About us

We are a Manchester-based graphic design studio working in the fields of exhibition design, museums, heritage interpretation, architectural graphics, visual identities and campaigns. We work collaboratively and have a high attention to detail. We shape projects with graphically-led ideas from the start. 

We are a small core team, bringing in and partnering with like-minded specialists to work with us when needed. We tend to get to know our clients very well and learn how to work best with each of them, adapting our methods to suit the project, budget and situation.

We have a successful record developing and delivering projects ranging in value from a few thousand pounds to working as part of large teams on multi-million pound capital projects.

Our work has contributed to projects and clients being awarded and acknowledged at the highest level, including the Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design, Civic Trust Awards, Museum & Heritage Awards and Kids in Museums Family Friendly Awards.

In all our work we seek to create inventive and engaging ways of communicating messages and experiences. Ultimately, we believe content and form are intrinsically linked and that the best designs are born out of collaborative partnerships sharing common goals and aspirations.

The projects we seek to work on are always projects that we believe are ultimately a force for good.

Sustainability and climate action

We recognise our responsibility as designers to advocate for environmental sustainability through our work and partnerships. We are a signatory of Design Declares! committing to reduce our climate impact and we have partnered with SME Climate Hub pledging to halve our emissions by 2030 and achieve Netzero by 2050. 

Our estimated total emissions per year is currently 3.31 tonnes CO2e (based on our data for 2022 and 2023). The majority of this (68%) is Scope 3 emissions (supply chain) and we have an action plan to focus our commitment across different categories to reduce, offset and eliminate our emission in line with our pledges and commitments. The other 32% is Scope 2 (indirect emissions) and relates to the district heating that supplies our studio. Our electricity supply is 100% from renewable sources.

David Sudlow

David founded the studio in 2014. Before that David worked for the London office of Ralph Appelbaum Associates (2004–7) and with Nick Bell Design (2007–12). Between 2004 and 2007 he was a visiting tutor in graphic design at the University of the Arts London and dieAngewandte, Vienna. He has an MA in Communication Art & Design from the Royal College of Art and at BA (Hons.) in Typo/Graphic & Media Design from the London College of Printing (now the London College of Communication at UAL). David is a member of the Museums Association.

Richard Heap

Richard joined the studio in 2018. Prior to that he worked for the British Council and Studio Domus Architects in Guatemala City, where he lived between 2012 and 2015. Richard has worked across advertising, exhibition design, brand and campaign design, working both ‘client-side’ and in design studios. He studied Politics and International Relations at the University of Lancaster.

Who we’ve worked with

British Library
Blackpool Council (Showtown)
Ely Museum
English Heritage
Eureka! Science + Discovery
Historic Dockyard Chatham
Canterbury City Council
City of Lincoln Council
Library of Birmingham
Lister Old Library, Liverpool
Museum of Science + Industry
The National Archives
National Maritime Museum
National Museums NI
National Railway Museum
National Trust
Old Royal Naval College
Oxford City Council
Oxford House, London
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Paddington Development Trust
Peterborough Museum
The Quakers
Royal Collections Trust
Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Shakepseare Company
Science Museum Group
Showtown, Blackpool
Southwell Minster
Stockport Council
St James’s Piccadilly
St Mary Magdalene’s Paddington
Toynbee Hall, London
Ulster Museum
University of Birmingham
University of Greenwich
V&A
Wicksteed Park