Design Exchange Magazine

Great feature on two of our bespoke installations.

Live In Style Magazine

A double page spread of some of our residential projects.

Vantage magazine

Rather nice article published in Vantage magazine.

smallbusiness.co.uk

James gets interviewed for an online article.

From Models to Millennium

Here at acrylicize HQ we love making models. Not only do we get to transport ourselves back to those really fun art classes at school where you got to makes things out paper mache etc, but model making really helps you to understand how something will look and feel when complete... and essentially whether it will work. For our recent work at the Millennium Stadium we put this process into action making miniature versions of the ideas we proposed. Not only was this a valuable process for the project, but we were loving the miniatures so much it gave us a few ideas, watch this space...

Our work in the President's Lounge was centered mainly around the use of acrylic, giving the space a clear feeling of identity with a contemporary feel. We also set about creating a large WRU logo to sit on the curved feature wall at the entrance of the space, plus our triple layered effect. Check out the pictures...

For the logo we went from this

...to this

These films are for the triple layer minitures

The mini set

Hand held acrylicize

The final pieces up on the wall in the stadium

The Light Wall

This weekend was a busy one for us. The culmination of 9 months work resulted in the creation of this one of a kind light installation produced in partnership with Jump Studios for Engine on Great Portland Street. Turn the sound up for this one...

Project POTD // 1 picture a day for 1 year

Project POTD started on 11.01.10. Since then, we have taken 1 picture each day and posted it live onto our facebook page as a daily insight into the life of acrylicize. What has emerged is a constantly updating gallery of photos documenting the acrylicize experience, from within our studio, to a behind the scenes look at the projects we are working on. To follow the journey 'like' our facebook page and see what's going on. See you there...

Facebook | acrylicize

Standard

As they say - don't believe the hype. Check out this article on us in the standard today. We think the picture is a bit too 'up close and personal' but this time we had no creative control...

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23894374-the-art-of-stringing-up-bankers.do

Shortlisted!

James has just been shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the year in the London Business Award. From university art project to the big wide outside world, here's to the next 7 years... Watch this space.

Toby Trackman talks about Acrylicize

Charlie Waite in Episode 3

Below is an interview with Toby Trackman, writer and director of hit show How to take Stunning Pictures talking to Maria Tonelli about acrylicize's involvement in the show

How do you know Acrylicize?

As a photographer myself I am always on the look out for stunning and exciting new ways to display my work. I saw an exhibition that featured some of Acrylicize's work and was blown away. I sent them some of my work to be put on to acrylic and loved the results. Since then we've built up a strong relationship, and they've sold my shots to their clients and used them in their own installations.

Why did you decide to use them for the show?

As soon as I heard I was doing this project I knew the photos that we show in the studio needed to have that wow factor. A big part of seeing an image is having it printed out and blown up, a process many people miss out on now by storing their images on their computer. We really needed to sell the idea to the audience that they were looking at 'stunning' images, and how they were presented would really help achieve that. I instantly knew that Acrylicize’s methods and experience of installing stunning images in all kinds of environments was exactly what I was looking for. We were working with some of the world’s top photographers so the images had to look amazing and the print quality had to be absolutely first class - I knew Acrylicize would deliver. As we were filming on high-end HD, every pixel matters and Acrylicize really know how to make a print look fantastic.

What was their role on the show?

Acrylicize were in charge of printing up and mounting the final images chosen by our expert photographers, who included Martin Parr. Paul and James really went above and beyond on this project. They came down to our studio and helped us consider every aspect of presenting our images, including how to incorporate them into the set and how to make them work best on camera. Their expert knowledge was vital to the success of the most important part of the show.

What challenges did you face while filming the show?

Filming any show always has challenges, and Paul and James helped us massively. First, we had to find the right combination of printing methods and mounts to work best under studio lights and on camera. The images also had to meet the standards of our experts, who included some of the biggest names in modern photography. As ever on a shoot time was of the essence. We had less than a days turn around between deciding on the final image to be printed and it appearing on camera! With such a tight deadline there was no room for error and Acrylicize delivered ahead of schedule every time. It was great to know that the final prints were one thing I never had to worry about thanks to Acrylicize's fantastic efforts and energy. They even managed to get a set of prints done for me on a Sunday and delivered to a set in Brighton. They really went above and beyond the call of duty to deliver an absolutely first class product.

How did the idea for this show come about? Were Acrylicize involved?

The idea for the show came about through development at Blink Films. Acrylicize were heavily involved in developing the best way to display the final prints.

What’s your best tip for taking a good picture?

The best tip of the series came from Martin Parr, and that is to really engage with the subject. If you see something you're interested in, don’t just take one snap and assume you've got it as good as you can. Experiment, move around, try new angles, think about what you're trying to say with the photo and you'll soon find you come back with shots that are really satisfying.

100% Design: The Round Up

We are back now from 100% design and what a 4 days it was! The acrylicize 'bar' was open for business on stand L35 and it proved to be a busy few days. Several 100 Jelly Bellys later we're already looking back with fond memories at our first appearance at the show. As you will see from the pictures below, our stand featured a tribute to Jimi Hendrix made of 60 acrylic 'bricks' marking 40 years since his untimely death. We also unveiled a one off acrylicize neon logo commissioned specially for 100% design to mark our 7th anniversary. Music over the 4 days was served up by our very own resident DJ Missy Marks, we will be posting the playlist on our facebook page very soon so watch out for that...

So its all over now, we're already missing arriving at an empty Earls Court first thing in the morning, taking down the bar stools, sipping on a coffee, switching on the neon and waiting for the masses to arrive. We want to thank everyone who visited our stand for the interest and enthusiasm you showed us. Enjoy the pictures below. Until next time...

Greg Loading the Van

James putting some final touches to the camo

Sean's best camera face

Paul trying to contain the excitement of being up a ladder

A change to the front of the stand

Jeremy talking to some early visitors

The neon

The most popular item on the stand

The PR crew in town

Happy days

The acrylicize steps to success

Peter Newman pops in

Jez and Anna

A view from behind the bar

Mr Green Swings by

Our Fiends at Fulwell 73 come and say hello

Come and say hello at 100% Design!

Thats right, for the first time ever we will be at 100% design. Come and say hello, we will be at stand L35. Lovers of 60's rock n roll will especially love our stand. See you there!

PS) If you are interested in becoming a field agent then give us a nod and a wink and we will divulge the details of your secret mission.

Inside the Artists Studio: Volume 1

Hugo Nowhere // James Burke

What is Hugo Nowhere?

Red Tape Man or Hugo Nowhere as he was later named was commissioned by Esselco LLP for permanent installation at Warnford Court, a stones throw from the bank of England on Threadneedle street. He is a life size London Banker taped to the wall with his own 'red tape'.

What does it mean?

Hugo represents the mood of the nation towards the banking industry at the time. The country was in deep recession and the bankers were the guys taking all the blame. Hugo is probably the embodiment of what the vast majority of the public wanted to do to these guys as they were made to pay the price of the big banks antics. At the time the papers were dominated with headlines vilifying the banking sector and for me this was a tongue in cheek way of representing the story. Hugo's status as a banker is emphasized by his bowler hat and umbrella - two icons of the british banker which for me always conger up images of Mr Banks from Mary Poppins. I also wanted to play on the fact that the building Hugo sits in once had ties to the bank of England and is itself just around the corner from the main Bank of England building.

How did you do it?

It was important that Hugo looked life like. The shock factor of this piece was a key ingredient in it's impact so I wanted to get this just right. I enlisted the help of Sunita Parmar who is a special effect expert whose backround is TV and film. Together we agreed on a look for Hugo and she then set about working her magic

Everything from his hair style to his clothes were considered - his clothes come from Ede and Ravenscroft the oldest tailors in London and are styled specifically on the 'bankers' look.

Installation was a fun process as we started to witness peoples reactions to the piece. Hugo's location in also playful. As you come out of the lift on the ground floor he is there - you may even miss him the first time round as he sits quite high.

What has been the response to Hugo?

What's great is that in a building like this, there is no suggestion that there is going to be an art installation of this nature around the corner and the unexpected engagement you enter into with him forces a response, what ever that may be. Its fair to say that there has been a mixed reception to Hugo form the users of the building (mostly corporate companies) but it does force you to asses your views on the subject - either you sympathize with Hugos predicament or you feel perhaps he has had his comeuppance. This element of viewer response is the true nature of the piece.

Welcome!!

The lights are on... We are live!

Its been a long time in the making but we are finally here. It's with great pride that we introduce the acrylicize Website - Generation 3! It's seems fitting to launch the site as part of our 7 year anniversary celebration, as the site covers most of what we been up to over this period. The last 7 years have flown past, it really is true what they say, time flys when you are having fun.

Since the beginning of this project which started in a university art studio, we have worked to 1 unwavering core value: Innovation. It was this desire for innovation that led to the design of the acrylicize 'acrylic canvas' concept - a design language for art that challenged the convention of the standard art canvas and framed print and it is the same desire for innovation that has fueled the work we do today.

We are now working with all types of materials, for all manor of clients in all kinds of spaces and the creative possibilities are as wide as our minds can stretch. These truly are exciting times.

New additions to the site include our first ever online store, which allows you to click and buy authentic acrylicize art online safely and instantly. The ability to buy our increasingly popular gift vouchers direct from the store. Your very own favourites folder which gives you the power to send us images you like or may want to put forward for your project / client. An in-depth look at our recent projects with the ability to share these on all your favourite social media sites and a look at our very own Opus which is now available to view online.

Now the site is new, so please be patient with us if everything isn't working tip top. We have carried out extensive testing over the last few weeks but projects like this can always throw a curve ball. If you come across anything that looks like it's being naughty please let us know and we will do everything we can to fix it straight away.

So have fun, have a good play around the site and let us know what you think. We'd love to hear from you.

Enjoy

James & Paul

London Calling

It was all fun in the sun on Saturday, as we headed down to Maida Vale for our latest installation for Pembertons...50 metres of ribbon and over 150 holes.

How to use our Favorites Folder

We've added this neat little feature to our store for anyone out there who would like to select lots of different images to show us what you like. This is designed to make your life as easy as possible. Here's how it works:

STEP 1:

Click the 'Like' button under the image you wish to show us

STEP 2:

A note will appear letting you know this image has been added to your 'Favourites' folder at the bottom of the page

STEP 3:

Your selected image is now in your Favourites folder ready to send us. You can add as many images as you like to the folder... Simple

Shortlisted

We've been shortlisted from a nationwide search of business's from all industries down to the last 3 for Business of the Year 2010. It's already been a busy year for us and its a real honour to be recognized for some of the work we are doing.

Our Studio Photoshoot

Hidden away in Harrow is our creative studio where we get most of our inspiration from. We decided it was time for everyone else to see it, so we got London based photographer Sasha Benjamin in to take some pics...

To see more check out our flickr page