Hasta La Ideas

Jiggery Pokery‘s window display, as viewed from inside YCN’s new studio/gallery/library space

The Young Creative Network (YCN) has opened its newly renovated headquarters at 72 Rivington Street in London. While it functions as the YCN studio base, the ground floor will provide an exhibition space for designers, illustrators and other emerging creatives and also house a lending library which is now open to the public…

“This is our first physical space,” says YCN’s Nick Defty. “It will enable us to constantly showcase the outcome of YCN projects, to invite creatives we represent to present work within and, importantly, to promote and sell the work of emerging designers. We’re in the process of putting together a collection of products – all made by emerging talent – to be presented and sold in the space.”

The space itself has been designed by The Klassnik Corporation, the London based interdisciplinary design practice focussed on architectural research, and contains a series of interconnected, mobile display units; a kit of parts including plinths, vitrines, shelves, walls, and steps that can be easily configured to suit different uses.

“Responding to the way YCN operates, the interior of 72 Rivington Street is designed to enable creativity by providing a functional environment adaptable to the needs of its users,” says Tomas Klassnik. (Klassnik collaborated with Peter Marigold and Oscar Magnus Narud from OKAY Studio and Rob Thuring who collectively manufactured and installed the project.)

The space will also function as a lending library, stocking a wide range of books. “The books and magazines are broadly intended to be stimulating and inspiring; currently ranging from Tim Key’s 25 Poems, 3 Recipes, and 32 Other Suggestions to Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. There are also lots of art and design titles, many kindly provided by publishers such as Gestalen. We’ll be announcing some Guest Librarians soon who will pick out ten of their favourite titles, to be stocked in the library.”

Inspired by the shape and markings of the building, a graphic identity for 72 Rivington Street has also been created by Eat Sleep Work / Play (see below). It’s being used on posters, membership cards and a dedicated website (bottom image) for the building, which was produced in-house by YCN, at 72rivingtonstreet.com.

A case study about how the identity was created (it’s based on the look of the front of the building) can be seen here.

All photos by Guy Archard.