NODE Berlin Oslo

 

Staff: Anders Hofgaard, Serge Rompza and Vladimir Llovet Casademont
Base: Berlin and Oslo

 

The distinct feature of the work done at Node lies in its relational approach to graphic design. The graphic designers that make up Node reflect a lot about the way they work. A number of colleagues see Node as a conceptual design studio. However, Node may also be seen as a strategic studio, seeking to relate to people in projects where design can happen.

 

This is why their portfolio, so far, contains many cultural projects; both in the private and public sectors, as well as with corporate and individual clients. This focus does not reflect a desire to specialize on cultural projects, but reflects the mere fact that this context affords and requires a degree of freedom. The cultural context requires a degree of finding out about the project -- or, design research -- that affords the responsive way of working that constitutes the signature of this studio.

 

In this sense, Node is a research-driven studio motivated by an appetite to do interesting projects, with interesting people and interesting learning-outcomes for all parties involved. The studio is high-end with regard to the contextual relevance of their design products, and high-edge with regard to the process offer their clients; using visual communication to land and re-vitalize corporate intelligence. This is why the graphic designers at Node do not use their project to enhance and develop a particular style, but rather as an occasion to increase the studio's competence in context-sensitive visual communication.

 

If it were to be expressed in words, their portfolio would comprise field-notes of the unique, an experimental record of tests, and the annals of reflective practice from the efforts of dreaming up a synthesis. But since they work with graphic design -- rather than text -- the activities of the studio can be best characterized as a form of design authoring, informed by a documentary attention to the needs of their clients.

 

In sum, the people at NODE Berlin Oslo run a hotel in their graphic design studio, in which they host customer- and project-identities. The way they work fosters a strong sense of belonging to the studio among the graphic designers that work there.

 

-- Theodor Barth