Featured in today’s Daily Mail and Prolific North is the story of how a lookalike re-brand was created by international design agency, Uncommon Creative, which was commissioned by the London Museum. The new branding bore an incredible similarity to Rebecca May and Michael Wild’s concept, the iconic “Coo Pigeon and Coo poo.” You can read the full story in the Daily Mail and Prolific North.
The MayWild concept has a well-documented design corpus? going back as far as 2012 when they achieved Crafts Council funding. It was launched at the London Design Festival in 2017. Fast forward to summer 2024, when museum and craft colleagues noticed the lookalikes, assuming that MayWild had been awarded the London Museum commission. Rebecca and Michael were shocked that their work, involving iterations over many years had been taken without attribution or recompense.
Rebecca and Michael approached ACID for help, and a meeting was arranged between MayWild and the London Museum. Following an unsatisfactory meeting with their Head of External Communications, Sarah Duffrey, ACID and MayWild were unconvinced about the design journey that they claimed to have gone through with Uncommon Creative. No progress was made nor any acknowledgement was given.
Later that month ACID and MayWild met with Nils Leonard of Uncommon Creative to try and get some acknowledgement of them as the design and concept originators, but to no avail. Uncommon Creative’s lawyers unhelpfully wrote a denial of any copying, refusing rightful attribution and any recompense.
Dids Macdonald OBE., Chair and Co-founder of ACID said, “Rebecca and Michael are acknowledged in their field for not only their creative excellence but their decency. Sadly, this is a typical David & Goliath case which many other SMEs face daily. I am pleased that the Daily Mail has got behind this blatant lookalike to amplify this story which they and many others face.
I am most surprised that neither the London Museum, (funded by the City of London Corporation) nor Uncommon Creative, did not do their due diligence which would have revealed the 12-year compelling journey of the origination of this iconic design. IP ethics, respect and compliance are pivotal to Rebecca and Michael; all they wanted was the truth to be told.”
About MayWild Studio
MayWild Studio is a Manchester-based design practice founded by Michael Wild and Rebecca May, specialising in community-led creative projects and social arts practice. Their work focuses on authentic storytelling, finding beauty in the overlooked aspects of urban life, and creating meaningful engagement with diverse communities.
Michael Wild teaches at Hopwood Hall and works with the National Saturday Club, delivering art workshops for young people who are homeschooled or struggling with confidence, culminating in annual exhibitions at Somerset House in London. Rebecca May brings extensive design experience, with both designers committed to ethical practice and supporting the next generation of creative talent.
The studio’s Coo Pigeon concept – celebrating the urban pigeon and its golden droppings as symbols of city life’s duality – has been exhibited and featured in numerous publications since 2012. Their work emphasises meticulous craftsmanship, including casting chicken bones for authenticity and perfecting the golden poo splat through extensive experimentation.
Website: www.maywildstudio.com
Instagram: @maywildstudio
About ACID (Anti Copying in Design)
Co-founded in 1998, by Dids Macdonald, now ACID’s Chair, ACID (Anti Copying in Design) is the UK’s leading design and intellectual property (IP) campaigning organisation. As a not-for-profit trade association, ACID represents the interests of designers, makers, and manufacturers across the creative industries — from micro-businesses to major brands — promoting respect for IP and the protection of original work. Dids was a designer maker whose work was consistently stolen in “David & Goliath” copycat battles and remains passionate about ethics, compliance, and respect for designer creators.
Driven by its mission to create a safer trading environment for creators, ACID provides practical tools, resources, and education to help members safeguard their designs. Its ACID IP Databank offers an accessible way for members to record design evidence and establish a clear audit trail, while its legal and policy initiatives support members facing infringement and advocate for stronger IP rights across the UK.
To support stronger IP for everyone, you can sign the ACID IP Charter.
Spread the Word
