Build–

We are not We Are Build.
We are Build.

We are a creative studio.

We are a small group of thinkers and doers, producing original, striking and mindfully executed design for a wide range of clients; we help to articulate sometimes complex ideas about themselves and their brands.
We are specialists at creating bold and memorable work that helps businesses stand proudly apart from their competitors, giving them a long-lasting presence with real integrity.
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We are driven by our core philosophy of ‘intelligent design, exceptionally made’. Put simply, it is clever thinking made real, with an emphasis on quality, detail and a careful consideration for the way we do it.

We are proud to work with clients both big and small, including Nokia, Getty Images, Sony Playstation, Nike, Design Museum London, D&AD, and a host of numerous smaller independents.

We are always looking for new ways to tell stories, applying our approach across the spectrum, as brand identity, product design, film, and printed communications.
We are believers in the new.
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We are based on the far fringes of fashionable East London, in the not so fashionable Walthamstow, and we like it that way.

We are Build. Build is Michael C. Place (Creative Director), Nicky Place (Business Director), Joe Luxton (Designer), Sophie James (Studio Assistant) Brockmann (Sphynx Cat1) & Betty (Sphynx Cat2).

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We are sometimes asked to exhibit works, talks or be involved in events around the world, including in Tokyo, New York, San Francisco, Paris, London, Sydney, Dublin, Wellington and Limerick, Ireland.

We Are Trusting: Of our instincts. When combined with our experience, it makes for unique and powerful work.

We Are Inquisitive: Because we believe it produces the best work for our clients.

We Are Challengers: Of preconceptions. It makes for a much more interesting world.


We Are Adept: At making abstract concepts tangible and visible.

We Are Focused: On the future; we believe in the new, but respect our collective heritage.


We Are Believers: In the power of good design. Design can influence people, change lives and make things better.


We Are Thinkers: A good idea is a powerful thing, and we use intelligence to tell a story.

We Are Doers: Careful creative output is part of the story. But it’s not all bells, whistles, & foils- sometimes a simple execution is the strongest.

We Are Responsible: We always aim to source materials and suppliers that are both ethical and sustainable. We believe this should be a given.

We Are Not Afraid: A point of difference is not built from doing things the same way as everyone else. There is great value in being different.

Michael C. Place studied Graphic Design at Newcastle College from 1988—1990 and makes no secret of the fact that he left early to follow his dream of designing record sleeves.
Michael worked first with Trevor Jackson in London before moving back up North to work with influential graphics studio The Designers Republic in Sheffield (tDR), where he worked for the best part of 9 years.

Whilst there Michael produced some of the best-known & seminal works of tDR that, although always anonymous, became well-known amongst followers of the studio. In 2000 Michael took a break from the design world and went on a 10-month world trip, returning to set up Build in 2001. Michael features in the 2007 film ‘Helvetica-A Documentary Film’, has spoken at numerous conferences worldwide, & has several times been a judge at the prestigious D&AD global awards.
Michael is the Creative Director.

Nicky Place studied Graphic Design & Illustration at (then) Liverpool Polytechnic from 1987—1990. After graduation, Nicky began working as a computer-game artist for the fledgling games industry & in the early 1990s was appointed to work as both a game artist and team leader on the team developing one of the few launch titles for the Sony PlayStation. The game was Wipeout and became widely acknowledged as the ‘game that made gaming cool’. Nicky went on to lead the art teams for subsequent editions of the game (also creating the intro sequence for Wipeout2097), followed by a stint as studio Art Manager at Sony Leeds, before leaving in 2000 to go travelling. In 2001, Nicky returned to the world of games becoming Art Manager of the hugely successful SingStar series for Sony Playstation2, leaving in 2006 to join Build full-time.
Nicky is the Business Director.