WD Magazine heffield is one of the most prolific Japan 2011 cities for creatives outside of London 5-page feature, and so we have a fair few great design S ‘Worldwide Creator’s companies. One of the most exciting is Archive’, Web Designing HumanStudios founded in 2007 it is more commonly referred to as Human. The Magazine, Japan company is the brainchild of ex Designers Republic member Nick Bax and they have an impressive list of clients under their belt. Working out of their studio in the Park Hill area they have collaborated with institutions and brands such as MTV, Swatch, Arts Council and Channel 4. Their work has also been exhibited in Europe, Japan and the United States, and featured in various publications and blogs around the world Chaos and Theory 2010 including Eye Magazine, The Guardian. Collaboration with artist Paul Evans Animated sequence on 3 screens. First exhibited We took some time with the Man himself to as part of ‘Origin010’, an exhibiton of new work by get answers to questions that we all wanted Paul Evans, Chris Jones and Humanstudio. Sheffield to know from the reason behind his leave Institute of Arts Gallery, 16.08.10 - 12.09.10 from The Designers republic to what makes him tick.

The Black Dog 2011 Dubfire 2008 - present human Visual performances using bespoke animated Album / EP cover designs sequences at various locations around the world and live event visuals Nick Bax on life after including Ministry of Sound, London (2008), WMC, ‘Music For Real Airports’ Miami (2009), Parc La Pau, Barcelona (2011-13), Designers Republic Hyperspace, Budapest (2011), Global Gathering, Stratford-Upon-Avon (2011), Amsterdam Dance Event (2013) and other venues in Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Spain and the UK (2009-13).

/// 04 | THE VAULT /// 06 | THE VAULT THE VAULT | 05 \\\ based in a building with a sense of history and not a generic office block.

B: What is your favourite piece of your own work and why is it your favourite? NB: Designers often say “the next one” and that can sound cheesy but, regardless of how long you’ve BAX been working, if you don’t believe in what you’re doing now you should do something else. A few months ago we collaborated with the Department of Computer Science at the University of Sheffield on a project called COMPUTER LOVE HITS - an online 3D gallery with exhibits examining the relationship between humans and computers. I came up with the concept, curated the exhibition and designed the gallery with Dan here at Human. It gave me an opportunity to work with artists I respect and really push how their ideas are communicated. Even B: What is your favourite piece of art? BACK NB: I’ve not found it yet, but James Turrell’s Deer Shelter after 22 years, I can’t think of anything better I’ve worked on or been more proud of. Skyspace at Yorkshire Sculpture Park comes pretty close, B: How did you get to this point in time? as does the work of Jeremy Moon and Kenneth Martin. NB: My family lived in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, B: With more and more ways to show visual work, until I was 9 and then moved to Maltby, a mining what do you find to be the most satisfying? Does B: What do you dislike in art? village in South Yorkshire. When I was 12 my art design for print still hold interest over installations NB: Lazy corporate artists. teacher asked me: “Do you know what a graphic and live media? designer is?” I said “no” and he replied “I think you Each medium has its own quality, but we don’t really B: What makes you smile in art? should find out”. worry about the media – just the message. The best NB:Jeremy Deller. Heartwarming and life affirming. After leaving school, I studied Art & Design at method is the one that gets the idea across. Rotherham College and then Graphic Design at B: Good advice you wish you’d been told earlier? Colchester Institute. While I was studying I had 2 B: Three words that sum up you and your attitude to Do what you love. Or do something else. work placements at The Designers Republic (TDR) what you do? and officially joined TDR just 3 days after I finished NB: Family. Art. Human. B: Where were you last happiest? my course in 1990. No gap year for me :-) NB: On a Friday night a few weeks ago. The whole In early 1992 I was recruited by Mainartery, a B: Describe your style? team went out in the Shalesmoor Triangle with London-based music-industry design company, but NB: Like many British men my age, I’m a Sci-Fi junkie, various partners and friends to celebrate Human’s found myself being drawn back to Sheffield and TDR so I guess there’s always some element of “the 5th birthday, Dan’s 29th birthday and the 1st week of in summer 1993. After 14 amazing years I left TDR in future” in anything I work on - that’s what interests our new designer, Michaela. 2007 and launched Humanstudio. me. It means a lot to see 15 people happy at the same In my role as creative director of Human I’ve realised time in the same place and know that you’ve played B: Where are you based? my “style” goes beyond the aesthetic. It’s a way of a big part in making that happen. It also means a NB: Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Apart from my doing things; how you treat people, being ambitious lot to be able to walk into the 7 Spices and say “30 18-month ‘sabbatical’ in London, I’ve lived in and yet content in life, showing respect and listening popadoms please” Sheffield my entire working life. 22 years and to others, pushing technology and examining what it I REALISED THAT MY counting... actually means to be a designer in 2012. B: Your house is on fire, your family is safe, what do Our studio is based in Globe Works, a Grade II* It’s far more interesting now to see my ideas and you save? STYLE GOES BEYOND listed building which was completed in 1825 and thoughts translated via the clever, talented, people NB: Nothing. Everything else that’s important is in my “ is credited as being the first purpose-built cutlery around me :D head or online. The rest is just stuff. factory in the world. Very soon we’re moving to THE AESTHETIC. another amazing historic Grade II* listed building... B: What kind of music do you listen to? NB: Anything that involves robots. Or lots of loud B: Does where you live/work inform you as a person? guitars and no words. IT’S A WAY OF DOING NB: Yes, I think it defines part of who you are. It’s like an accent - you can try and escape it but it’s B: What is your most played track in iTunes? THINGS & HOW YOU an integral part of your character. The location and NB: ‘Two Tribes’ by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. My Catch Human on Facebook at’ Humanstudios’ or interior of a studio has the same effect on design favourite single of all time, delivered at the dawn of on Twitter @HUMANstudios TREAT PEOPLE teams - it informs you collectively and as individuals. remix culture. I have a playlist containing 22 different ” It was a very deliberate decision for Human to be mixes, which lasts for 2 blissful hours.

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