Paul Farrington

Paul Farrington of Studio Tonne came into speak to us about his work and the stuff he likes.
Paul attended the Royal College of Arts for 2 years and went on to found Studio Tonne.
What I immediately noticed were similarities between Paul's work and Matt Pyke's who had already visited us.
Both were very computer literate, making pieces of "generative" design. Work that responds to the viewer and produces different results each time. Paul Farrington's work contained a lot of "toys" which were Flash created programs that were mainly related to sound. A lot of his work drew links between the two fields. The toys were completely editable. The user could manipulate tracks, volume and vary the sounds being created entirely.
This was a continuing theme I noticed in the majority of Studio Tonne's projects, they were predominantly interactive based designers. Seeing a lot of their work in the context they are supposed to be seen in, for example the interactive fish tank, makes you realise that there is more to interactive design than just being something you interact with (sounds stupidly obvious).
The fish tank was commissioned by the NHS for the children's ward in Derriford Hospital. The idea of interacting with the fish is used as a distraction from the reality of being in a hospital, it brings about a smile on the face of an otherwise worried child.