Simon Russell. Motion Graphics and Interaction

Infosys Experience

2012-01-19T07:04:00.000-08:00

Here's a video of a job I was working on for Moving Brands for Infosys. I helped design some of the touch screen and Kinect interfaces as well as the animated content. The job features a lot of tiled HD screens, one segment alone (the 'Infinity Wall') used nine screens, three of them touch surfaces.

Wellcome Trust. iPad Ableton demo

2012-01-13T14:47:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick demo of a project I'm working on, I'm developing a proposal for the Wellcome Trust's arts bursary.

The setup is fairly simple, using Ableton, OSCulator and Touch OSC on the iPad. I've recently got this setup working with VDMX and can control it with a Wii-mote, I'll post up a vid soon. All the visuals are created in After Effects and Cinema 4D. Apologies for the camera work, it does come into focus in a few seconds.

Here's the visuals straight from After Effects

Synesthesia Sketches

2012-01-12T14:59:00.000-08:00

I've scanned and posted all my sketchbook notes and drawings on a Tumblr. You can find it here.

Wellcome Trust Project: Update

2012-01-10T01:52:00.000-08:00

Excitingly Pufferfish, makers of extraordinary spherical touchscreen displays, have offered to collaborate with me on my Wellcome Trust proposal. Whilst being a fantastic opportunity it does of course offer up some technical and creative challenges. Below are some concept stills, using mirrors, I've been working on to integrate the display into the installation.

Wellcome Trust Development Work

2012-01-05T14:31:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd post a little of the project I'm working on for the Wellcome Trust.
It's an installation concept based around a neurological condition called synesthesia.

Couch Designs

2012-01-04T03:46:00.000-08:00

Here's some t-shirt designs I created with my brother for his company Couch.

Synesthesia Experiments

2011-12-19T03:47:00.000-08:00

A little movie of some experiments I've been working on for a synesthesia based project.

The Rag

2011-12-15T03:37:00.000-08:00

The Rag is a Post-Apocalyptic Neon-Dubstep Sci-Fi Epic (!) I've been toying with for years. I was asked to reversion it for a comic book iPad app which was a lot of fun. You can download it here.

Christmas Idents

2011-12-14T02:42:00.000-08:00

I made these for the lovely folks at We Are Seventeen. They were in turn working for Red Bee who were commissioned by La7, an Italian TV station. Phew! I did pretty much everything on these, design of all the elements, characters, animation, lighting and so on.

Diagramic Illustrations Of People

2011-10-20T15:16:00.000-07:00

Click here to see the whole set. Also, clicking on the picture brings it up hi-res

Beck's Green Box

2011-10-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

These are some concept frames from a proposal I'm putting together a proposal for Beck's Green Box project, it's a kind of augmented reality global art gallery.

Mini Showreel: Particles and Mograph

2011-10-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

Here's an edit of some the particle and mograph work I've done in the last six months. A lot of it is motion tests and so forth but I thought I'd pop it up anyway.

Machinery Drawing

2011-09-25T04:49:00.001-07:00

Here's a fineliner drawing of an old bit of farm machinery I drew when staying at a farm house in Tuscany. (Click image to enlarge)

3D Characters

2011-07-20T02:16:00.000-07:00

Here's some characters I've just made for a pitch. They're a kind of pleasantly deranged mix of muppet and Francois Chalet

Synaesthesia Theatre

2011-07-15T03:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a first look at a model from my current self initiated project. It's going to be a short film set in the theatre below. It's based around the ideas of Kandinsky and the composer Scriabin and will involve a synaesthetic dubstep machine.

Red Rain

2011-04-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

This short film was made in 48 hours for the 'Sci-Fi 48 Hour Film Challenge 2011'. We were given a title (Red Rain), a prop (a plate of biscuits) and a line of dialogue ("If I have to go tomorrow I'd rather leave early.") on Saturday morning and we had to deliver the finished film on Monday morning.

It was stressful, knackering and at points completely chaotic...but it was also loads of fun. We aimed to make a short that was funny and entertaining and hopefully we got close. A massive thanks to everyone who gave up most (if not all) of their weekend to help out, you made it what it is.

Credits:
Written by Simon Russell and Andy Martin
Directed by Andy Martin
Produced by Simon Russell
Starring Nick Blood, Imogen Doel, Ben Whybrow and Ben Deery
Visual Effects Ashley Pay
Music Andy Martin
Camera Evan Pugh
Audio Design Josh Roberts
Edited by Felix Black and Nicola Jude
Graphics by Simon Russell
Make Up by Kiri Mellalieu, Sofhie Clark and Michelle Hutley
Props by Janka Slawik
Runner Robbie Ash

Op Art Skulls for Gavriil Simov

2011-03-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

Gavriil Simov

2011-02-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

These are a couple of concept images my brother and myself have been working on for a new garmet/screen print range. We've started a Tumblr blog here.

Nothing To Fear

2010-12-08T09:05:00.000-08:00

Here's a personal project I've been working on for some time so I'm pleased to be able to post it up. Be sure to flip it to full screen when viewing as it's in HD.

Many thanks to Ben Ash from Candle Music for composing a beautiful piece of music and creating the sound effects. Also many many thanks to Ólafur Arnalds, Erased Tapes and Nettwerk Music Group for allowing me to use Ólafur's amazing music. It really did help set the whole atmosphere and feel of the piece. You can download them for free here.

Showreel December 2010

2010-12-02T14:01:00.001-08:00

Superclub

2010-11-22T01:54:00.000-08:00

I've just finished directing this commercial. I created the city and ships in Cinema 4D, composited in After Effects and backgrounds courtesy of the Hubble telescope.

Ducklings!

2010-11-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

I've just finished this piece for Disney UK. I directed and animated the piece through Fold 7

UFO's Revised

2010-10-20T01:21:00.000-07:00

Here's an update for a 30" spot I'm working on. I created the UFO's and buildings in Cinema 4d whilst the nebula backgrounds are courtesy of the Hubble telescope. Should be up soon hopefully.

Om Nom Nom Nom!

2010-10-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

Concept visual for a self initiated project I'm working on. All created in Cinema 4D with some post in After Effects

Brandon Flowers Ad Pitches

2010-09-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

Here's a test for a Brandon Flowers commercial I pitched on. It didn't win but I kind of liked creating the illustrations and animating them.

This was also a pitch, it's all kind of rough and textures and so forth need work but thought I'd post it anyway

Aw ducklings

2010-09-01T03:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of frames from a short I'm doing for a kids show. 3D backgrounds in Cinema 4D and characters worked up in Illustrator and Photoshop.

Genie Illustrations

2010-08-18T04:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of concept stills I've been working on. The client decided that the full on neon nature of the visuals would be better suited to another script so no psychedelic genies in the near future. But expect psychedelic elves!

Gatecrasher

2010-07-22T13:55:00.000-07:00

I recently made this ad during my recent stint at Fold 7. I did pretty much everything in post from keying, grading, compositing to creating the 3D environment and decks and so forth.

Drumming at Trafalgar Square

2010-07-22T01:44:00.000-07:00

Here's me a couple of weekends ago drumming on a hot Saturday in London. Was a bit of surprise as I've never played a timbale before.

Recent concept work

2010-05-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

Personal Project Continues

2010-05-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

Here's some new artwork from a personal animation I'm working on. More to follow

Sexy 3D Time

2010-05-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Here's some still I created for a pitch. In Cinema 4D and After Effects with a bit of help from Hubble. Can't reveal what it is yet because the pitch is still active.

4 Music Commercial

2010-05-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

I've just finished working on this for Mr and Mrs Smith. Lisa Lloyd created the look and feel and I put it all together and made it move.

My reel 2010

2010-02-10T02:52:00.000-08:00

Big Pink Creature

2010-02-01T06:10:00.000-08:00

I've just finished making this for a kids TV channel. I'm proud to say that I am also the voice of Big Pink!

Steampunk Shoot

2010-01-31T10:14:00.000-08:00

Here's some snaps of a shoot I did with Everything Works at Theme Traders in Kilburn. We used the Canon D5 which gave us excellent results. Click here to see the rest of the photos on Flickr.

Couch Munny

2010-01-04T10:58:00.000-08:00

Me and me bruv started work on his Munny at Christmas. He's got a lot of neon bits and bobs and I reckon it could be really awesome but here's the start of it.
Have a look at Couch UK if you haven't already.

Work in progress

2009-12-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

Here's some sketches from an animation I'm working on. Click em to embigify

Lulu's Parties!

2009-10-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a logo I did for Lucy Amos' kids party group at High Road House.

Some Characters...

2009-10-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

Here's a load of characters I've drawn. Click them to make them bigger

NEW COUCH SITE!!!

2009-10-09T04:21:00.000-07:00

Posting this a little late but we've finished the new Couch UK site. Go along and get yourself a fluoro T! And here's a print ad we put out

Big Cannes Banners

2009-10-09T02:51:00.000-07:00

I designed these HUGE banners for the MIPCOM 2009 event in Cannes. They're very straight and corporate but it's pretty cool to see them in situ.

Demand Dignity, Amnesty International

2009-09-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

Demand Dignity, Amnesty International from Everything Works on Vimeo.

I recently created this animation for Amnesty International through Everything Works with help from Beautiful TV and Steve Dannemiller. It aims to explain their new and vastly ambitious campaign, Demand Dignity which seeks to tackle a massive range of human rights issues including poverty, corporate accountability, maternal mortality to name but a few.

Ninjas!

2009-09-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

Here's some Ninjas. Created for a project that never happened.

The Waste Land, T.S.Elliot

2009-09-10T22:43:00.000-07:00

I drew these six illustrations for the magazine LBIQ. The issue was based around T.S. Elliot's epic poem 'The Waste Land'. The six illustrations reflect the six sections of the poem. Numerous visual references are hidden within so if you're familiar with the poem you should see many hidden trinkets. With thanks to Bob Newton for the commission and creative help!

Click to enlargenify

1. The Thames.

2. Burial Of The Dead.

3. The Game Of Chess.

4.The Fire Sermon.

5. Consider Phlebas

6. What The Thunder Said

Here's a link to the poem

It's hard work and took me a few readings to get under it's skin but it is awesome. "I will show you fear in a handful of dust".

Here's a time lapse of me drawing, done on my Ixus.

Timelapse 'The Waste Land' from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

Me by Rankin

2009-09-10T09:19:00.000-07:00

I got my photo taken for the Rankin Live exhibition in London, here it is! I look well moody! Blue Steel

London Edge Set Up

2009-09-10T04:29:00.001-07:00

My brother and me setting up for London Edge

Zazzle Update

2009-09-04T08:17:00.001-07:00

I've added new products and some sexy buttons... well, ok, maybe not sexy but they are buttons...
It's slowly getting there. GO AND VISIT!

@m8er. Killed That Bitch!

2009-09-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

AMBERGEDDON! At long last, here's the final cut of the neon celerity bloodbath video! Produced through Everything Works, directed by me, Adam Goldfinch did the cameras, I Love Dust the animation and the inimitable Bortusk Leer supplied the characters artwork. Released through Universal Music Australia.

[UPDATE] Since going live on You Tube this video has received an, er, interesting response:
"This is a complete miscarriage of good taste. Stop raping my ears." lphaynes
"Lindsay, Paris etc? How unoriginal. Hardly new targets at all. What a lame song. Not a good song all round." prettixinsane
"This is one of the worst songs i have ever heard" scrampion
They're not all bad but it's quite funny! Some even slag off the animation, the cheek!

Defamer wrote a nice piece: "Ummm… it’s not often I see something so confusingly awful that I struggle to find words to describe it, but that’s precisely what happened when I viewed the following music video."

ZAZZLE!

2009-08-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

I've put up a t-shirt shop on Zazzle!

Lily Allen

2009-08-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

I made the UK TV ad for Lily Allen's poptastic first Album.

Lily Allen, Alright Still Commercial from Simon Russell on Vimeo.
And here is the board that I pitched with...

I MADE A FONT!

2009-07-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

Here's my first ever font! Download it here. It's still rough round the edges and needs some kerning action but hey, what the hell... Make your own new rave t-shirts!

FREE!!!

2009-07-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's bloody everywhere right now, Chris Anderson's 'give it away' tactic seems to be working! But download his free audiobook, the follow up to The Long Tail if you're interested in webernetical business affairs.

Everything Works Website

2009-07-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

Been working on the new Everything Works website! It's a mixture of straight up company site and blog so toodle on over and have a look.

Not only do we have a new website we've got 2.0 mad! We're on Flickr, Vimeo and Twitter. Thanks also to Tudinh who was generally awesome throughout!

Stand Together

2009-06-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

A sketch for Amnesty International animation I'm working on

Couch Blog

2009-05-07T14:32:00.001-07:00

Been updating my bro's blog. He runs a neon fashion label called Couch.
I don't think he has the login details of his blog so I've been writing pretty much what I like.

In my narrative style I have taken inspiration from the Fuck Yeah Cilantro blog

Zodiak Entertainment

2009-05-01T03:37:00.001-07:00

Zodiak Sweden, originally uploaded by Simon F A Russell.I art directed these trade print ads for Zodiak Television. We travelled with photographer Hainsley Brown to the various Zodiak offices around the world to capture their staff playing with red balls. The balls relate to the logo. Unfortunately they've just changed the logo to a blue one! Hopefully won't have to go into Photoshop!

Click it for for the Flicr Set

Don't Lick it!

2009-04-28T03:59:00.001-07:00

Me directing an erotic love story of a young Australian girl and her infatuation with a block of mature stilton.
Click on the pic to link to Flickr set

Pop Video Shoot

2009-04-23T08:58:00.001-07:00

Adam 'Dutch' Goldfinch and Amber strapping on the body mounted camera. It was a wicked shoot on a beautiful sunny day in Cambridge. Watch this space for the final video!

Kris Kuksi

2009-04-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

I found this guy from the links Mars-1's website. Mars-1 does some cool paintings I hadn't seen either...
Kris Kuksi makes these incredibly detailed models, they're like model versions of H.R.Giger. They remind me of the Chapman brothers Hell pieces.

Street Monster T's

2009-04-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

My bruv at Couch has made some mock up T's for Street Monsters.
More to follow...

T-shirt model specialist Nika and me

Finished Munny!

2009-03-16T12:09:00.001-07:00

IMG_7051.JPG, originally uploaded by Simon F A Russell.

He's only bloody finished. My 3.5" Munny. Replete with fine liner drawings! Click on him for other Flickr shots of the fekker!

Big Fat Americans!

2009-03-04T14:42:00.000-08:00

I've posted up some photos I took of fat Americans whilst on holiday. I've heard of the phenomenon but to see it first hand is something else. JUST WALK DON'T USE A MOBILITY SCOOTER!!!
Click here to go there!

Nice Girls and Bad Men

2009-02-10T15:03:00.000-08:00

Here's some photoshopping bits I've been working on. Quaint ain't they...

And a rare photo of HRH with P.Do.

Bibliodyssey

2009-02-05T03:42:00.000-08:00

This is an image from an amazing blog http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/
There is also a book which I've got which is also brilliant! Old prints, curiosities, scientific images of yore. I love it!

Morph Test

2009-01-27T06:10:00.000-08:00

Lord Morph of the Fimo Creatures from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

Memorial Morph from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

Street Monsters!

2009-01-10T05:32:00.001-08:00

We've been commissioned to create a show for Street Monsters based on this pilot, for terrestrial TV!

Street Monsters from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

Old Skool

2009-01-05T06:59:00.000-08:00

I was once gnarly. Me atop the Vicarage quarter pipe.

Amnesty

2008-12-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

Me and Andy Martin created this video through Everything Works for Amnesty International to promote the UN initiative Optional Protocol. I did the illustrations and some of the animation whilst Andy did most of the animation and the music.

Amnesty. Optionol Protocol Animation from Simon Russell on Vimeo.
I also created this illustration of the cast because I thought it would be fun!

This was a wicked project to work on because not only did I get to draw a lot of cool characters and work with Andy but also because it was for charidee!

Goldhawk Road Blog

2008-12-30T08:12:00.000-08:00

I've started taking candid snaps of random people near my work and blogging them.
Have a looksie at the first batch!

Drench

2008-12-25T12:50:00.000-08:00

This is a panoramic illustration I did for a Drench competition. It tells the story of a band going from practicing in their bedroom to playing at a massive concert. It's a mix of drawn elements, collaging and photoshopping.

Happenings

2008-12-23T16:10:00.000-08:00

I made these stings for the CobraVision competition. Cheers to Adam Goldfinch who did the cameras and Richard Nathan for the audio.

Happenings from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

The Tortoise

2008-12-19T16:09:00.000-08:00

I made this video for a competition. It's based on synaesthetic metal neon shapes (of course!) Stick with it... takes a while to warm up. I'm reasonably pleased with it as I did it quite quickly, I didn't want to spend two months of my life in front of my laptop!
The track is called The Tortoise by Tim 'Love' Lee on Tummy Touch.

The Tortoise, Tim Love Lee from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

UFO's

2008-12-15T12:52:00.000-08:00

Here's a test I did with some helicopter footage. I love UFOs! A bit of tracking and the voice from Orson Welles' 1938 radio adaptation of War Of The Worlds.

UFO's from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

Elbow

2008-12-11T12:49:00.000-08:00

This is a storyboard for a commercial for Elbow's Leaders Of The Free World album. It was fun to do, incorporating poetic interpretations of the lyrics with masonic imagery... They didn't go for it sadly.

Nanibirds

2008-12-06T17:12:00.001-08:00

Birqabird and Monstabird

Nanibird.com

Fimo Creatures

2008-12-06T17:09:00.001-08:00

I made these because I thought it would be fun

Showreel 2007

2008-12-04T09:55:00.000-08:00

Ere's me old showreel. Music by Saudi Playboys.

Showreel from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

Transformers Teaser

2008-12-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

I made this for Nick Toons to promote the launch of 'Transformers, The Animated Series'.

Transformers Teaser from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

Freya Sponsorship Credits

2008-12-04T03:05:00.001-08:00

Freya Sponsorship Credits from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

Trance Nation

2008-12-03T07:24:00.000-08:00

The title says it all...

Fish and Chips!

2008-12-03T07:21:00.001-08:00

This is a storyboard I did for a French Fries ad.

Synaesthetic House Tune

2008-12-02T02:19:00.000-08:00

This is an experiment I did ages ago, tracking sound with colour, shape and movement. I think it works quite well and would like to develop the ideas in it much further!

Synaesthesia House Tune from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

Cassilas

2008-12-01T16:11:00.001-08:00

Here's a couple of idents years ago when I worked at Cartoon Network. The audio is all created from the original on screen clips. It was fiddly to make!

Cartoon Network, Cassilas from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

Little Twisted for Couch

2008-12-01T16:03:00.001-08:00

I created these characters for Couch, a fashion brand my brother runs.

Link to Couch

Das Bleep

2008-12-01T15:56:00.000-08:00

Here's some branding work for the 'legendary' Techno Art group Das Bleep

Das Bleep on MySpace

Biro Drawings

2008-12-01T15:12:00.000-08:00

These are some drawings I did years ago! I was a slightly obsessive teenager with a biro...

Akon, Freedom

2008-12-01T14:24:00.000-08:00

This is a commercial I created, from edit, to voice over (Trevor Nelson) to the graphics... Lounge room gangsta! At first I hated the track but it grows on you, it's got awesome Dr Who keyboards at the start!

Akon, Freedom from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

Ball Of Media!

2008-12-01T14:01:00.001-08:00

An illustration of a load of media devices done in a graffiti stylee...

Soooo cute!

2008-12-01T13:57:00.000-08:00

Here's an illustration of weally cute animals! As a strange nod to numerology, there is an odd number of everything in this picture...

Rave On Avon!

2008-12-01T13:54:00.000-08:00

This is an illustration I did for a friends drum and bass night. Strictly Old Skool!

Kasabian

2008-12-01T12:53:00.001-08:00

Here's a commercial I made for Kasabian's Empires album. Never never never try and do a 3D city made of cards in After Effects. I quite like the end result and it was done before the Apple Nano ads alright!

Kasabian Empires Commercial from Simon Russell on Vimeo.

The Walking City, The Datsuns

2008-12-01T12:52:00.001-08:00

This piece was a concept visual for a music video (which was never made). I thought it would be cool to have a walking city travel through a post apocalyptic landscape.

Trouble

2008-12-01T12:51:00.001-08:00

Trouble is a UK yoff TV Channel. I did some branding work for them, creating a series of on air ID's. This is one of them. All the elements link together seamlessly through the circular logo which starts and ends each section.

Trouble Ident from Simon Russell on Vimeo.
And here's the pitch board for the 10th Birthday reversion.

History

2008-12-01T12:48:00.000-08:00

I created this image for a pitch for The History Channel. Was a couple of days work but I quite like it. It's a collage of collected images from the webernet and some 3D I created.

September, Cry For You

2008-12-01T12:47:00.000-08:00

Here's a pitch I did for a reversioning of a video for Septembers terrible tune 'Cry For You'. Dirty and glossy!

Stag DOOOOOO!

2008-12-01T02:52:00.000-08:00

Andy 'straight arming' New Zealand Cava at his stag at the Wychwood festival. Surprisingly good picture considering I took it with my iPhone. Awesome to the power of sick!