Can you hear at the back?

Chris's mate Adrian was in town on Friday to talk at the Design Futures event. He was really good: talking about the essential attributes of the designer: cultural awareness; integrity and the ability to string a coherent and meaningful sentence together in front of a client (talent being a given). He talked about the need to have a reason for doing everything and how "because I like it" is not one of them; how you need to think strategically and how you need to believe in something otherwise you can't expect your client to believe in you.

Oh, and how the ability to write and/or edit can be a valuable skill. Great and useful stuff. And a lot of that is not disconnected to something I'll post over the next couple of days. Adrian also showed us some work: Intro stuff and later collaborative projects like Varoom.

Before Mr Shaughnessy came on there were two other speakers:

First, Andrew Summers is chairman of Design Partners, "the industry/government body which promotes UK design internationally". And while his presentation lacked snazzy graphics, I think he covered important issues, like how, statistically, good design is good for business. Yes, I know we know that, but this man goes forth and tells the world. I also feel, while perhaps not as explicit as he might have been, he touched on this thing that Ben talks about.

The man in the middle, second speaker Andy Stevens from Graphic Thought Facility, was superb!

GTF do really great work so hearing first-hand accounts was a real pleasure. For example: Andy talked through the work they've done for the Frieze Art Fair; first the branding then the promotional material. Unable to feature artwork (so many artists!) GTF suggested using images of the location, Regent's Park, and over the years have photographed the Park from various view points and during different seasons, while the event was rigging and from the air (amazing images). One year they even shot (er, photographed) the park's wildlife.

He went on to talk about what they've done for Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Reluctant to take it on at first, fearing it too touristy, they took the plunge, proposing the idea of showing a different side of the theatre. Andy showed us fantastic photos of behind-the-scenes: actors, often in meticulous period dress, going about their back-stage business (the examples here are lovely but he showed others that were brilliant and hilarious).

Of course, GTF are also the people responsible for that very lovely Habitat logo (one of those, "I wish I'd done it" designs) and Andy explained how they were asked to look at it because Habitat's lawyers were telling them that they couldn't protect the much loved and enduring type style so needed a unique "fantasy mark". Funnily enough though, because Habitat has always had a type only logo, Andy explained, at first no none noticed that they'd actually done anything.

It was a brilliant Friday night out, made even better by the chance to mingle afterwards and have a bit of a chat and a plastic cup of something boozy.

Well, I've done it again, used images without asking. If anyone's got a problem with this, do let me know and they will be no more.

Comments

[Bureau L'Imprimante]

I wish I could go to events that exciting!
Anyway, I'm quite sure there was a logo for Habitat before this one. I couldn't find any evidence in my archives, but I'd draw it that way:
http://mm.cpluv.com/media_library/medias/mrcrocodile/b6565332feed5.jpg
Does anyone remember that logo? I'd bet it was still in use in the late '80s/early '90s.

[Richard]

Think you're right Loïc, I recognise it from your drawing (excellent drawing!). I have a feeling they'd dropped it years ago in favour of text only, though I'm not certain.

[Paul]

I was there too Richard and I have to agree - it was a great night. I liked the fact that GTF dumped the Shakespeare after they asked them to pitch for work they'd been producing for 6 years! Ps, do you know you're in the top 50 graphic design blogs: http://www.davidairey.com/top-50-graphic-design-blogs/

[Richard]

Hi Paul,

Nice to hear from you. Who knows, we may have been standing next to each other. I'd seen that Top 50 thing. Nice. Modesty prevents me from shouting about it. That and the fact that Michael Bierut name-dropped Ace Jet at the AIGA conference in Denver a couple of weeks ago, so a highly reliable source tells me.

But hey, it's just a blog. OK, one of the Top 50 bestest in the whole wide interweb.

OK, yes, I'm brilliant. Just don't tell anyone.

Thanks for pointing it out though and giving the chance for a low-key gloat.

Are you still down the road? How's it going?

[Paul]

Hi Richard
I'm still down the road and it's going really well thanks. The studio is doing well and as a fellow englishman, I'm still really enjoying living in N.I. I'm gettign married next year, so I'm in the middle of designing my wedding stationary - being my own client is impossible!

I'm really impressed Mr Bierut name dropped you! If I was to have any design heroes he'd be one for sure. Still loving the blog, please keep up the great work, it's endlessly fascinating!