Even the most hardened of London explorers sometimes need to refuel. And the design geeks amongst us would always prefer to do so in a cafe or bar with some serious design credentials. Luckily, a few real gems have popped up recently. Here are my three favourites.
Confessions of a Design Geek
creative spaces :: allan manham
Allan Manham’s pots have a wonderful organic quality that drew me to them from the first time I saw them. So you can imagine how excited I was when Allan agreed to show me around his studio.
Confessions of a Design Geek
here’s one I made earlier :: blah blah pocket monster
I love Donna Wilson. I love her products, I love her brand… I even love her outfits. The thing is, try as I may, I just can’t convince the boy that we should spend £70 on a cushion, not even a 100% lambswool, knitted in Scotland, grey with ebony robin, 40cm x 40cm, comes with a duck feather cushion pad, Donna Wilson cushion.
Confessions of a Design Geek
interview :: javier mariscal
I was recently very lucky to be given the opportunity by the London Design Festival to interview Javier Mariscal. He is a truly multi-disciplinary designer, his work ranging from branding to furniture design and from interiors to films.
Confessions of a Design Geek
out and about :: london's libraries (part 2)
In my last out and about post, we got half way through the 20th Century Society’s tour of London’s libraries; “Lend us your books, a day ‘in Libris’” and now for the rest…
Confessions of a Design Geek
creative spaces :: alexandra abraham
Alexandra sees the beauty in things others have discarded. She collects them, she arranges them, she covers them in gold leaf and then rubs it away, and in doing so reveals the beauty she first spied in the mud or the sand, so that we can see it too.
Confessions of a Design Geek
here’s one I made earlier :: graphic design with anthony burrill
A few weeks ago I went along to a graphic design workshop with Anthony Burrill at Outline Editions.
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thinking about :: how social media changed my life
This Thursday was Social Media Day. To celebrate, CNN iReport and mashable asked people to submit their stories in answer to the question “How has social media changed your life?” So I thought I’d share my story with you.
Confessions of a Design Geek
interview :: anthony burrill
I still can’t quite believe I have met and interviewed the man behind the “work hard and be nice to people” poster that adorns so many design studio walls and provides daily inspiration for the design community and beyond.
Confessions of a Design Geek
out and about :: london's libraries
Having recently joined the 20th Century Society, the boy and I joined them for “Lend us your books, a day ‘in Libris;'” a day exploring the development of the public library from the turn of the 20th century right through to the 21st; focusing on architecture, planning and design.
Confessions of a Design Geek
creative spaces :: emulsion
This article was published 15 yearsThis month’s creative space is Emulsion, an architecture studio in Baker’s Yard; a little-known 1980s industrial estate in Clerkenwell, tucked away at the bottom of Back Hill and just down the road from The Eagle; reputedly the first ever ‘gastropub’. They’re on the top floor, in…
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here’s one I made earlier :: yellow owl workshop
This article was published 15 yearsI love the Yellow Owl Workshop so I was very excited indeed to hear that Christine and Evan were coming to London, for the launch of Christine’s new book, Print Workshop. So excited in fact that I booked the afternoon of work and went along to Urban…
Confessions of a Design Geek
interview :: experimental jetset
Helvetica, now my favourite film, was my introduction to a number of influential graphic designers, not least Wim Crouwel and Experimental Jetset. I immediately fell in love with Danny, Marieke and Erwin, not only for their splendid design work, but also for their inimitable Dutch charm. I next saw them at a Pecha Kucha event as part of the D&AD President’s Lectures and their place in my heart was sealed.
Confessions of a Design Geek
out and about :: barbican
The Barbican: once voted Britain’s ugliest building, this 35acre, Grade 2 listed estate has been the subject of much controversy and misunderstanding.
Confessions of a Design Geek
creative spaces :: wimbledon art studios
For the latest in my series of creative spaces features, artist Fiona Brown very kindly invited me along to see her space at Wimbledon Art Studios and suggested I time my visit to coincide with Open Studios weekend so I could also get a look those of her fellow artists.
Confessions of a Design Geek
here's one I made earlier :: screenprinting
I recently had the great pleasure to spend an evening at The Make Lounge on their Screen Printed Textiles workshop. I first tried my hand at screenprinting at the Print Block in Whitstable, during the Oyster Festival and I’m starting to think I might have caught the bug!
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thinking about :: festival style
The Festival of Britain took place from May to September 1951, and was designed to commemorate the centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851. It celebrated Britain’s achievements and potential; engaged people with the arts, science and industry; and provided a tonic after the austerity of the Second World War. It was promoted as a ‘national village fete’ or ‘a tonic to the nation.’
Confessions of a Design Geek
interview :: john miller and anna hart
Since MARK’s launch at 100% Design in 2008 (at which the Net chair scooped the Blueprint 100% Design award for best new interior product) it has been putting Cornish design and Cornish designers on a national if not international stage.
Confessions of a Design Geek
about and about :: wim crouwel in conversation
On March 31st I went to see Rick Poynor in conversation with Wim Crouwel and Wim’s son Mels Crouwel at the Design Museum. It was first in a series to mark the retrospective of the iconic graphic designer and typographer; Wim Crouwel, a Graphic Odyssey. Afterwards, I plucked up the courage to speak to the man himself to ask for a short interview – and he said yes!