davidthedesigner

grab yourself a few hockneys (but you'll have to be quick)

Actually, not that many of you will have been reading this blog since its start. But if you had of been (or indeed, if you have) then you might have noticed that my first declared hero was David Hockney (and that post isn't quite complete because TypePad lost the picture). So I was looking forward to last night's 'Imagine' film on the BBC. In the event, though, I found it rather frustrating. It was a nice enough portrait of someone who still has a sense of mischief and a wonderful mastery of the craft of painting. But I found the lack of information or proper explanation let the whole thing down. As a small example, the film creates the impression that it's documenting the last three years of Hockney's working life. And it talks at length about his return to Yorkshire and cites the paintings he did of and for his friend Jonathan Silver. Yet Silver died in 1997, and the film fails to explain that Hockney's return to Yorkshire as a subject matter covers a much longer period than just the past three years.

But, anyway, that's enough of my gripe. And on a brighter note, Hockney is giving away three of his iPhone art images.

 

But you'll have to be quick because they're only available for download today and tomorrow.

england, scotland and wales: things to see

Actually, I'm going to do this in reverse order. So we'll kick off with Wales.

If you're in or around Cardiff this week, then you should pop along and see the degree shows at Cardiff School of Art & Design (on until this Friday). Cardiff has given us some pretty good student bloggers in the past year, most notably (in my probably not completely impartial opinion) Sian and Tom Harle. In fact, if you ask Tom nicely, he'll arrange to give you a guided tour. I'm looking forward to following Tom's blog as he leaves academia and moves out into the big wide world of working for money.

Next up to Glasgow School of Art, where you have an extra day in hand, since their show is open until Saturday.

There you'll find a set of wonderful illustrations of Glasgow's ice cream parlours by Louise Lockhart made up into a guide book, working together with Rosie Ferrier (and thanks to Anne at I Like for the heads up).

And finally back down south of the border to Chelmsford, where botanical illustrator Niki Simpson will be exhibiting at the RHS Hyde Hall Garden between 23rd June and 31st October. Niki's work really is ground breaking and has deservedly won her many awards. Catch it if you can.

i'm a designer. use me better.*

This is a TED talk by Jacek Utko. I recommend that you watch it (it won't take up much of your time).

via o.k. blog

*with apologies to Ben

we're all a product of our times

When I reflect back on the Helvetica Film, I'm surprised that I can't really remember very much about it. Can you? (OK, so I only ever got to see the shorter version that was shown on the BBC.) But the one thing that does stick in my mind is the trailer which shows an interview with Wim Crouwell.

He's not really talking about Helvetica, at all - is he? He's talking about Modernism. But he's also reflecting, I think, on how his love of modernism is a reflection of his education and training.

As Ko was saying just the other day, his visit to a Marcel Duchamp exhibition in Paris when he was a student made a very deep impression on him. For me, it was a major Bauhaus exhibition at the Royal Academy: and, as a consequence, 'form follows function' has been a guiding principle for me throughout my career (or "the meaning is in the content of the text", as Wim says in that clip). And once those deep impressions are made, it's very hard - if not impossible - to shake them off.

But just as important to us when we're learning to become designers is what we reject. And what we reject is usually what went immediately before. I've been reminded about this because I came across a charming little book on my bookshelf the other day.

It dates from 1976 and represents everything that I hated at the time (although I will admit to owning a brilliant pair of Newman elephant cords which were exactly that colour orange: to which my father's reaction was "you're not going out dressed like that, are you?").

I can look at that book now, though, and appreciate that there's a lot of skill and craftsmanship gone into creating it. But, for the life of me, I can't learn to love it.

oooh, nice

You've got to see this: it's amazing. Felix Wielder's collection of almost 600 modernist design books (and he's still adding more).

I've only had a quick peek at what's there, but so far here's my favourite:

It's a brochure (titled a bridge to the future) designed in 1955 by Josef Müller-Brockmann to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Swiss retailer Migros.

(Found via things)

three by one

You might remember this from the cover of Design Week a couple of weeks ago. It's some lovely wallpaper (called Lagoon, but also known as Waves) designed by Edward Bawden in 1928. You might also have read the accompanying article telling you all about an exhibition of crafts assembled from three public collections and curated by Alison Britton. It's on now - and for the rest of the year - at the Crafts Study Centre in Farnham, Surrey. Do make an effort to go: as Design Week says, "this is something that will resonate with designers".

Well, I have the great good fortune to have designed the exhibition, so I've had the chance to spend a little bit of time with the objects on display. And my pick?

It's Edward Johnston's first drawing, dated 6 February 1916, for the London Underground alphabet (actually, to be totally accurate, it's a later lithographic copy, not the original drawing itself). But for anyone interested in type, this alone would make the trip worthwhile.

also good with wood

Last week I told you about Gareth Neal. And before I move completely away from wood I also ought to introduce you to this man:

This is Matthew Burt (and Matthew's going to hate me for putting his picture up here - sorry Matthew). Matthew's a furniture designer and craftsman of the highest order, and his studio and workshop (and team of fellow craftsmen) produce work of the most exquisite and extraordinary beauty.

Matthew's first solo exhibition, celebrating 30 years in practise, is currently showing at the Crafts Study Centre in Farnham, Surrey. It's on until 21 February, and then moves on to the Bluecoat Display Centre in Liverpool in April (with further venues to be announced). Do go and see it if you can, you won't be disappointed. I've had the enormous privilege of working alongside Matthew designing the supporting graphics (but go for the furniture, not my typesetting!).

But even better than that (but you'll have to get your skates on) Matthew is giving a personal tour of the show completely free of charge, tomorrow morning at 11.30am at the Crafts Study Centre, Farnham. Email him at furniture(at)matthewburt.com (don't forget two Ts in matthew) if you can make it. And if you can't make tomorrow, then he'll be doing another one on 7 February.

One word of warning, though: you'll come away wishing you had more disposable income than you have!

And here's a taster (although these two particular pieces aren't in the show - that's something best saved as a surprise):

hold on tight: here we go

2009: it's going to be an interesting year. And I can't wait.

Usually at this time of year I'm joining my fellow bloggers in reflecting upon the past 12 months and giving you lists of ten best things of this and that. But I'm having none of it this time round: the past is gone, we can't change it, so let's move on and look to the future.

And there's going to be lots happening around here. First of all I've added two new categories: china connect and cold cuts from ko. There'll be more news about those in the days ahead. But let me just say that this year we're going global.

Second up is that I've been reflecting upon my unwritten rules; one of which is not to mention my day job (or, more accurately, not to comment on jobs that I'm actively working on). But I'm very fortunate in being able to work on some really exciting projects, and to work with some really interesting people. And so I've decided to reinterpret that particular rule. Which allows me to introduce you to the work of Gareth Neal:

Gareth is a furniture designer who graduated from Buckinghamshire University in 1996 and established his own design practice in 2002. His practice combines the technical capabilities of 3D computer drawing and computer numerically controlled processes, allied to the tradititional skills of professional craftsmanship.

His current body of work derives from the aesthetic and conceptual experimentation of his earlier work, and has a complex geometric configuration that takes on a dual form. The exterior structure is meticulously chipped away to reveal an interior design that is reminiscent of traditional furniture styles. Over time, the surface erosion gradually unveils the forms of a previous era.

That's pretty amazing, isn't it? You can find out more about Gareth from his website. And he'll be exhibiting at the Crafts Study Centre from 2 June to 25 July (which is where I come in: I'm just putting together the next programme for the Centre - email me if you'd like a copy).

So, there you are. A great start to a great year. And plenty more to come.

typographic trees

These seem to be going around the blogosphere, but in case you've missed them they belong very firmly in the 'I wish I'd done that' category of design: typographic trees created by why not associates in collaboration with Gordon Young for the new Crawley Library, which will be opening in January 2009. And there's even a flickr set.

Talking of libraries, I have to go off and do some art direction for a museums, libraries and archives report. I'll try and bring you back something nice (if I don't get arrested for taking photographs).

here's a treat

I was noodling around the internet (as you do) - in fact, I think I was looking for a suitable image to illustrate Univers in that last post. And I came across the work of Anton Stankowski (who, as you can see, often used Univers).

And here's a site dedicated to his life and work.