This has been long in the planning… The sharp-eyed will have noticed a broadening-out of the work. I’ve been looking at the array of skills and knowledge I bring together from decades of design practice, constant creative exploring and unstoppable nosiness. My most adventurous clients and collaborators are already using … Read More
Translation. That’s an odd word to use for visual communications. But one of the most interesting parts of my work is spotting a connection between two apparently-unrelated things and using it to invite people in to the words, or to an idea. Some of that work is subtle. Some of … Read More
In the Valentine’s month episode of Studio Snack, a food podcast about design with creative collaborator Narcis Sauleda, we’ve delved into the story of a local heart-shaped sweet, looked at some symbol history, chatted with Leticia Credidio in Barcelona about being taught by the designer who created the iconic ‘I … Read More
A drawing board. As gym equipment goes, it’s a bit unorthodox. But in this, the season of squeaky-clean trainers and good intentions, I’m reminded why I draw when I’m not working on projects: skills need exercise too. I go to life drawing as a dancer does class. It’s difficult. I … Read More
Organisations, contexts and needs change. So I advise my design clients to have a look at their brands every now and then. And I’m doing just that with my own communications. In amongst the rigour have been two opposite and surprisingly informative activities. I’ve asked AI what I do, assuming … Read More
It’s not the most conventional of festive repeat patterns. But bear with me… I love a pencil shaving. I make a lot of them, on live sketching assignments and on my own work. In a circle, they can be baubles or snowflakes. They’re general enough to be relevant to the … Read More
What is an Advent calendar and where did they come from? In our latest episode of Studio Snack, a food podcast about design, we explore the austere, the odd and the newsworthy, we consult AI and we rethink what an Advent calendar could be. I love going down rabbit holes … Read More
It’s happened to me before: I’m working on an image, lift what’s supposed to be the thing from its background… and what’s left is more interesting. I’ve been reminded of this as I work on a new collection of illustrated garments and totes. I often wear my own designs for … Read More
In our Halloween episode of Studio Snack, we have monster feet, stories behind traditions, weird flavour combinations – and skeleton snack pictures made from the inside out. We’d come up with the idea over some properly spicy chai (digital conversation is marvellous but creatively, nothing quite beats throwing ideas back … Read More
I’ll be sketching at 26 Wordstock @ Bloomsbury Festival. And because my sketching is rooted in design, where I start is with what I’m drawing on. The event will be prefaced by the public launch of pamphlet format poem Berliners by John Simmons at Berliners and Other Poems. Pamphlets, then… … Read More