Masters of reality: dn&co present skewed urban perspectives in 'Co-Ordinates'

The Bermondsey-based brand consultancy firm dn&co have challenged 24 practices to re-imagine London in the form of a poster print as the basis of their ’Co-Ordinates’ challenge. Pictured: Build’s Dear London, I ____ You maps ’London through the mind of a Northerner, experiences experienced, life lived’

(Image credit: dn&co)

By Tom Howells

last updated 31 October 2022

in News

'Perhaps no city has ever been as mapped as London', suggests the brand consultancy firm dn&co as the basis of their 'Co-Ordinates' project. A willingly unverifiable statement perhaps, but certainly one with edifying currency – while far from the globe's oldest city (being founded by the Romans c.43 AD, it's pipped to that accolade by over 1000 years in Europe alone), London is a remarkable centre of historical, cultural and social significance, lauded by many and rarely surpassed.

Appropriate then, that dn&co have invited a host of willing participants to visually reimagine it via the medium of large-scale poster design. 'Whether you’re into complex infrastructure or pub crawls, or see the city as a playground or a battleground,' runs the remit, 'we challenge you to skew perspectives, distort to your reality and map to persuade.'

The project's 24 contributors include Pentagram, Applied Wayfinding, Build, Face37, Melissa Price, Magpie Studio, Studio Thomson and dn&co itself. Each practice was required to create an A1 sized artwork in two colours, to be printed on 270gsm paper (supplied by GF Smith, with no embossing) and verified by Peckham Print Studio. Of the 11 editions printed, each studio will keep a single copy – the remaining ten will be sold, with profits being donated to Streets of London, a charity that raises money for homelessness work in the capital. What's not to like?

The resulting designs are, inevitably, both beguiling and diverse: from the Yorkshire-based Build studio's breathlessly evocative typographical documentation of the city through the eyes (pen?) of a visiting northerner; to Pentagram's blown up reworking of the Geographer's A–Z Map Company insignia; Entente's abstracted explorations of structure and rhythm; Melissa Price's Public Information-chanelling geological exposition; and Studio Thomson's whimsical, irreverent riff on Routemaster signage. We can't wait to see the rest.

All of the designs will be on display as part of 'Co-Ordinates', from 23–27 September at dn&co's new Bermondsey gallery, Ground Floor Space.

Face37’s Happiness, London visualises the results of a survey held by the Greater London Authority — ’Whether you’re into complex infrastructure or pub crawls, or see the city as a playground or a battleground,’ runs the remit, ’we challenge you to skew perspectives, distort to your reality and map to persuade.’ Pictured: Face37’s *Happiness, London* visualises the results of a survey held by the Greater London Authority, in which city residents were asked to assess their overall happiness

Melissa Price’s Under London, a Public Information — London is far from the globe’s oldest city but it’s a remarkable centre of historical, cultural and social significance feted by many and rarely surpassed – making it ripe for a project like this. Pictured: Melissa Price’s *Under London*, a Public Information-chanelling exposition of the city’s geological make-up

Pentagram’s A–Z, a blown up reworking of the Geographer’s A–Z Map Company insignia — Each practice was required to create a single A1 sized artwork in two colours, to be printed on 270gsm paper (supplied by GF Smith, with no embossing) and verified by Peckham Print Studio. Pictured: Pentagram’s *A–Z*, a blown up reworking of the Geographer’s A–Z Map Company insignia

Studio Thomson’s World’s End, for which the practice took inspiration from retro Routemaster signage rolls — Each practice will keep a single copy, while the remaining ten will be sold, with profits being donated to Streets of London, a charity that raises money for homelessness work in the capital. Pictured: Studio Thomson’s *World’s End*, for which the practice took inspiration from retro Routemaster signage rolls, evoking emotions of being lost, learning and understanding

The Entente’s Skewed, a representation ’of how we perceive London, its inhabitants and its patterns.. — The designs will be on display as part of ’Co-Ordinates’, from 23–27 September at dn&co’s new Bermondsey gallery, Ground Floor Space. Pictured: The Entente’s *Skewed*, a representation ’of how we perceive London, its inhabitants and its patterns... We don’t identify it as a gridded or structured in terms of physicality, but how the city works’

INFORMATION

’Co-Ordinates’ will be on show from 23–27 September at Ground Floor Space. Imagery courtesy dn&co

ADDRESS

Ground Floor Space / dn&co
3 Tyers Gate
London, SE1 3HX

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Tom Howells is a London-based food journalist and editor. He’s written for Vogue, Waitrose Food, the Financial Times, The Fence, World of Interiors, Time Out and The Guardian, among others. His new book, An Opinionated Guide to London Wine, will be published by Hoxton Mini Press later this year.