Mainframe - London Studio Visits

On a recent University trip to London we visited the creative production studio Mainframe. The Mainframe studio works in Motion Graphics and animation for tv ads, promos and branded creative content. Some of there projects reach platforms for cinema, online and mobile media. Their clients include BBC, BBC Radio , Channel 4, Five, Virgin Media Television etc. Our visit was hosted by Adam Jenns, founder and Managing director at Mainframe. Adam brought us around the studio and explained that their studio holds full time designers and also free lance designers that work within a different area of the studio. The main bulk of the studio held about 10 to 15 staff, where they seemed to be working on a variety of projects. (by what was displayed on their screens it seemed to range from 3D projects to illustrative work.)

The environment seemed relaxed and creative and I really liked the fact that there was a quite a large group of designers working closely. I think this environment would be great, because as an individual you would be able to bounce concept of one-and-other and get advise/feedback.

From the short introduction of the studio we moved to a smaller area/booth which looked like half a storage area and half render suite. Here he shown us the current house showreel. I was really impressed with their showreels as it visualized the range of skills with mainframe. He moved on to show and explain some current projects such as the Nickelodeon promo rebrand. He explained the relationship with Nickelodeon saying that they area an on-going client so there was no pitching involved in this case. Furthermore he told us that most work and brief they take on is from reoccurring clients such as Nickelodeon. The meeting and visit to Mainframe was very relaxed and casual, reflective of their working environment. Adam went on to give some advice in regards to our portfolios and showreels suggesting to keep this all simple and easy. He suggested that showreels should just show our best work and to keep them short and to avoid repeating content throughout. Then suggested that a blog style online portfolio works well and can easily be found and referred to, also can be easily be updated. His main advise was to keep easily accessible and simple explaining that companies can be overloaded with emails showreels and the whole process needs to be quick.

Overall I found this visit and exciting experience. To see a fully working studio producing high end work was fascinating and Adams advice was very constructive and helpful. This visit helped me analyze and think of what situation and environment I would like to work in in the future. I feel that obviously as a new comer to the industry the working environment at mainframe would be perfect, as working closely with colleges in a team you are able to support each other and work to a high standard.