Mapping Matters is a collection of studios, practitioners, projects, books and artefacts that align with my values and future ambitions in the design industry – collating them into an archive of resources and references that suggest the direction my working practice may take.
My practice is deeply rooted in materiality and research-led approaches, forming the foundation of my creative and conceptual exploration. I am driven by a hands-on engagement with materials, allowing process and experimentation to inform the direction of my work. Research plays a crucial role in my practice, enabling me to contextualize my ideas and develop interesting work that is insightful.
A dedicated studio space is imperative to developing my work. Having a physical environment to claim, inhabit, and share provides the structure and creative community I require to learn professionally – working at home every day just isn’t for me!
Staying within the North of England feels significant to my personal and working identity. Born and bred in Northumberland, studied in Leeds, my work is inherently shaped by the cultural, historic and growing creative landscape of the North.
A self-led studio working in London primarily for other creatives. His work is rooted in materiality, interpretating clients’ ideas in meticulous detail. His hands on approach and small workspace feels like an attractive environment to work in.
A small font foundry based Manchester with an extensive catalogue of fonts and clientele. Their fonts vary in style dramatically but remain bedded in research and cultural significance. Their long-held relationship with clients in the sporting and football industry connects with my own interests and ambitions.
A type foundry based in the North East with experience in designing modernist fonts, often developing fonts with futuristic elements. Their work has been featured widely, not more so than on digital platforms, playing prominent roles in the gaming industry through Tom Clancy and Fifa. Their typefaces are built upon significant layers of research, development and considered design decisions, helping them become time-less.
A small creative agency from Copenhagen whose brand work is predominantly type driven, blending utilitarian and contemporary approaches to create elegantly minimal outcomes.
A small agency and studio in Manchester with a history of creating intriguing and cohesive design systems. According to their socials, they work at the “intersection of insight and instinct” – I feel this approach connects to the development of my work.
A small agency and studio in Manchester with a history of creating intriguing and cohesive design systems. According to their socials, they work at the “intersection of insight and instinct” – I feel this approach connects to the development of my work.
A small brand agency based in Manchester whose work revolves around perfectly executed research to best reflect the community they and their clients serve. Their B-Corp status suggest their ambition to work sustainably and ethically as well as the values of their clientele.
A designer most prominently known for his ‘Swiss-grit’ typography, seen in the likes of Raygun and Blah Blah Blah. His work disorders the modernist aesthetic of Swiss by introducing a range of media, materials and physically manipulative processes. Ever since I began practising graphic design, my processes have aligned with Ashworth, as I feel that this connection with materiality and grit runs deeper for me than an aesthetic.
A small Ausie studio who acknowledges indigenous cultures influence on their work and apply this influence into who they work for.
A self-led studio working in London primarily for other creatives. His work is rooted in materiality, interpretating clients’ ideas in meticulous detail. His hands on approach and small workspace feels like an attractive environment to work in.
A small brand agency based in Manchester whose work revolves around perfectly executed research to best reflect the community they and their clients serve. Their B-Corp status suggest their ambition to work sustainably and ethically as well as the values of their clientele.
A designer most prominently known for his ‘Swiss-grit’ typography, seen in the likes of Raygun and Blah Blah Blah. His work disorders the modernist aesthetic of Swiss by introducing a range of media, materials and physically manipulative processes. Ever since I began practising graphic design, my processes have aligned with Ashworth, as I feel that this connection with materiality and grit runs deeper for me than an aesthetic.
A small agency from London, run by Paul Belford. Their work is rooted in intelligent research which expands into a variety of outcomes for a wide range of clients. They tend to lead with physical material process to make creatively, innovative solutions, such as that for ‘Spudos’ rebrand.
A small brand agency based in Manchester whose work revolves around perfectly executed research to best reflect the community they and their clients serve. Their B-Corp status suggest their ambition to work sustainably and ethically as well as the values of their clientele.
A small design studio in Manchester who are massive contributors to the creative culture in the North and across the country. Their extensive experience in placemaking demonstrates their expertise in better connecting the client and their communities and values.
A small Ausie studio who acknowledges indigenous cultures influence on their work and apply this influence into who they work for.
A small font foundry based Manchester with an extensive catalogue of fonts and clientele. Their fonts vary in style dramatically but remain bedded in research and cultural significance. Their long-held relationship with clients in the sporting and football industry connects with my own interests and ambitions.
A small agency from London, run by Paul Belford. Their work is rooted in intelligent research which expands into a variety of outcomes for a wide range of clients. They tend to lead with physical material process to make creatively, innovative solutions, such as that for ‘Spudos’ rebrand.
A small design studio in Manchester who are massive contributors to the creative culture in the North and across the country. Their extensive experience in placemaking demonstrates their expertise in better connecting the client and their communities and values.
A self-led studio working in London primarily for other creatives. His work is rooted in materiality, interpretating clients’ ideas in meticulous detail. His hands on approach and small workspace feels like an attractive environment to work in.
A small design studio in Manchester who are massive contributors to the creative culture in the North and across the country. Their extensive experience in placemaking demonstrates their expertise in better connecting the client and their communities and values.
A small creative agency from Copenhagen whose brand work is predominantly type driven, blending utilitarian and contemporary approaches to create elegantly minimal outcomes.
A type foundry based in the North East with experience in designing modernist fonts, often developing fonts with futuristic elements. Their work has been featured widely, not more so than on digital platforms, playing prominent roles in the gaming industry through Tom Clancy and Fifa. Their typefaces are built upon significant layers of research, development and considered design decisions, helping them become time-less.
Ellis Bradley ©2025