Sports company PUMA has opened Studio48, a creative hub at its headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, where its designers and creatives can come together to freely develop new ideas and create concepts for new performance and Sportstyle products as well as campaigns. Spanning more than 5,300 square feet, Studio48 will feature a 3D printing facility, leather and textile sewing machines, a set up for printing and embroidering, a product testing area, a photo studio and a meeting space to connect designers across different departments and welcome external creatives to work on new products and campaigns. As part of PUMA’s brand elevation strategy, the company will strengthen its sports performance credibility by developing products that perform at the highest level but also distill this sports DNA into its Sportstyle offering with a unique design language. While Studio48 can be used by the company’s designers and creatives all year round, the space will also play an important part when hosting external partners or bringing PUMA’s global design community together for workshops and events. As part of the opening event in December, PUMA hosted a workshop at Studio48 by US-based upcycler Nicole McLaughlin, who shared her vision on circularity. The event was joined by PUMA designers across all product categories from several of the company’s worldwide locations. Earlier this year, PUMA announced plans to open a creative space in Los Angeles to inspire products and campaigns for the U.S. market….
Creative editorial company Final Cut has named editor Sophie Solomon as a partner. Solomon has been with the postproduction house since 2015 and on its roster of talent since 2021. Working out of Final Cut’s East Coast office, Solomon will work closely with Final Cut’s leadership team including executive producers Michelle Corney in the U.K., Suzy Ramirez in Los Angeles, and Sarah Roebuck in New York to elevate Final Cut’s editorial talent, provide creative support, and serve as an essential member of the management team. She joins fellow Final Cut partners Jeff Buchanan, Jim Helton, Ashley Kreamer, JD Smyth, and Crispin Struthers. Recently, Solomon edited “Anti-Choice Ads” for Wisp x Abortion Freedom Fund, which won a Gold Clio and was shortlisted for a Glass Lion at Cannes. She has also earned Best Editing at the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival and a Telly Award for editing the short film “Don’t Go Back To Sleep.” Solomon worked alongside Jim Helton to edit the multi-award- winning campaign “The Truth is Worth It” from The New York Times that garnered two Cannes Lions Grand Prix, a Gold Clio, a Black Pencil at D&AD, and was named Best of Show at the One Club ADC Awards….
