Container Plus

Image accessed at http://www.superfuture.com/supernews/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/container-plus.jpg.

Container Plus are a multidisciplinary group of designers. It was set up in 2002 by Louise Vormiteag and Nicola Carter. Louise recently visited the college I attend to give a lecture giving us valuble advice on collaboration.

They attended the same uni and during their second year collaborated together on a project which involved making a short film. They went on to win a prize for this film. This experience led to them forming a partnership after they had graduated. They had no specific plan except that they were friends, worked well together, respected each other, had different styles and shared a high level of commitment. They wanted to stick together and believed that two portfolio's were better than one in the 'real world'. They did a lot of cold calling and visited art directors etc showing each others work. Louise Vormiteag informed us that you have to be prepared to find your own way in the creative world and that there is no secret formula to being successful.

Some projects they have worked on include:-

An Illustration project for Selfridges. This was a competition that they won for designing a window set. They then had to carry out the work for the actual window display. For this they also worked with a fashion designer who designed the outfits they wore as they carried out their work. The public could stand outside the store and watch them drawing the window display. Louise told us that the funniest and most memorable moment was when a group of oriental people stood and took photos of them working! It made them feel special. Also winning a competition like this and having the chance to work for Selfridges was quite something in terms of their success. After completing the window they were then asked to design for the interior walls of the cafe in Selfridges. This experience led to them merging styles and learning about each others strengths. They copied and inspired each other throughout. Louise Vormiteag mentioned that now it is hard to tell their work apart.

In 2005 they did a car launch for Volkswagon Fox. Image found at http://1.bp.blogspot.com/tHHOLqKyULK/Su8gUfVn4VI/AAAAAAAAAgM/ZeskNtl-ei4/s400/vw-artcar.jpg This was a really good project as apparently there is no expense spared for car launches. Volkswagon took over a whole hotel in Copenhagan solely for artists and designers that had been commissioned to work on the launch including themselves. Twenty young artists from around the world were also given four rooms to design in this hotel, Container Plus being one of the chosen artists. Image found at http://1.bp.blogspot.com/tHHOLqKyULK/Su8gbKk10v\IAAAAAAAAAgO/-5Ggi9twGUY/s400/pf01.jpg

Louise talked about the good relationships she made throughout the project with all the other workers including builders etc as she stressed you all need each other at some point!

Container Plus has also done work for MTV Denmark, an animation video and a commercial project for a shampoo brand.

There came a point when Container Plus decided to change their way of working. They wanted to become a group of 5 instead of 2. The catalyst for this came about after working on a big art project which involved illustrations, photography, set design, fashion and models all working together. It was called the Haunted House and Evil twins project. The collaboration worked so well that they felt they wanted to formalize the relationship as they believed they could cut corners with each others knowledge and experience. They tried it for a while but unfortunately it did not work out. They spent a year working together and then separated. Louise believes relations broke down due to there being too many channels of communication. Also the girls they had collaborated with were younger than them and had different levels of experience and commitment. The group became too complicated and it seemed harder for them to ever reach a decision. So in the end they became a team of three which now works well as they are all of similar age, have the same level of commitment, they do not socialize together and keep their private lives separate, they do not have big ego's and are level headed.

She also told us a lot about what their work involved and passed on numerous tips including :-

The nature of what Container Plus do is to solve creative problems.

To work with other people in business you have to get along and deal with the situation.

How to collaborate - test people before you commit to a long term commitment.

You have to remain calm if problems occur.

You need a good sense of humour.

You need reliabiity and commitment to be successful.

Work out money issues before they become a problem e.g. have time sheets to log everybody's hours.

Get rid of your ego if you have one - the group is more important!

Do not bring personal issues to work.

When asked where Container Plus get their ideas from they told us that they have in depth conversations with a variety of people and listen to what they have to say.

Their personal influences come from installation artists such as Greg Oshneider and Mike Nelson. Louise Vormiteag is interested in narratives and fragments that the environment is embued with and also 'Punchdrunk' which is her theatrical performance side.

Container Plus keep their work fresh by having practitioner sessions where other artists/designers etc come in to their studio and show their portfolio. They believe these sessions are very important and will put a side a day each month to do this.

I thoroughly enjoyed the lecture given by Louise Vormitaeg and she expressed so much energy and was clearly passionate about her work. It was also very informative and interesting to learn about collaboration.