Profiles

They got their big break as creative artists when they managed to persuade Perverter/Universal to let them have a go at making a music video for one of the pioneers of commercial electronic music."

The film, shot mostly on a waste ground on the outskirts of Nottingham, drew on the team's imagination rather than a big budget but managed to receive rave reviews.

The three minute video made it on to MTV and was named alongside classics by Depeche Mode and The Cure as one of the top 30 'gothic' music videos of all time.

From this they got work with EM Media, a promoter of British Cinema, producing animation to accompany one of their DVD releases.

Still from 'Healing'

Appearing in design shows in London has also led to interest from Channel Four.

"Because the industry is based on ideas it doesn't really matter how big or small you are. [Channel Four] saw some of our work and they believed in it from the start."

In a little over a year the pair have also produced design work for reggae legend Lee Scratch Perry, Virgin Active, O2 Arena and web design for music festivals such as Tribal Gathering.

In the beginning

After earning a physics degree in Manchester, Simon found himself promoting bars and clubs in Nottingham. He quickly persuaded the venues that he should also be doing their marketing.

Through word of mouth jobs started to come in bigger and faster to the point where he needed help.

Still of animation for EM Media

That's when he joined up with Jason Holroyd, a Nottingham graphic design graduate, and their design business Seismik was born.

Recognising talent

The city-based designers say that they are using Nottingham's pool of creative talent to accomplish their aims, employing freelancers and offering graduate placements.

"Textiles, fashion, graphic design, illustration... it's just a high level of student you get from Nottingham Trent University. It has a really good reputation internationally."

The "two boys from the north" now want international recognition.

"We're just aiming really high. We've got through these doors, got a lot of face to face meetings... it's just worth giving it a go."

Bid to be World Design Capital

Nottingham bid to become the World Design Capital in 2012. The city council, the Arts Council and Nottingham Trent University are behind the application to the International Design Alliance (IDA). Simon and Jason supported the application along with Nottingham-born designer Paul Smith.

You can hear more 'design heroes' every Tuesday with Frances Finn, 09:00 to 12:00 on BBC Radio Nottingham (95.5 & 103.8FM, DAB and online).