We were commissioned to design and paint some wardrobe doors. Sounds simple enough. We had a fairly loose brief to create something in an Art Deco style. What we ended up with is something a little more Art Nouveau that is reversible and contains some elements specific to the client. The cornflower design in the middle is based on their family flower and the family motto of ‘Virtus, Vigor, Victoria’ is referenced in the the V’s emanating from the goblet the lady is carrying.
Painting and installing them brought some interesting challenges that were largely self inflicted but you live and learn. Well, we try to. There’s even a flash of bright pink painted on the inside of the doors that we couldn’t get a decent photo of but you’re going to have to trust me it’s there. Righto, what’s next?
When the in-laws arrived they bore with them a small robin that had definitely seen better days. I really should have got a ‘before’ picture. He looked sad, rusty and dishevelled. I was asked if I could possibly do anything with him. ‘Of course I can. Any reasonable job undertaken.’ was my snappy reply. Ladies and gentlemen I present a dapper, rust-free and slightly mad looking robin. I believe my work here is done…
Never ones to turn down a challenge we were asked to step a little outside our comfort zone and to paint up a recently purchased Asgard bike shed with a wraparound wildflower meadow scene featuring a hummingbird. Okay then. Game on.
First up we had to come up with a design they were happy with and it’s funny how sometimes things are easy to design but tricky to paint. That should probably be a memo to self. Next up – the fun part. With the shed disassembled we got to work throwing some paint around. After a few furious hours, we had to stop due to rain but when we got back to it it all seemed to fall slowly into place. Whack a fancy little hummingbird on there and some varnish and you’re good to go. Don’t you love it when a plan comes together?
We painted a mural for prestigious London art handling company Paradigm 33 back in September last year and it’s taken this long to get a shot of it as there’s always a vehicle of one sort or another completely blocking it. Given the nature of their work we eventually settled on a design that featured some little installers who are installing the company logo. How very self-referential. But you know the art world.
We were also commissioned to create 50 laser cut decorations as a little Christmas gift to clients. We agreed not to reveal them til after Christmas and so are only just getting round to it now. HAP33 CHRISTMAS. They’re Paradigm 33. Geddit?
Here at id-iom there’s nothing we like more than the pressure of a deadline. Despite the fact that procrastination is our usual go-to strategy occasionally it’s warming to have a fire lit under you. So when an enquiry came in regarding some laser cut decorations that were required ‘tout suite’ for an event we decided it was time to action.
The event in question is, surprisingly, called Christmas Land and a total of 93 decorations of various sizes were required. Cue 80’s montage scene of us desperately designing, cutting and painting and then, by jingo, we get them all completed just in the nick of time. Memo to self for next time; glitter gets absolutely everywhere. Beware!
id-iom is very much a caring partnership. Just last week the younger member of id-iom had his birthday and I thought to produce a very thoughtful gift for him. I should probably point out that he’s also diabetic. Sometimes not a very responsible one who has ended up in hospital on a number of occasions. Given that proclivity I thought a gentle reminder of good practice may well be in order. After I’d presented it to him we looked at the calendar and, at the time of writing the numbers, he had avoided a hospitalisation incident for 534 days. Good work. Let’s keep it up. Accidents are avoidable…
Made using the magic of stencils and spraypaint on a newly acquitted A2 blackboard. A slightly macabre but well intended must have for the hossie hound in your life…
You know Christmas is on the way when we get a call from events company Elsewhere as they need a little id-iom design pep to complete their party preparations. This year consisted mainly of design for print and laser cutting a load of bespoke Elsewhere Christmas decorations. The Party in a Pear Tree wallpaper design was used both as a wallpaper and as some giftwrap for the fake presents under the tree. It would seem id-iom is the complete design package after all…
For our final foray into Nag’s Head Market in Holloway we’ve got our wallpaper stencil that was used as the background for ‘The Lady of the Lift’. Since I’d gone to the trouble of designing and cutting the bespoke Nag’s Head wallpaper tile featuring a horse’s head (see what I’ve done there) and a little Love N7 logo in the centre I thought we may as well get some decent mileage out of it.
I realise that in the current climate gender stereotyping the toilet doors could potentially be seen as a mistake. If you’d seen the states of the respective toilets however I think you’d probably change your mind.
Here at id-iom HQ we are civic-minded souls and so when one of our plucky firemen gets in touch and asks for a bit of design for a charity event they’re doing then we’re only too happy to help. We were a little constrained with the design but they wanted something bold that could be printed up as a large banner and got their point across pretty clearly. And this is what we’ve ended up with. They’ll be doing the event this Saturday 28th September from 12-5 at the Business Design Centre in Islington so if you’re in the area drop by and show them some support.
As it goes we’ve got form for doing some fireman designs as we designed some t-shirts for the brave boys and girls who keep us safe from the fiery menace previously. As a reward we went down to the fire station and they showed us round. Winnner!
When a prestigious London art handling company gives you a call asking for paint to be applied in a creative manner to an otherwise dingy area outside their warehouse then we’re only too happy to oblige. Given the nature of their work we eventually settled on a design that featured some little installers who are installing the company logo. How very self-referential. But you know the art world.
Unfortunately, due to some parked cars, we were entirely unable to get a decent final shot so that will be forthcoming sometime this week hopefully. However, if you’re the kind of person who really digs work in progress shots then have we got a mother lode for you today…
