90 TROLLBÄCK + COMPANY
Creative directors Jakob Trollbäck and Joe Wright of New York-based Trollbäck + Company are responsible for some big, heavily techno projects. Specializing in motion graphics and branding, the firm recently created content for one of the largest video walls in the world, dazzling the lobby of the new Frank Gehry-designed Manhattan InterActiveCorp headquarters. Yet when it came time for self-promotion, they decided to keep things simple.

Trollbäck, Wright and three staff designers collaborated on four sets of bright little buttons. Of the medium, Wright says, “They have such a great history through music, politics and art. Growing up in London, we all had them on our coats and backpacks. It is such a small, simple object, but a great canvas for design.” Trollbäck is Swedish, Wright is British, and with people in the office from at least five other countries, the staff is a global bunch. The “aviary” collection reflects this diversity of nationalities through images of various national birds. “The chicken is Paul,” Wright reveals, meaning designer Paul Schlacter. How many people would guess that the chicken is the Swiss national bird? “We started a button craze,” Wright says. “If you lick them you get high.” by Romy Ashby

Trollbäck + Company | Creative Directors: Joe Wright, Jakob Trollbäck | Designers: Christina Rüegg, Paul Schlacter, Tolga Yildiz | Producer: Marisa Fiechter | Client: Trollbäck + Company | Contact: www.trollback.com