Assembly Bradford

posted by Amber Weaver February 5, 2018

Bradford, a once prosperous city in the north of England, according to Designer Lee Goater has a mindset and a personality like no other. Bradford is a multicultural city that embraces integration and inclusion by it’s creative communities. Just 20 minutes away from the bright lights of flourishing Leeds and has been recently likened to the relationship been Brooklyn and Manhattan, or the London of the north.

Taking advantage of empty units and low rents Assembly Bradford was set up in 2017 and offers an affordable co-working space packed full of inspiration and imagination. This fabulous space was set up by a publisher Haigh Simpson, social entrepreneur Martyn Johnston, graphic designer Matt Lamont and an interior designer David Craig, who were fed up with working from their kitchen tables. The space was constructed on a meagre budget, using repurposed materials such as polycarbonate sheeting and raw MDF along with hacked Ikea and reclaimed furniture. This process of repurposing embraces the DIY mentality of Bradford and the space has now been transformed into a workable space where creatives and others alike can progress in their fields.

Assembly boasts an astounding design library with over 1500 publications collected and generously shared by Matt Lamont, super fast broadband and a range of cost effective print resources. Running a variety of initiatives, including a monthly Risograph club and offering mentoring opportunities it’s become a great place to ‘make things and meet people’. The team looked to branding specialist and close friend Lee Goater for support and the creation of their visual identity. Abbas Mushtaq created the logo animation whilst working at Lee’s studio. So, if you’re about in Bradford, be sure to check this gem out!