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Everything you want to know about Lava in 89 seconds. And more...
Lava is...
A design agency founded in 1990. Read more...
QUOTES
AT THE MOMENT we are working on...
Bureau Spoorbouwmeester, Commit, UMC Utrecht, Gabia, Julius Clinical Research, Universiteit van Amsterdam, SKOR, Weekbladpers Media, De Baak.
Online shop
Books, posters, t-shirts and other items made by Lava are for sale here.
publishing
Lava regularly publishes books. More...
Def.
Our sister company Def. focusses on the design, production and implementation of magazines and identities. Website
Lava was founded in 1990 by creative director Hans Wolbers (the Netherlands, 1965). The current team exists of 10 talented designers and three projectmanagers. The agency is focused on creative strategy, editorial design and dynamic identities.
Editorial design
The agency has strong roots in editorial design. Due to the editorial involvement in magazine restylings, Lava was trained to think in content. Visual storytelling became the motto, instead of good looks for the sake of good looks alone. Working as visual journalists, Lava works with editors on innovative magazine formulas.
The speed of magazine publishing brought a dynamic into the studio that remains part of its culture to this day. With the creed 'next month, next issue' Lava developed a way of working based on continuous innovation of content while remaining true to the continuity and recognizability of the formula. This resulted in a design vision that combines continuity (next month, next issue) and change (next month, new content). The combination of continuity and change that was logical within the field of editorial design, lead to a unique vision on identity design. read more...
Dynamic identities
Visual identities are often only designed from the principle of continuity. Lava's vision is that a good visual identity should be able to incorporate the dynamics of a continually evolving organization. That is why Lava designs dynamic identities. Identities that are recognizable through their dynamics instead of their static repetition. In contrast with static identities who are in need of constant adaptation, dynamic identities grow with the organisation they represent.
The concept phase is explored with our clients, and the people inside the organization are often involved with the exploration and inventorying of the identity. Employees who will use the identity on a daily basis will be invited to build on the identity, instead of simply implementing it when finished. This participatory approach creates a network of identity ambassadors and is therefore by definition more successful than an identity that has been forced upon the organization 'top down'. read more...
Creative Strategies
The development of a visual identity or brand starts with a strong creative strategy. In contrast to many consultants, we develop strategies that are not packed with positioning models, market analysis and desktop research, but with creative strategic future scenarios. Visualizing the brand, making it concrete, inciting action. read more...