I used to be a design student.

I was very disappointed to have missed the launch party of the book ‘I used to be a design student’ held in London on Feb 18th. Sadly I am too far away and couldn’t just hop on a bus to Camberwell, like I used to for three years of my student life.

The authors of ‘I used to be a design student’ are two of my graphic design contemporaries, Frank Philippin and Billy Kiosoglou. I was invited to contribute to this study of 50 designers, comparing the life & work from their students days with their life & work of today. I have yet to see a copy first hand but with a selection of designers from Margaret Calvert and Ken Garland to Daniel Eatock and James Goggin, it has to be pretty fascinating reading!

‘I used to be a design student’ is published by Laurence King 2013.

On Design Week Feb 5th 2013.

Little seeds.

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve posted something. I guess I’ve been pretty distracted by various other things – ongoing projects, clearing, reorganising, reviewing, school, impending arrival of a new baby and so on. Yesterday I was throwing out some old magazines and found a few things of interest which I cut out and stuck into my sketch book. Things that interest me but I can’t always pin-point why, so I stick them in my notebook for future reference. I realised how liberating it is having a ‘physical’ sketch book to make notes in, draw and stick things down. Unlike posting things on a blog, where the desire is to share and have a ‘conversation’ about something (with that underlying pressure of presenting things that you hope will also be of interest to other people), in my sketchbooks I have complete freedom, knowing that I will be the only one to look through them. Unfortunately I’m not as much of an avid sketchbooker as I used to be, in fact more often than not these days I almost entirely forget about them. But when I get the chance to look through and review my visual thought process – in between many pages that leave me wondering why – I can always find something to inspire me. Those little ideas, little experiments, little seeds of things to come.

Tokyo Project 20

Tokyo Project 07

Tokyo Project 04

Pattern Factory

The other day an exciting parcel arrived at my door – a copy of Pattern Factory (aka ‘Pattern Department‘ in Japan) by Ayako Terashima, published by Collins Design.

It’s a beautifully selected and put together book, showcasing patterns by contemporary artists and designers. I know Ayako has been working hard on this project for some time now. I’ve been waiting to see the results ever since she invited me to shoot the designer & director Mike Mills in his studio, for the book’s chapter on ‘Ideas, Process + Output’ back in February.

‘Pattern Factory is a colourful showcase of outstanding contemporary patterns by the worlds leading artists and designers, including Takeshi Murakami, Julian Opie, Keiichi Tanaami, Perks and Mini, So_Me, and many others. In addition to an archive of more than 150 vibrant and distinct patterns, this visually stunning volume includes exclusive interview pages – featuring Mike Mills, Eley Kishimoto, Lizzie Finn, Sousou and Fabrick/Medicom Toy – which unveil the artists’ working processes and sources of inspiration, along with photographs of their studios and factories.’

A refreshing collection of unexpected and unusual pattern designs; be ready for a lot of nice surprises in this book!

Salvia (‘Mori’ – detail)

Will Sweeny (‘Metal Storm’ – detail)

Peter Jensen (Illustration & Print design by Kathryn Dale – detail)

Lizzie Finn (featured in Chapter 2: Ideas, Process + Output)

Mike Mills (featured in Chapter 2: Ideas, Process + Output). Studio photography by Lucinda Newton-Dunn.

Fabrick’s screenprinting workshop (Kyoto)

Eley Kishimoto – A/W 2005

Plate by Lizzie Finn

The Hungry Cyclist

Image from The Independent.

Today is the booklaunch of The Hungry Cyclist, by Tom Kevill Davies, published by Harper Collins.

Tom is a cousin of mine and I’m sad to be missing his book launch in London this evening. This book is the result of Tom’s cycling journey through North and South America over a period of more than two years, in search of the perfect meal. I really can’t wait to read the book!

There is an article about The Hungry Cyclist in todays Independent:

‘Americans looked at me in horror when I told them of my plans to ride through Mexico. “You’re not packing a piece?” they asked, astounded that I didn’t want to carry a gun with me. The Mexicans recoiled in shock when I revealed my plans to ride to Guatemala. “It’s full of bandits and machetes,” they would warn. (The machete part is true – all Guatemalan men do carry them – it’s an agricultural country and I soon learnt that machetes were the multi-tools of Central America). In Guatemela, I was urged to be wary of the gangs in El Salvador – and so on.

So, after 752 days on the road, did I find the perfect meal? Well, yes, I found plenty of them. From smoky tripe tacos to moose burgers and Olympia oysters to cold beers and spit-roasted guinea pig, I enjoyed some truly flawless meals.’

http://www.thehungrycyclist.com