2023
Wasted
Working with the founding team to bring their food waste dehydrating technology to life.
2023
Mentoring Black Businesses (MBB)
Thrilled to be working with the Mentoring Black Businesses (MBB), a resource for Black Business to thrive. The platform gives businesses connections with industry professionals, change makers and leaders to unlock value and realize potential.
2023
Setting up Punk
Punk Works results from Hurst's career-long mission to empower companies to live out their values and build their own brands. Hurst told Creative Boom that the studio is "built on a belief in DIY culture and the idea that clients can build strong brands on their own, with the right tools and support.
2023
Sonic Sphere on Designboom
A luminous, spherical concert hall will float inside the shed in new york.
2023
Sonic Sphere New York Times
Alex Poots, the Shed’s artistic director, said in an interview that as he worked with Stockhausen earlier in his career, they often talked about the Kugelauditorium and about “centering the auditory experience.”
2023
Punk Going Conscious
Always a pleasure sharing why Punk Works exists and the importance of People & Planet thinking in building Profitable brands. Want to eavesdrop on old friends catching up on why good design means doing good? Tuck into the latest episode of Nicki Trott's wonderful podcast Going Conscious where she was kind enough to let me drone on.
2022
Judging the Drum
The Drum have long held onto their view that good design is problem-solving balancing aesthetics & effectiveness. It's an honor to work with them and an all star line-up (with many faces I haven't seen IRL for far too long!) as we work through the Drum Design Award entries for 2022. The awards are open to anyone using design thinking to make a difference, and hats off to the inspirational Natasha Chetiyawardana for her leadership in bringing such a wonderful crew together to ensure we give that work the attention it deserves.
2022
Use Design To Design Change
Years ago I was asked to write a book to share how I helped make the impact on the brands I have. Fast forward many years, and i've written it! There are now a series of tools, that can be used by anyone, right now to equip teams with dumb questions that shape smart answers.
2022
Spot Paintings
Good artists borrow, great artists steal. The irony in the theft of that stolen quote is something special. It is with pleasure to introduce a digital interpretation of Damien Hirsts Spot Paintings. Hirsts' work with those spot paintings have come to define the superficiality of our superficial age. Art theft has a way of elevating what it steals, to that end I'll be donating a percentage of the funds to art education initiatives to further the debate on the role (and relevance) of art today. This is part of a collection of NFT's celebrating great art, online.
2022
Cresta 2022
A Cresta Award is one of the world’s most prestigious creative accolades. The annual online festival attracts work from over 70 countries, and from many of the global industry’s most respected creative companies. It's an honor to be asked to judge.
2022
Drum Design Award for Pinterest Predicts
Trend reports that look back are so last year. Pinterest Predicts used Pinterest’s forward-looking data to give advertisers the insights they need… from the future. Pinterest Predicts equipped advertisers with a secret weapon they've never had before—a window into the future. With a strong mix of online and offline multi-channel experiences, advertisers were fully immersed into our not-yet-trending report that helped them get ahead of future trends and strategically plan their upcoming marketing efforts. Thrilled it got picked as a nomination for: Editorial Design & Art Direction, and humbled it has been highly commended for Design Impact in the 2022 Drum Design Awards.
2022
Creative Boom
Creative Boom asked if they could do a profile piece on me. I obviously assumed they'd got me mixed up with someone worth profiling, but took the call to be sure. The write up is lovely, hope you enjoy it!
2022
Birth
The foundation of a six-week program designed to guide leaders in building a robust and enduring brand. Through a series of facilitated workshops and interactive exercises, you learn to envision the long-term scope, articulate your value proposition.
2022
Adapt
The foundation of a six-week program tailored to help realign a brand and maintain its relevance in the ever-evolving market landscape. With facilitated workshops and practical exercises, leaders remodel business models, envision their brand's future.
2022
Scale
The foundation of a six-week program crafted to expand a brand and amplify its impact. Through facilitated workshops and exercises, leaders discover their Unfair Advantage, equip teams with essential skills to listen and communicate effectively.
2021
Unstuck San Francisco Independent Film Festival
Unstuck has been recognized in the SF Independent Film Festival in the Short Narrative category.
2021
Making 21
When David Maloney asked 21 people for 2021 advice, it focussed hearts & minds around creative leadership lessons for today. Thanks to David for pulling us all together, and Its Nice That for helping amplify the story!
2021
Making It 21
Moloney spoke to 21 creatives from the industry for the project, whose quotes have been turned into 21 animated typographic posters. “The purpose of MakingIt21 is to spread some optimism off the back of a terrible year, a series of messages to graduate designers who missed out on the typical opportunities, or to be honest anyone who is looking for a moral boost,” Moloney tells us. “The aim is creativity for positivity. I know for myself, 12 years into my career, I’ve taken loads away from designing the posters and working with the quotes throughout the duration of this project.”
2021
Pinterest brand
Pinterest unveils an eccentric new brand identity
2021
Pinterest on Adweek
Pinterest’s New Brand Identity Focuses on the ‘Endless Inspiration’ of Pinners
2021
Pinterest Brand New
In it to Pin It.
2021
Pintererst Brand New Follow Up
It's been an absolute pleasure talking to Armin Vit as he pulled together a Follow-up podcast going deeper on our (recently reviewed) work at Pinterest! Huge thank you to Simon Blockley, Noel Leu for bringing the wise words and hoping we did you proud Andreas Helin! It takes a village to build a brand, so while we are the voices (this time) huge thank you to the many many hands building a brand that matters and Pinterest deserves!
2021
Cresta Awards Judge
Creativity at its best gets your heart racing. This year's Cresta cohort is packed with powerful lateral thinking bringing to life ideas that matter. It underscores the importance of bravery for brands today. That bravery came through with compelling points-of-view and real confidence (and responsibility) to respond to the context work lives in.
2021
Mentoring with The Arena
I’m delighted to be supporting The Arena’s Mentoring Programme this Autumn, as a mentor for emerging creatives. To apply, or get more information, all you need to do is visit their site.
2021
Hoo Koo E Koo
The crew at Hoo Koo E Koo live in the future, and I feel lucky to work with them as they pop back to give the rest of us the directions about where we're going.
2020
Tech Circus
An interview about my background, why I started, how I got here (where am I?) and what i've learn't (cough).... sadly not much clowning around.
2020
Heads of Design
Keynote talk pulling apart the 6 questions that ensure design thinking is meaningful.
2020
Live Talk From
My first outing on Instagram live, part of the fantastic initiative Live Talk From.
2020
Unstuck Indiefest
Lock Down has been picked up by a number of festivals, getting into the official selction in 4 categories in the Indie Fest awards: Best Production Design, Best Editing, Best Microfilm, Best Sound Design.
2020
Cloudflare TV
Joining Jess Rosenberg & Dylan Welter on the Cloudflare TV show 'The Creative Corner' to share stories about building creative culture in product companies.
2020
Pinterest CES Activation
It seems bananas now — a physical event — but in January, we brought Pinterest to life IRL for CES. It's heartening that the work won Gold in the Event Marketer EX awards.
2020
Ask 6 dumb questions and get smart
The 6 dumb questions you should ask to get smart
2020
Re-Origin
Having been lucky enough to have Ben guide me through the process of Neuroplasticity, I couldn't vouch for it more, and it's a real honor to help them as they define the brand that is going to give them the audience they deserve.
2020
One Block
It's been an honor and privilege to work with Peter Ukhurebor and the One Block Village crew on how Pinterest could (and should) mean something meaningful.
2018
Transform Awards Deliveroo
And we won Gold for food and beverage.
2018
Transform Awards Depop
Our retail work for Depop is recognized with a gold.
2018
Transform Awards Deliveroo
Deliveroo wins best overall visual identity!
2018
Creative Review Annual Depop
Our work makes the Brand Identity category.
2018
Creative Review & Depop
Selected in the Design – Brand Identity category in The Annual 2018, CR’s award scheme celebrating the best in commercial creativity.
2018
designweek Let's not be elitist
It’s encouraging to see that the Design Indaba stage was used for more than a portfolio show-and-tell and that Natasha was able to voice an important point of view. Personally, I both disagree and agree with her.
2018
Thought Starters podcast
It's the biggest event in the world, and one of the most recognisable brands. So what goes into designing for the Olympics?
2018
Brand Impact Awards judge
UK Studio of the year judge.
2018
Typodarium 2018
The Typodarium accompanies you through the year with 366 new fonts, I was lucky to have some of my work from The Type Foundry included.
2018
Manual
Helped the founding team define and shape how they could introduce a brand that hope to address male toxicity.
2017
Brand Impact Awards Deliveroo
Deliveroo redefines what retail means.
2017
Creative Review Annual Deliveroo
Food delivery startup Deliveroo’s new branding features a minimal kangaroo logo, colourful rider jerseys and photography that captures the ‘messiness’ of food.
2017
Design Week & Depop
Online shop Depop rebrands to take on “f*ck it” attitude.
2017
DesignWeek & WorldFirst
The new WorldFirst branding is based on the concept of a “kit of parts” rather than a traditional logo, centred around an ellipses device of three dots. “Do More” was chosen as a “refreshing and optimistic proposition” that aims to ensure clarity for internal teams, and align that with the external design expression of the brand.
2017
YCN Advice
Combining the head, heart and hand is the key to creating a really meaningful brand.
2017
Future Is
An inspiring event in Dublin, where I got to debate with (among others) Paula Scher about the role of design and used my keynote slot to plead for a return to the principles of First Things First.
2017
LDF & DS & Hyper Island
Collaborating with Hyper Island, I curated & hosted an event with Martin Mignot (Parter at Index Ventures), George Pallis (Deliveroo CMO) and Simon Beckerman (Depop Founder) talking about the role of design today.
2017
Courier & Brands and rebrands
"an expert panel discussing the thinking behind a brand identity and when it's the right time to rebrand."
2017
Creative Review & Great Brand Identities
DesignStudio’s guide to creating great brand identities.
2017
Typodarium 2017
The Typodarium accompanies you through the year with 366 new fonts, and this issue has a couple of the faces from The Type Foundry.
2016
Rhianna BBC
Talking about who owns Rhianna’s face.
2016
Dezeen Deliveroo
Deliveroo has become the latest company to scrap its complicated logo in favour of a flat design.
2016
The Next Web Deliveroo
It’s not only the uniforms that have received a makeover. Deliveroo’s logo has also been revamped. The emblem still retains the kangaroo motif that’s recognized globally. However, it has been remodeled to be a little more minimalistic.
2016
The Drum Deliveroo
Food delivery company Deliveroo has rolled out a new brand identity, refreshing the logo, wordmark and providing an equipment refresh to help its its riders (more often than not cyclists) stand out more on the street.
2016
Marketing Week Deliveroo
As part of a major rebrand, Deliveroo has introduced a more minimalist kangaroo character while overhauling typography and staff uniforms with colourful new designs.
2016
Design Week Deliveroo
An angular new kangaroo, designed to be internationally recognisable.
2016
Guardian News Deliveroo
Fashion has a new cult item: the Deliveroo jacket, which streetwear fans are buying up on vintage resale sites and wearing to raves.
2016
Brand New Treatwell
It’s like OpenTable but instead of making a restaurant reservation, you make a spa or salon reservation.
2016
Design Week Treatwell
Wahanda was set up in 2008 and has recently acquired a number of competitor businesses in the UK and Europe. One of the businesses it has bought is Treatwell, and the company is now unifying all of its businesses under the Treatwell brand.
2016
The Drum-wahanda
Online hair and beauty booking service Wahanda has undergone a make over of its own and rebranded as Treatwell to realise its growth ambitions.
2016
The Branding Journal Treatwell
After a major acquisition and expansion during the past year, the website offering reductions for hair & beauty products and services has undergone a major rebrand with a new name: Treatwell.
2016
Tech Crunch Wahanda
Wahanda, the European hair and beauty marketplace that Japan’s Recruit Holdings majority acquired last year for $117 million (at a $240 million pre-money valuation), is getting a makeover of its own. Today the company has rebranded to Treatwell. The name comes from an acquisition made in June 2015 to expand its services in Holland, Germany and Belgium.
2016
Cosmetics Business Treatwell
Health and beauty services booking website Treatwell (formerly Wahanda) has launched a new advertising campaign following its rebrand earlier this year. The campaign features a series of three un-stylised images that aim to capture movement. The company describes the “spirited” images as a departure from the illustration-based format of its previous campaigns.
2016
Cosmetics Business Treatwellk
Beauty booking company Wahanda has changed its name to Treatwell as part of a major rebrand. Treatwell is the name of the German rival company that Wahanda acquired last June for a reported €34m. The name change is part of Wahanda’s plan to unify its business, which has become increasingly multi-pronged.
2016
Business Insider & Treatwell
Gone are the days of waiting until lunchtime so you can make a quick call to a salon to book a hair appointment.
2016
Its Nice That & Roli
DesignStudio used this vibrant display as a basis for its graphic design concept, which is hooked on the phrase Shape Music, and turns the gestures into painterly dots and brushes of colour, or “light trails”. This idea went on to influence a feature of Blocks’ final interface, as “light trails” became part of the instrument’s display.
2016
DesignWeek & Future Finance
DesignStudio has unveiled a new visual identity for Future Finance, which looks to reconcile serious subjects such as student loans, with an attention grabbing new look.
2016
DesignWeek & Artfinder
Executive creative director at DesignStudio, James Hurst, says: “We’ve filled this little red dot with a peskiness that grabs attention, getting in your way until you wake up to the opportunity to own something original.”
2016
DesignWeek favorite brand sounds
The anticipation builds. You find your seat, nestle into the chair, wrestle the coat into submission. With popcorn propped precariously between the knees, the curtains open that little bit wider and the 360º sound rips through the cinema as the ROOOOOOAAAAAAAARR of the Metro Goldwyn Mayer lion lets you know it is all about to begin.
2016
DesignWeek favorite animal in a logo
When we talk about brands with purpose, we’d do well to learn lessons from this bunny rabbit anthropomorphised with a bow tie.
2016
Guardian roundtable debate
They’re worth more than £80bn a year to the economy – so why are the UK’s creative industries undermined by an education system that regards artistic subjects as second class?
2016
Computer Arts brand in age of social media
Brand in the age of social media.
2016
DesignWeek advertising week Europe
How brands and agencies can thrive in the age of design.
2016
ITN & DesignStudio review of the year
Reinventing renowned identities for the likes of the Premier League and Deliveroo involves high stakes and lots of public pressure, but the London-based team took it in their stride, creating thoughtful, fun and, above all, bold new looks for both.
2016
Creative Pool type judge
Judging typographic awards for the 2016 annual.
2016
100% design what is a brand
Keynote talk about the dumb questions you need to ask, to get to smart answers that build meaningful brands.
2016
Advertising Week Europe brand thriving in the age of design
Design is now a key driver for businesses and organisations looking to innovate, differentiate themselves from competitors and get closer to their users. But what do these organisations mean by design and how are they using it?
2016
Computer Arts & Public Feedback
Five golden rules for dealing with social media comments on high-profile branding jobs.
2016
Disappear Here
For a mad minute I dabbled with electronica toys. Its been called discordant, noise and ‘interesting’. It doesn’t go down well at weddings, it has never been played at a funeral.
2015
D&AD New Blood Airbnb
New Blood Awards is open to advertising, design, digital and marketing students, recent graduates and young creatives worldwide.
2015
In The Dust Of This Planet
Electronic toys used to make sad songs.
2014
Graphik & Dot Shabaka
Wednesday’s design director James Hurst explores the importance of new Arabic domain شبكة, or dot shabaka, and predicts that it could become even more integral as artificial intelligence develops.
2013
DesignWeek future of typography
With a heavy heart we announce type is dead. The improvements in voice-operated user interfaces renders redundant buttons, signage, poetry anthologies and council tax reminders!
2013
V&A & Happy Type
My typeface Happy was exhibited in Type Tasting.
2012
DesignWeek closing curestudio
Cure Studio is set to close next month, with consultancy founder James Hurst joining Figtree as a senior creative.
2012
BBC Radio 5 live & Microsoft
So, how much did Microsoft pay?
2011
DesignWeek LNOE
We wanted to create something beautiful each time with nice print processes, but when we knew the first eight were mapped out we wanted to tie them all together.
2010
Webby Antony Gormley
Our (much copied) website for Antony is given a B.J Novak era award.
2010
YCN Busaba
Our ever evolving experiential work on Busaba hoardings, gets noticed.
2010
DesignWeek HH at South London Gallery
Hurst adds, ‘There’s a vibrant creative community in SE16 but the artists have to travel to east London if they’re starting out, or west London if they are more established. The gallery will be a reason to come down to the area.’
2010
DesignWeek HH Against All The Odds
Illustration agencies are beating the downturn by looking outside their traditional client base and taking their artists to the people, using everything from social media to exhibitions and murals.
2010
Independent Busaba
"the argument about what is public space and where work can be created is always rife in the art scene. It's easy for companies to come in and reinforce their brand, but what's clever and brave is that here they gave an incredibly open brief. It doesn't look like an advert; it looks like art".
2010
Creative Review TV part 1
Giving a guide to Pick Me Up an art fair at Somerset House where we launched HigginsonHurst, our illustration agency.
2010
Creative Review TV part 2
Giving a guide to screen-printing.
2010
So much time, so little to do
I was asked to be part of a group show, using ordinary objects, to make something extraordinary. Stitching together hundred of yellow dusters, I made fun about how long the stitching was taking, and how lucky it was I had nothing else todo (as it happened, I was very busy, and this was quite time consuming!)
2009
DBA Bright Spark
Nominated as one of the 10 ‘bright sparks’ to watch by the DBA (Design Business Association), and paired up with a mentor, Matt Pyke from Universal Everything.