Tomato (company)

Tomato is a multi-discipline design and film collective, founded in 1991 by legendary British designer John Warwicker, and creative partners Steve Baker, Dirk Van Dooren, Karl Hyde, Rick Smith, Simon Taylor and Graham Wood. Today, the collective features a worldwide group of directors, designers, artists, writers, producers and composers, developing cross-platform, multimedia projects that are commercial, artistic and research based. Among the primary media utilised by Tomato are commercial film and content, cross-media campaign development, branding, interactive and digital/app creation, corporate and location identity, print, product and packaging design, installations and motion graphics. Open collaboration is fundamental to the practice, and Tomato creates specific teams for every project, with its members directly creating the work and responsible to the client.

History

While rising to prominence for its influential cross-media collaboration with the band Underworld, Tomato broke into the mainstream through its title design work for the film Trainspotting, and further supported director Danny Boyle with the title design for his 2013 film Trance. Throughout its history, Tomato has sought projects that allow the collective to create breakthrough experiences across media types, and this has formed the backbone of its international reputation. This focus also allows Tomato to collaborate with clients and partners of virtually any size, from worldwide brands such as Adidas, Levi's, BBC, Absolut, Sony and Ford, to museums, cultural centres and architectural projects, as well as social campaigns for entities including the United Nations. The collective also includes commercial, music video and documentary directors, working solo and in teams on film concepts expressly developed for clients, or in tandem with agencies, artists and production partners.

Ethos

Along with creating and consulting directly for clients, Tomato's emphasis on collaboration makes its talents accessible to any number of partners, from advertising, design, digital and PR agencies to production companies, independent filmmakers, entrepreneurs, art galleries and artists. Projects are selected based on originality and creative opportunity, thus creating a level playing field that allows the collective to innovate forward without the strict adherence to budget level or exposure that dominates much of the industry. Growth is carefully monitored and controlled, so Tomato can continue to work along its own independent lines, while continuing to invest and develop as necessary.

Current

To date, Tomato has created and produced in more than 35 countries, and its work has been recognised with over 50 international awards in the fields of film, design, typography, music and art direction. Tomato also regularly engage in lectures on design, and have published two books, Process and Bareback, with a third book currently in development. In addition to its core studio in London, Tomato has a presence in Melbourne, and in 2012 opened its first wholly owned US entity, Tomato Studios, with a main studio in Los Angeles and field office in New York, led by Tomato partners Len Dickter and Graham Brennan. The US studio represents Tomato's intent for long term expansion in America, with full creative and production services. In early 2014, Tomato signed an agreement with production company Twist Films for exclusive director representation in the US, and co-development of creative projects.

Awards

A partial list of awards held by Tomato and its members (1991 to present):

• Arri “Beauty of Super 16” Award
• Australian Advertising Award (x3)
• Broadcasting Design of America (x2)
• Bronze Rose Award
• Cable Ace Award
• Campaign Press Award
• Creative Circle Award
• D&AD Silver Pencil (x2)
• DMA Award (x2)
• European Art Directors Award
• German Art Directors Club (x5)
• German Online Communication Prize
• Grafik Magazine, Studio of the Year
• InsideFlyer Award
• ISP Award
• Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, Grand Prize
• John Caples Award
• London International Advertising Award (x2)
• Media Week Award (x4)
• Midsummer Advertising Awards
• Moscow International Advertising Festival
• Music Week Magazine, Record Sleeve of Year
• North American Hand Built Bike Show, Best in Show (Design)
• Record Industry of Japan, Gold Disc for Music Video Direction
• Revolution New Media Award
• Sapporo Art Directors Club
• SPCA Award
• Tokyo Type Directors Club, Special Prize

Clients

A partial list of Tomato clients (1991 to present): Coca-Cola, Adidas, BBC, Absolut, Microsoft, Waterfront Seattle, Nike, Tresor, Sansiri, Sony, Underworld, London Olympics, Redchurch Brewery, Samsung, Sky, McDonalds, Pepsi, Dunhill, Reebok, BMW, Sydney Opera House, IBM, Smirnoff, General Motors, Idea Magazine, Guinness, Panasonic, Ford, Universal Pictures, Lyle and Scott, G-Shock, Nikon, Levi's, Uniqlo, Museion, CNN, Expo Zaragoza, Citroen, Aspesi, AOL, Field Operations, Blossom Hill, Lexus, Grazia Casa Magazine, Volvo, The Economist, Helly Hansen, Nokia, Cardew, Leftfield, State of California, Casio, Seiko, Clinique, Southbank Centre, TV Asahi, KDDI, Volkswagen, Kodak, Time Warner, Mac Cosmetics, MTV, Scottish Telecom, KDDI, Festival Place, Orange, Qwest, Gordon's Gin, Carroll Shelby Foundation, PBS, Affect-T, Work Not Work, Fuji Bikes, Government of Okinawa, United Nations

External links

• Tomato UK Website

• Tomato US Website