GOOD GRAPHICS DESIGN - all done with mirrors?

Origin Eight is the graphics and multimedia division of ScorpioSongs. When it began, in May 1986, artworks were produced on a drawing board using white lineboard, pens, repro cameras, typeset galleys, paste-up and overlays - the way all studios worked back then.

Hungry to learn about the emerging computer graphics technologies, Nigel Watts-Plumpkin embraced this new way of working as soon as he could. He got friendly with Quantel, an innovative electronics company based at Newbury in Berkshire, who had developed the 'Paintbox' which became the standard tool for creating and manipulating TV graphics for many years. They were running trials on the Graphic Paintbox, a print-quality big brother to the Paintbox and were working with a few designers to fine tune it. Nigel went with the Quantel marketing team to the GEC 87 Show in Milan, where he demonstrated the Graphic Paintbox on their exhibition stand.

With the backing of one of his clients, Nigel almost purchased his own Graphic Paintbox - a potential investment of over £250,000 at the time - but was saved from making such a huge investment by Apple Macintosh, who brought high-end graphics technology to the masses at a fraction of the cost. Nigel's Mac-based design for a Lilly Industries company report, which incorporated a clever computer montage generated by a photography business partner, was a winner in the Macworld/Agfa Graphic Excellence Award 1992, out of 1,500 entries.

One thing you definitely won't find at Origin Eight is the use of clip art or brochure templates. All supporting graphics, illustrations and logos are custom-created in the studio to maintain originality and distinction. No mirrors. No cheap imitations.

Over two decades, the range of design solutions offered by Origin Eight has become as diverse as its client base and is becoming ever more so as the studio embraces the cross-media possibilities brought about by new technology; but there is certainly a cautious relationship with technology. After all, what will happen if someone finally pulls out that big electric plug in the sky?


Origin Eight provides the following services:

Click below for a brief portfolio (PDF downloads):

identity
branding
literature
display
web
presentation
interactive
copywriting
Origin Eight designs, produces, implements and manages your project
Identity, branding, literature, display, web, presentation, interactive, copywriting
1MB
268KB
1.4MB
512KB
512KB
Clients include: Berkeley Homes, McGraw-Hill, Macmillan Publishing, Lilly Industries, BASF Coatings and Inks, Redifon/Thomson, InstaGroup, Casella, MLP Training, Quantel, KPOS Computer Systems, Prudential Property Services, Novamedix, KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock, BF Goodrich, British Occupational Hygiene Society, Stanley Thornes, M&R Offset, ESend-it.com, Foundation & Exploration Services, Photo-Me, Newbury Electronics
Sound effects designer, fx, multimedia, soundtracks, music service, UK company, ScorpioSongs
© 2006-2012 ScorpioSongs Limited • Website designed & produced by Origin Eight • Lluest Llanfyllin Powys SY22 5NE • origineight(at)newbury.net • Tel 01691 649105