From a pop-up tavern in the Graphic Design Museum in Breda to a special edition conceptual tome: Browns’ forward-thinking approach and handling of work is like no other independent design studio.
Since its founding in 1998 Browns has created work with weight and cultural significance. Purposefully side-stepping the tidal trends of stylised design, the studio tenders a fresh aesthetic, applying an artist’s sensibility to a two- and three-dimensional design context. The studio abstracts stimulation from all strands of culture and our commonplace surroundings, to produce sensitive work with a purity of form that has a shared relationship to the world around it.
The spirit of Browns is encompassed by its founder, Jonathan Ellery, a conceptual artist who creates thought-provoking, narrative-based works through an assortment of materials. The studio also has its own publishing house, Browns Editions, which, since its founding in 2005, has designed and published collectable printed matter, sustaining the tradition of print and book art in a 21st century arena. It is this synthesis of studio, publishing house and conceptual artist, together with an overview from creative director Claire Warner, that strengthens all in-house creativity, crafting a contemporary design studio that functions like no other. Browns, Browns Editions and Jonathan Ellery reside down a cobbled path in south-east London.
They work with many esteemed clients from around the world and have received numerous notable awards, most recently Creative Review magazine’s ‘Design Studio of the Year 2011’.
Lydia Fulton, design/art writer
Browns
www.brownsdesign.com
Browns Editions
www.brownseditions.com
Jonathan Ellery
www.jonathanellery.com
Selected Clients
- 4 Radio
- BAFTA
- Bluewater
- British Council
- Channel 4
- D&AD
- Defra
- Demos
- Design Council
- Dries Van Noten
- England 2018
- Film London
- Hiscox
- Howard Smith Paper
- Invesco
- Invesco Perpetual
- Jerwood
- John Jones
- Land Securities plc
- Lynne Hunt
- MacDonald Egan
- Marks & Spencer
- Motorola
- Mulberry
- Norwich Union
- Photonica
- Powergen plc
- Royal Mail
- SABMiller
- Smith & Nephew
- The Climate Group
- The Office of Tony Blair
- Wapping Project
- Whitbybird
Awards 2011
D&AD/
In Book
Graphic Design
Catalogues and Brochures
Worldy Cares and Love Affairs
Jonathan Ellery
Art Directors’ Club of New York/
Silver
Book Design
Ama Dablam – A Journey of Ascent
Invesco Perpetual
Tokyo Type Directors Club/
In Book
Editorial and Book Design
What Happens Is Good
In Book
Posters
V&A London Poster
In Book
Marque and Stationery
John Jones
Creative Review The Annual/
Design Studio of the Year
Browns
Big Bang watch
Jonathan Ellery
Bell & Ross
Wallpaper
Worldy Cares and Love Affairs
Jonathan Ellery
Mulberry
2010
D&AD/
In Book
Graphic Design
Annual Reports
Hiscox Report and Accounts
2007
In Book
Graphic Design
Catalogues and Brochures
Ellery's Theory of Neo-conservative Creationism. A Catalogue
In Book
Book Design
Thrice Removed
In Book
Photography
Thrice Removed
Art Directors’ Club of New York/
Merit
Corporate and Promotional Design
Ellery’s Theory of Neo-conservative Creationism. A Catalogue
Graphis/
Gold
Annual Reports
Hiscox Report and Accounts
2007
Silver
Annual Reports
Hiscox Report and Accounts
2008
2009
D&AD/
In Book
Graphic Design
Howard Smith Paper
Graphic Design and Print Awards
Posters
Creative Review The Annual/
Hiscox Report and Accounts
2007
2008
We had a rest from entering awards
2007
Art Directors’ Club of New York/
Merit
Annual Reports
Channel 4
Merit
Editorial
87 Ellery
iD Annual Design Review/
Design Distinction
Graphics
Mother's Necklace
Design Distinction
Graphics
87 Ellery
Creative Review The Annual/
A British Graphic Design and Print Landscape
Literature
2006
Design Week/
Winner
Editorial Design
136 Points of Reference
Finalist
Editorial Design
NorthSouthEastWest
Finalist
Promotional Brochures
Think4
The Thinking of Paul Davis
2005
D&AD/
In Book
Graphic Design
Brochures and Catalogues
Board Meeting
In Book
Graphic Design
Brochures and Catalogues
God Knows
In Book
Graphic Design
Annual Reports
Channel 4
In Book
Editorial and Book Design
Complete Books
Dries Van Noten
In Book
Illustration
Individual
Channel 4
Art Directors’ Club of New York/
Silver
Editorial
Blame Everyone Else
Distinctive Merit
Annual Reports
Channel 4
Merit
Posters
A Beautiful Catastrophe
iD Annual Design Review/
Design Distinction
Graphics
Channel 4
Design Week/
Commended
Print Design
RGB
Finalist
Annual Reports
Channel 4
Finalist
Editorial Design
Dries Van Noten
Finalist
Posters
A Beautiful Catastrophe
2004
D&AD/
In Book
Graphic Design
Annual Reports
Channel 4
Art Directors’ Club of New York/
Distinctive Merit
Annual Reports
Channel 4
Design Week/
Commended
Annual Reports
Channel 4
Finalist
Editorial
Blame Everyone Else
Finalist
Posters
Channel 4
2003
D&AD/
In Book
Graphic Design
Posters
Love & Peace
Art Directors’ Club of New York/
Merit
Posters
A Walk Through Books
Design Week/
Winner
Editorial Design
Books
Fogeys
2002
D&AD/
Silver nomination
Graphic Design
Posters
Pandora's Box
In Book
Graphic Design
Posters
Coney Island
In Book
Graphic Design
Crafts
Pandora's Box
In Book
Photography Books
Fogeys
In Book
Corporate Identity
National Interpreting Service
Art Directors’ Club of New York/
Silver
Best Book
Fogeys
Merit
Book Covers
Fogeys
Merit
Posters
Coney Island
Design Week/
Finalist
Posters
Pandora's Box
2001
D&AD/
In Book
Graphic Design
Crafts
Matches
In Book
Graphic Design
Posters
Go
Design Week/
Finalist
Editorial Design
Books
Faith
2000
D&AD/
In Book
Graphic Design
Brochures and Catalogues
Blue Space
In Book
Graphic Design
Posters
European Clichés
Art Directors’ Club of New York/
Nomination
Best Book
Minus Sixteen
Design Week/
Winner
Editorial Design
Books
Flowers
Winner
Posters
European Clichés
Highly Commended
Editorial Design
Books
Minus Sixteen
Finalist
Editorial Design
Magazines
Communicators in Business
1999
D&AD/
In Book
Graphic Design
Crafts
Minus Sixteen
Design Week/
Finalist
Editorial Design
Books
Marmalade