Charles Leech is a partner at ABM Research (www.abm-research.com). Since his PhD in Applied Semiotics from QUT, he’s been an active commercial semiotician for over 13 years, working on projects for clients from AB-InBev to Nestlé to Unilever. Charles has helped ABM deliver profound, penetrating analyses on everything from tampons in Sao Paolo to light beer in Xiamen. He’s also worked tirelessly on commercial semiotics evangelism to clients, marketing and research organizations, and pretty much anyone else who’ll listen.
Toronto, Canada
Nick is a writer for branding and design, and one half of creative partnership Asbury & Asbury. Personal projects include Corpoetics, a collection of poems made by rearranging corporate copy; Pentone, the written equivalent of Pantone colour-matching system; and Mr Blog, a blog documenting all the ‘Mr’ shops on UK high streets. Nick was also one of the writers in the original Significant Objects project, conceived by Joshua Glenn and Rob Walker. Nick has a particular interest in brand names, slogans, language and poetry and writes for the design press, including Creative Review.
http://www.asburyandasbury.com
http://www.twitter.com/asburyandasbury
Manchester, UK
Tim Spencer spent fifteen years in brand building for business, retail, fashion, and music, then five as an illustrator whilst starting a family. He joined a semiotics consultancy early 2010.
Notable achievements; D&AD Silver nomination for hand drawn typography campaign (Paul Smith’s R.Newbold brand c1994); Global restructure of Caterpillar's brand licensing through self-authored workshop series; Re-branded UK's PrudentialPLC; Creative direction (and illustration) of the commercial launch of Scissor Sisters; hundreds of illustrations for BBC Top Gear; and two daughters.
Brighton, UK