Why dynamo london?

dynamo london is a social network site which celebrates the best in new interactive design, and provides a vehicle for discussion and debate amongst the interactive design community. It was a joint response by Applied Information Group (AIG) and New Media Knowledge (NMK) to an initial brief from the London Development Association (LDA) in 2006 to provide a platform to promote best practice amongst the London interactive design community.

dynamo london is a place where its ‘members’ can post, rate, comment on, and engage in a dialogue about interactive media projects they have seen. They can also post other relevant discussion topics. A full list of members indicates the level of activity for each member on the site.

The subtext for the website asks “why didn't I do that?” With this question it proposes that members only upload projects that are not their own work, and that their subject matter and quality suggests they are of wider interest to the community. The premise being that if you wished you’d done it yourself then it’s worth talking about.

Alongside the website, a series events designed to bring this online community together to meet one another face to face, as well as in the blogosphere, was planned from the outset, with a launch event hosted by Malcolm Garrett at Shakespeare’s Globe, with speakers Jason Bruges (Jason Bruges Studio), Simon Waterfall (Poke), Andy Cameron (Fabrica) and Martyn Ware (Future of Sound) presenting projects that they themselves admired.

The culmination of the first year's events in 2007, was i-Design, the interactive design conference at the London Design Festival. Now in it’s third year, it is a one-day event that showcases the best in interactive and digital design.The success of the event has ensured that i-Design has become a regular fixture at LDF since.

dynamo london was named one of the Design Week Hot 50 in 2008.

The People behind dynamo london

dynamo london was launched in December 2006 and was developed by Malcolm Garrett (AIG) and Zoë Black (NMK), with website development by digital agency New Bamboo.

It continues to be maintained by Malcolm Garrett and Ian Delaney (NMK), with design by Matt Cooper (AIG) and web development by Mike Staines (Fabric Interface).

Tara Solesbury (C:S:P) has been Event Producer for i-Design since 2008.

dynamo london is also grateful for ongoing assistance from Jenny Tyler (NMK), Francesca Granato (AIG) and Charlotte Cumming (C:S:P).

Biographies

Malcolm Garrett RDI
– Applied Information Group
dynamo london: Creative Director

Malcolm Garrett is a graphic communications designer with three decades of experience designing for all kinds of printed media, and with almost twenty years working in interactive and integrated media.

His work is widely regarded as influential on the development of contemporary UK graphic design. He made his mark as founder of Assorted Images, working with Buzzcocks, Duran Duran, Culture Club and Simple Minds. His early collaborations with Peter Gabriel, and with interactive media pioneers Cogapp, fuelled an enduring passion for interactive design, which he explored with blue chip clients such as Apple, Barclays and Hewlett Packard, and cultural institutions from the Science Museum to Museum of Modern Art, New York. His heritage of working for arts and cultural organisations dates back to 1979, when he designed his first catalogue for the ICA. He recently designed the brand identity and web interface for ‘Icons – a portrait of England’, with Cogapp, for Culture Online.

Malcolm was the first interaction designer to be made a Royal Designer, the most prestigious award a designer can be given in the UK.

He is a visiting professor at Central St Martins. He has judged (and Chaired) annual design awards for Design Week, D&AD, BAFTA, and many other around the world.

Ian Delaney
– NMK
dynamo london: Editor

Ian Delaney is a journalist, blogger and event organiser working for NMK and Dynamo London, based at the University of Westminster. In previous lives, he has edited and published both B2B and consumer magazines, and was an English teacher for ten years. He is passionate about all things digital and aspires to being a gadget fanatic once his salary catches-up with his wish list.

Tara Solesbury
– Creative : Strategy : Production
i-Design: Event Producer

Tara Solesbury is a freelance creative producer, strategist and consultant with over ten years professional experience working in the creative industries. She combines a passion for technology, digital art and interactive media with a proven track record in successfully developing and producing events and projects: from festivals to internship schemes. She also has extensive experience of marketing, fundraising and network development.

Tara is based at The Basement Arts South East in Brighton and is currently working with a broad range of organisations and artists nationally.