Hubert and Snask close day two

Snask

Hubert explained the modest origins of his industrial design agency, previously known as Benjamin Hubert Ltd. Displaying simple yet effective statistics, he said that Layer’s designers dedicated approximately 44 days a year to free, unsuccessful pitches in the first five years of their work. Hubert posed a challenge to designers rather to use these unnecessary hours more effectively, as he suggested Layer has done through the following philanthropic projects:

• Change Box. This encouraged people to donate to charities, specifically Maggie’s – a charity dedicated to patients with Cancer and their families – through a more user-friendly money collection box.

• Scale. This helps people to listen better in open spaces by introducing free-standing, modular, sound-absorbing structures.
• Worldbeing. This wristband monitors users’ level of Carbon Dioxide emissions and informs them of alternative, more environmentally friendly options when it comes to consumption and travel.

• ARK. Layer has been working in conjunction with Acts of Random Kindness to redesign their money collection box formed in the shape of an ark. The ark, after being filled with donations over time, is intended to be given to a charity or individual of one’s choice. Hubert’s talk ended with over 2,000 arks falling at his feet as a demonstration of the impact that this project could have.

In 5 years 126 free concepts pitched, 65 produced. @benjaminhubert1 interrogates this industry norm #designindaba pic.twitter.com/DfUKTiDg6O

— Design Indaba (@designindaba) February 18, 2016

Introduced as “rockstars by night and non-conforming, graphic designers by day”, Snask took to the stage. They had the audience captivated from the start as Öst arrived in a Mercedes-Benz while the agency’s rock band performed live. Their presentation was a mix of anecdotes and videos of their agency life, rock and roll interludes as well as career tips. Öst elaborated on some of these main points:

• Make enemies while you gain fans

• Don’t mix rockn’roll and professional
• Brand yourself damnit
• Push your ideas

• Cost control

Snask’s address ended with a group selfie consisting of the audience wearing bright pink masks – their novel entry ticket into the official Design Indaba after-party hosted by Snask.

Watch Snask's intro video - via Design Indaba