One of the reasons why we make Studio Snack, a food podcast about design, is the opportunity to do a creative experiment each month. For this month’s Pride special, I’ve indulged my love of drag and a good bagel in watercolour illustration, iPad illustration and typography. But there’s more than … Read More
It was like playing a harp… On a big sketch on canvas, I’d decided to show the way reeds glitter in the light by way of gold embroidery. Cody Dock is a favourite spot for a screen break tea break – so, tea bags for a colour wash. I had … Read More
Behind the scenes of the Vianne’s Confession illustration… Drawing used to be the part of my design work that clients never saw – the workings-out; the thinking on paper. And though my sketch illustration is now a visible thing, I still explore that way. Commissioned to illustrate a collaboration between … Read More
I’ve designed catalogues for central London exhibitions – printed, with high production values, for sale as souvenirs. But why design one for a solo show in a café? Well, the PDF catalogue for Hello, Petal, my exhibition of botanical work, is there to help. It can be looked at via … Read More
I do like a proof. Yes, they’re necessary to check quality – but there’s also something lovely in their utility. Colour strips. Registration marks. And on a giclée test giclée print, details of all of the prints lined up like a colour swatch… The test for my Hello, Petal exhibition … Read More
You would think that a blogpost on sketches in an exhibition has no place here. But here’s a thing: one is on glassine paper made for packaging; the other takes a technique I use in short pose life drawing and applies it to something else. Both are unpredictable – and … Read More
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