Notting Hill Publishing (NHP) was created by Andreas Whittam Smith, the ex-editor of The Financial Times, and the founder, creator and owner of The Independent newspaper.
NHP was an electronic publishing company developing and producing creative, informative, educational and entertaining CD-ROM titles, including The Evolution Of Life with Richard Dawkins, The Art Of Singing, International Athletics, Wine Spirits & Beers... Every title produced was either short listed for an award or won an award(s),
NHP developed a DNA manipulation software tool called, Cybertation with the scientist and author Richard Dawkins for the Evolution Of Life title, which was turned into a product known as Dancer DNA. The users could grow ‘creatures’ from genetic codes as artificial life and then let them evolve to music in real-time. This product won the team several awards including the DTI award for ‘creativity & innovation’ and the Young Creatives Award from Creative Review magazine.
The Dancer DNA retail product was marketed in the club scene with teams of VJs, and through these activities NHP pioneered bringing brands into the club and festival arenas, providing entertaining graphic visuals. The clients included the BBC Clothes Show, Bourjois, Holsten Pils, Levis, Sony Playstation PS1, Tia Maria... An internet version of Dancer DNA, called ‘Blue Bug’, was developed as a guerilla marketing tool for the launch of the Sony Playstation PS2.
The buzz created by Dancer DNA led to several commissions for synched video graphics for various bands on tour, including Pet Shop Boys, Leftfield and Nine Inch Nails and also for the motion picture Artificial Intelligence ‘A.I.’ by Steven Spielberg.