An interview and review of the Rams’ retrospective at the Design Museum in 2010. Published in Blueprint March 2010. The article is formatted as a review which is a shame as I would have like to have included more of the interview.
Continue reading Less and More — Dieter Rams at the Design MuseumNaoto Fukasawa
This is an interview with Naoto Fukasawa and review of the PlusMinusZero product collection in London. Published in Blueprint Magazine October 2009.
Continue reading Naoto FukasawaMusica Ex Machina – Jukebox A Milano
April 2009
This is a book chapter exploring the enduring cultural significance of the jukebox in a digital age. It documents a research project to create a new form of jukebox, sponsored by SCF Consorzio Fonografici and exhibited in the Triennale Museum, Milan. 22nd-27th April, 2009. The digital jukebox concept I developed used customised beermat ‘tokens’ to activate the different tracks. Two working models were installed — one in the Triennale exhibition hall and a second that travelled around Milan in a bus. The published text was in Italian, so here is the translation:
Continue reading Musica Ex Machina – Jukebox A MilanoHussein Chalayan
For Modern Weekly. Interview with influential and visionary designer Hussein Chalayan as his work is celebrated in a major exhibition at the Design Museum (cover story!).
“People’s perception of futuristic scenarios, informed by media and films is quite clichéd. I would like to be able to change that if I can.”
Continue reading Hussein ChalayanWatches!
Watch connoisseurship always seems like such a strange area. My favourite watches are mainly Casio and I’m generally less interested in the mechanism than the typography on the watch face. How amazing, then, to be asked my opinion about watches for the awesome Pen magazine in Japan!
Continue reading Watches!Climate Change Festival
Held between 31st May — 8th June, 2008, this festival celebrated existing sustainable projects in Birmingham and promoted new strategies for tackling climate change. It was organised by CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Build Environment) and Birmingham City Council. I was asked to put on a Claystation event, encouraging visitors to propose a new and sustainable vision for a part of town undergoing regeneration. Before modelling their idea on a giant map, each participant had to complete a ‘Building Consent Form’ where they outlined the purpose of their design. These provided a useful form of feedback from this co-creation exhibition.
Thanks to all the team who helped make the event a success:
Tom Ballhatchet, Graham Powell, Maggs Rees, Charlie Huang, Ghazale Foroutan Jazi, Renu Patankar, Peter Nielsen, Josef Pointner, Elyn Yu, Nikhil Korde, Kay Chou, Andree Lee, Helen Chan
2008 Milan Salone Del Mobile — Review
This was the second full review of the fair that I did for Modern Weekly. I used the opportunity to meet two heroes of mine: Denis Santachiara and Claudio Campeggi.
Continue reading 2008 Milan Salone Del Mobile — ReviewThe Secret Lives of Objects
This is a book by my colleague and mentor, Jane Graves, published May 2008.
Jane taught cultural studies, psychoanalytical theory and sociology at Central Saint Martins for over 30 years and influenced generations of artists and designers. Later on Jane worked as a psychoanalytical psychotherapist, but still had a strong connection with Central Saint Martins.
The book is a collection of 19 essays by Jane and capture her razor wit and analysis in the areas of design and aesthetics. They are as relevant, insightful and funny as when they were written.
The cover image is a sculpture by Bruce Gernand
The book design is by Sean O’Mara
There is a generous endorsement by Adam Phillips
ISBN 978–1‑4251–7070‑7
Jane was adamant that she would not work with an external editor for the book as she had a particular vision for it. I helped edit the texts and put them together for publication. I suggested to Jane that we illustrate the book with a series of collages from students and ex-students. She was very enthusiastic about this. I include some of these below. My own contribution was an essay about the use of collage in design — something that I have incorporated in student work for many years. I reproduce this below.
I am sad to report that Jane died on 29th March 2011 at the age of 76.
Continue reading The Secret Lives of ObjectsOliver Goldsmith
Winter Sunglasses? Interview with Claire Goldsmith CEO of the iconic brand started by her grandfather
Continue reading Oliver GoldsmithEurostar to Brussels
Published in November 2007, this describes some renovations to St.Pancras in London and the Atomium in Brussels. Opposing ends of a Modern dream.
Continue reading Eurostar to Brussels