Our latest project in our ongoing relationship with Qantas has seen us develop the signage for their Next Generation Check-in system, now trialling at Perth Domestic airport. This new system, designed by Blue Sky and Marc Newson, is set to revolutionise the domestic check-in experience by dramatically increasing the speed and convenience of check-in.

Our role was to create the signage system – a critical element in helping customers understand the new process. Our approach drew on influences from the Marc Newson designed Q Card Reader, which is a new automatic check-in process for selected frequent flyers. The signage scheme uses a translucent red resin, making it easy to spot whilst supporting the premium positioning of the Qantas brand. We also designed new icons and illustrations to be used on signage and screens.

The signage is part of the national roll out of the Next Generation Check-in, scheduled for installation in Sydney in late 2010 and Melbourne early 2011.

Frost* have just put the finishing touches on the signage and environmental graphics for the Central Park Display Pavilion – the next installment of our ongoing work with Frasers Property, who are redeveloping the old Carlton United Brewery site on Broadway in Sydney.
 
A visionary in his own right, Managing Director of Frasers Property Australia Dr Stanley Quek, has brought together the world’s finest architects to masterplan the Central Park precinct. This architectural dream team includes two Pritzker Prize-winners Jean Nouvel and Sir Norman Foster whose firms will collaborate with local architects and designers including Johnson Pilton Walker, Tzannes Associates, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and PTW Architects.
 
The Central Park Display Pavilion has been designed to introduce people to the space and showcase the site’s features, while functioning as a sales tool for the variety of residential and commercial property offers available. A gallery space features large-scale photography of the architects, designers and local personalities, as well as their respective visions of how the precinct will transform the once down-at-heel area. We also created an art installation with the quote “live in a broadway” handwritten by Vince and mounted to the wall as a neon sign. The colourful Central Park logo, designed by Frost*, has become an unmissable focal point of the pavilion from both the streetscape and within. Three-dimensional letters just under two metres high, create imposing signage that is illuminated at night for maximum visibility.

Back in 2009 Frost* won a competitive pitch to design Sydney Airport’s brochureware. Following the success of our first project ‘Get On Board’, a brochure to build new and existing relationships with airlines, we were invited to redesign the look and feel of the airport’s marketing and retail communications.
 
Sydney Airport is the first and last impression that travellers have of Sydney and often Australia, so capturing the essence of this beautiful city was a key part of this project. Australia is regarded as one of the friendliest cultures in the world and the tone of the look and feel for the new retail precinct, had to go beyond the typical clichés and embody the spirit of Sydney.
 
The look and feel we developed mandates the use of devices such as speech bubbles and witty captions, for a tone that is fun and approachable and communications that create engaging dialogue with customers – as though the Airport is having a conversation with you! With the use of photography, illustration and design devices such as colourful lozenges, the brand really comes to life. Frost* has executed this look and feel across signage, advertising and promotional collateral airport wide.

Back in 2006 Frost* designed the identity for Collect, the International Art Fair for Contemporary Objects, held initially at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and now at the famed Saatchi Gallery. It was here that the relationship with Adelaide based furniture designer Khai Liew, a participant in the Fair, was established. Frost* went on to create the designer’s website and identity and recently, the identity for his latest exhibition.

For his new show ‘Collec+ors’, Liew has created a series of one off art pieces in collaboration with six Australian designers that were brought together by their participation in Collect in 2006 and 2007. The exhibition celebrates a reunion of these Australian creative talents, showcasing collaborative new works by Khai Liew and Kirsten Coelho, Gwyn Hanssen Pigott, Bruce Nuske, Prue Venables, Julie Blyfield and Jessica Loughlin.

The exhibition identity created by Frost*, graphically represents Liew plus collaborator. The simple, spare design is carried through all exhibition collateral, elegantly capturing Liew’s pure design philosophy. Collec+ors was held in Adelaide for the 2010 South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival in August.

To celebrate ActewAGL’s 10th anniversary ActewAGL commissioned Canberra-based artist Robert Foster of FINK & Co in collaboration with Frost* Design, to create a sculptural installation for the foyer of its new headquarters in Bunda Street, Canberra. The winning submission was selected from a shortlist of six renowned Australian artists, judged by a diverse panel of experts. The brief, provided by the ActewAGL’s Chairman John Mackay, was simple – I want to have to employ a full time cleaner to have to wipe the nose marks off the window every morning. 

The work is titled “The Journey” and is made up of thirty-seven tusk-like forms that emerge literally through the polished concrete floor, transforming into sinuous light-filled shapes named “Ossolites”. The name references the concept of “oscillating” and the Latin word for bone “osso” combined with light. The Ossolites are programmed to create dramatic and interactive sequences of light, colour and movement throughout the installation. Lighting sequences were art directed by Foster/Frost*, Robert did the lighting sequencing programming and the innovative LED lighting and software was developed by Coolon Lighting specifically for the project. People are invited to interact with the forms, changing the colour or state of energy, making them feel connected to the space.

In addition to the Ossolites, Frost* and Foster worked closely with Cox Humphries Moss Architects on the interior concepts for the foyer and cafe. Marble seating is designed to look like fallen columns while the angular walls and reception desk counterbalance the organic-looking sculptural forms. Foster and Frost* extended the look and feel into the café by recommending furniture, finishes and custom FINK lighting. This holistic approach to the lobby space and integration of the forms into the flooring sparks the question; what came first, the building or sculpture?

In our work here at Frost* we often face challenges that force us to go beyond the normal graphic design process. When we were invited to take part in Graphic Material, an exhibition held as part of the Sydney Design Festival, it was a great opportunity for us to look deeper into the process of taking a two dimensional idea and transforming it into a three dimensional structure. The exhibition was a collection of artworks by graphic designers that question the material boundaries of their discipline. We invited all the creatives to a brainstorming session and investigated various forms and technology and from that, decided to start from where we feel most comfortable – typography. We wanted to use an active word that would conjure a three dimensional response. We settled on the word poke and set about realising the meaning of the word in three dimensions. The resulting artwork is made up of protruding steel rods fastened together to spell out the word poke. The exhibition was curated by Aaron Seymour and featured work by Jürg Lehni, Collider, Jeremy Wood, Toko, Graphic Thought Facility, Frost* Design, PostSpectacular, Bert Simons, Mark Gowing, Sabrina Raaf, Aaron Seymour, Trigger and Ian Stevenson. 

Wins

We'd like to welcome Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) as a new client.

Awards

We were thrilled to win 7 Distinctions at this year's AGDA Awards. We have also received a Merit Award for our Futuretainment book from the Art Director’s Club (ADC), the ‘Lot with a little’ Award from SEGD for our typographical installation for Sculpture by the Sea 'Wonderland' and Gold and Platinum awards in the Graphis Poster Annual 2011 for our work with the Sydney Dance Company.

In other news, Vince Frost has been elected to the Executive Committee of D&Ad. As the first Sydney-based member to be elected, Vince plans to help raise the profile of D&Ad in Australia and hopes to see the standard of design improve as a consequence.

To find out how Frost can make a difference for your business, contact Cat Burgess cat.burgess@frostdesign.com.au

Frost* Sydney
1st Floor 15 Foster Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 Sydney Australia
Telephone +61 (0) 2 9280 4233 Facsimile +61 (0) 2 9280 4266
info@frostdesign.com.au www.frostdesign.com.au