A NEW graphic design agency in York is working hard to bring light and colour into young people's lives in the region.

LazenbyBrown, of York's Fishergate Centre, has recently completed a six-month works programme and consultation to transform formal-style offices at a Connexions Youth Centre, in Skipton, into a "vibrant, dynamic and aspirational space" with which young people can identify.

Now Connexions, the Government organisation for disadvantaged young people, plans to roll out similar changes to its other offices in Abbey Walk, Selby, and in a new space at the former Impressions Art Gallery, in Coppergate. Expect LazenbyBrown to pitch for that work too.

Matthew Lazenby, director of LazenbyBrown, said his firm had organised a series of working sessions involving young people so they could have input on the name and visual identity of the centre, as well as what facilities they wanted.

LazenbyBrown collaborated with acclaimed graffiti artist Keith Hopewell, also known as Part2, to develop the typographic identity for the centre, which has been named simply HQ by the young people.

Features included a 30ft art wall completed by Part2, that featured silhouettes of the young participants, a aluminium plated drinks bar and art canvases created by the young people themselves.

Matthew, 29-year-old former creative head at the Morrice Partnership in York, who teamed up with Gary Brown of Aniseed Design at the Fishergate Centre in August, said: "The challenge was managing the young people's expectations while encouraging their sense of ownership of the project.

"It was necessary because the original building was an advisory centre, much like a careers centre, with an official, imposing atmosphere which was not conducive to relaxing.

"The idea was to allow young people to access the same information about careers, health and advice on bullying in a sympathetic way.

"It was not enough to simply let them do whatever they wanted. The trick was to capture the energy from the working sessions and translate that into a branding and interior scheme that doesn't patronise them."

Meanwhile, Matthew's organisation has been declared Entrepreneurs In Residence at Tadcaster Grammar School. In a series of lessons, Matthew, a former pupil there, will link enterprise education to business.

Updated: 10:53 Friday, April 28, 2006