We looked at different examples of collaberative groups to find out how they work together one being ContainerPLUS is a multidisciplinary art and design collective which is based in london they specialise in creating playful creative fantasy worlds. They create both 2D and 3D designs.

containerplus is a combination of illustration, photography, set design, animation and they work in a performative way. as well as doing client based project they also work on personal experimental pieces, which enables them to explore techniques and develop new ideas, which then informs there commercial work.

HOW DID YOU START? WHO ARE THE FOUNDING MEMBERS?

Container was set up by Nicola Carter and Luise Vormittag in the Winter of 2002/2003. We had met
while studying at Camberwell University of the Arts, graduating in the Summer of 2002. We were
working separately at the time. Our work was quite distinct but we shared a sense of humour, a vision
of what we wanted to do and we both liked to boogie. Our first joint project was an exhibition at the
Notting Hill Arts Club, which got us nominated as one of Creative Review’s “Creative Futures 2003”.
We were very lucky and got to work on a broad range of projects over the next years, ranging from
editorial commissions, book covers, interior design, collaborating with fashion photographers,
drawings for online interactive animation, street art, product design, painting over a brand new
car, creating the identity for a new MTV show, etc.

2007 saw us getting increasingly interested in the third dimension: we started experimenting with set
design and installations. We also started incorporating performative elements in our exhibitions and
began thinking of the possibility of creating a 360 degree experience with our artwork, rather than just
an image on a page. So when we met photographer Patricia Niven and set designers “Lightning and
Kinglyface” and , things really started falling into place.

Patricia Niven has been working as a photographer since 2001. Specialising in fashion photography
and portraiture she has been working for clients in the music, advertising and publishing industry. In
2003, Patricia was awarded a highly commended in the American Express/Independent on Saturday
Fashion Photography Competition and in 2004 was selected to show in the Schweppes Photographic
Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery.

Lightning and Kingly Face was founded by Anna Fulmine and Victoria Shahrokh in early 2007. They
specialized in set design for shop windows as well as for live music events. We worked on them on
a string of successful projects throughout 2008 - including the TV BAFTA afterparty, the Topshop
event and our stint at the V&A museum. 2009 sees us continue working with them and an increasing
number of other 3D designers on a freelance basis.

More than anything we share a joint vision, a sense of where we want to be going and we
inspire each other with our enthusiasm. In January 2008 ContainerPLUS was born.

HOW DO YOU WORK AS A TEAM?

The three of us have our distinct roles - we each have one creative role (eg Queen of Illustration) and
one or more administrative and operational roles (eg. Empress of Bookkeeping). We have biweekly
meetings for team updates and gossip. We bring eachother biscuits and go rollerskating. Every project
has one dedicated teamleader. We start every day with a tapdance-routine in our studio. (Ok, that is not
100% true..)

WHAT INFLUENCES YOU? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

Many people liken our illustrative work to Aubrey Beardsley and Art Nouveau. Undoubtedly, both have
influenced our style, but it is not stuff we spend a lot of time looking at. Generally we aim to create
something that on first impression is beautiful and elegant, but upon closer inspection reveals a lot
of absurd detail, such as fat squirrels in bikinis, a dog dressed up as a devil, a man wearing a chicken
costume.

Our work is all hand-rendered and we like infusing our creations with the “charm” of imperfection.
We generally do this by creating an endless expanse of mess and then sticking it all back together,
either with actual glue or in Photoshop. We admire really neat and clean people, but we know we will
never be part of that world.

We usually start every project by having a long conversation mixing our ideas with the latest gossip,
looking at all sorts of magazines ranging from Art Monthly to Heat. Somewhere in that conversation,
in between our mediocre jokes, misunderstandings and a pile of magazines lies the seed of an idea.
Once the idea is born it develops almost independently, growing across the paper, the wall, the screen.
It becomes 3D and eventually takes on a life of its own, making us its slaves.

http://www.containerplus.co.uk/

they have many clients including

Charles Worthington

Computer Arts Magazine
Diesel
Dorling Kindersley
Grazia
Guardian - The Guide
MTV
NHS
Olay
Philadelphia
Pulse
Q magazine
Selfridges
Sony
Topshop / 9PR
Volkswagen