This week’s Design Blog is about the work of Alan Clarke, as featured in the July edition of Creative Review.

I was very impressed with this work , particularly in the clever way in which each poster managed to communicate its message powerfully through the intelligent use of space, simple graphic shapes and low key yet intelligently placed type.

On his website Alan Clarke states that, “The designs focused on the movement and speed of the athletes equipment. They were used to help travelers associate relevant tube stops with the Olympic events that are being held there”.

This is just as well, as I feel that each poster works best when displayed on its own; thus avoiding any conflict between the colours (which are not only vibrant contemporary in feel but are also cleverly chosen to associate with the sport in question).

The power in these posters are in their simplicity and clever use of shapes which convey a subliminal feeling of movement and energy. Further clarification is given by the name of the sporting event displayed in the top right hand corner and the well known Olympic rings in the top left corner of each poster.

Alan also states, “I have come to believe in clear, considered, communication solutions, simplicity and great ideas”. In my opinion he has achieved this with elegance and great composition in these striking posters (which won Best in Show at this years D&AD New Blood exhibition).

Well done to Alan – and great to see the Olympian brand being interpreted in a distinctly London style.

We like to getting out to new places and sharing our thinking. One of our Senior Consultants, Kamil Michlewski will on his way to Austria soon for the 4th International DOM Conference: Creating Desired Futures.

Organised by Design-Organization-Media Research Laboratory (DOM), the conference will be held in Linz from 14-17 May. It aims to explore how design – not understood as a way of form shaping but as a way of creative thinking different from analysis – may add value in solving complex business problems.

Kamil will be speaking on the theory of management and design – if you would like to learn more about the conference please visit the DOM website: http://www.domresearchlab.com/content/4th-international-dom-conference-may-14-17-2009-creating-desired-futures

Despite our oft-repeated plea to clients – “it’s the idea not the execution!” – we appreciate the value of great design in building strong brands.

It has been a nice surprise this week to be contacted by two separate organisations – both wishing to feature our website design.

Firstly – cssWOW - ”a collective gallery of the most incredible css codes found over cyber space”: http://www.csswow.com/page/2/

And secondly – Colorgorize – which categorizes websites according to dominant colour. We’re on the ‘black’ page here: http://www.colorgorize.com/show/1697/thevalueengineers/

Thanks also to our web design agency, Kyan http://kyanmedia.com/