I contributed 20 entries to the Phaidon Design Classics project (published January 2006). This was an epic publication which came in a strangely impractical kind of frame/carrier which I believe was designed by Konstantin Grcic.
Continue reading Phaidon Design ClassicsCategory: Design-General
This should be the default category for posts
Claystation – Design Modelling and Creativity
A paper presented at the 3rd Engineering & Product Design Education International Conference, 15–16 September 2005, Edinburgh, Scotland. Co-author: Alex Milton. Subsequently printed in the book Crossing Design Boundaries, edited By Paul Rodgers, Libby Brodhurst, Duncan Hepburn
Continue reading Claystation – Design Modelling and CreativitySmoke and Miros — Design and Magic
This paper looks at the connection between magic and creativity. The content was evolved at a Design Transformation Group conference.
This paper was presented at The 4th International Conference on Design and Emotion, 12th-14th June, 2004, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.
Co-Authors: Alex Milton, Cris Degroot, Debbie Wythe.
Continue reading Smoke and Miros — Design and MagicPlay, Four Days and a 1/4 ton of Clay
This paper explores the use of play as a catalyst for creativity.
Presented at The 4th International Conference on Design and Emotion, 12th-14th June, 2004, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.
Co-Author: Alex Milton, Edinburgh College of Art
Continue reading Play, Four Days and a 1/4 ton of ClayAlehop!
Open Source Design and Remedies Down on the Farm.
This piece was written for the catalogue of a brilliant exhibition organised by the Institute de Cultura de Barcelona, designed by Emili Padros and Ana Mir in 2003. The exhibition focused on ingenuity in design and engineering. Part of it dealt with local, organic and free-range problem solving, which was one of my great interests. It was a chance to get in touch with Mike Donovan of Practical Farm Ideas to discuss how communities can empower themselves and others to accelerate problem-solving. There is some mention of the internet, but bear in mind that this is 2003; Instructables was still over two years away (launched August 2005) and the most up-to-date ‘lifestyle’ example I had was Make magazine. I am pleased to say that at the time of writing this intro (March, 2019), Practical Farm Ideas is still going www.farmideas.co.uk, and still produces 4 issues a year, but most sharing takes place online, allowing this culture of innovation to really mushroom.
Continue reading Alehop!Christmas Card
Designing the college Christmas card always seemed to be a poisoned chalice — budget, deadline, client all extremely challenging — but I had a great time with this. For some reason it always had to have the theme of ‘stars.’ The detachable specs have holographic filters which turn light sources into stars. These had to be ordered from the US at great expense. The brilliant printers in London managed to match the colours exactly. I seem to remember they also ran off a few hundred invites for one of our course shows at the same time haha.
Continue reading Christmas CardSleeping Policemen
A Workshop in Cathexically Affective Design
This workshop was presented by myself and other members of the Design Transformation Group at the 3rd International Design Emotion Conference in Loughborough.
Continue reading Sleeping PolicemenThinking Thief — Designing out Misuse, Abuse and ‘Criminal’ Aesthetics
With Prof. Lorraine Gamman, a paper for the journal Ingenia, published February 2003. Documents a series of projects undertaken with MA students in collaboration with the Design Against Crime research centre at Central Saint Martins.
Continue reading Thinking Thief — Designing out Misuse, Abuse and ‘Criminal’ AestheticsHarry Potter Interviews


In July 2001 I was invited to the set of the first Harry Potter movie to interview the director, cast members and production designer. This commission was for Next Media (HK) — the only media company from Asia to be invited I believe. The junket style interviews were conducted in the Great Hall set, but we saw several other sets during the tour. This was in the pre-smartphone era, but I managed some pictures with the Casio Wristcam I had recently been given!
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