmly believe that to be 'innovative' and creative you need space, you do not need a pre-decided plan that needs to tick boxes or be measured every step of the way. Brands and cities need to take a punt, have a little faith. Sometimes brilliant, sometimes crazy, sometimes rubbish ideas will emerge but if the group of people involved are intelligent, talented, outside-of-the-box thinkers, then the time and money spent on creating this space like this can be paid ten times over with just one amazing project or idea.

We started projects like 'The First Six' something way ahead of it's time, (something we looking to move forward in 2011) art exhibitions, viral campaigns, international branding strategies, city vision strategies and marketing plans, music events, fashion brand launches and much much more and all these came from our time in this seemingly un-planned environment. Most of what we did was cutting-edge, creative, interesting and relevant.

Some of the former regulars at The Palace have gone onto amazing things: published writers, magazine editors, agency directors. Some have moved on to be professional photographers, bloggers, stylists, fashion designers, teachers, brand consultants, music video directors and probably many more we do not even know about.  

I will always look back fondly at this period of my life and I am sure there are many more who will do the same. It helped to shape my approach to projects we are currently working on and also lots that we will be announcing next year. I am sure there will be people who believe that a much more structured environment is the way to go and innovation can be 'taught' but we at Hebe firmly believe that by thinking about things in a different way and in a different environment can lead to innovation and creativity flourishing... now to paint that super-hero on our new office walls!