Hello, My Name is Paul Smith

15 November 2013 - 09 March 2014 Design Museum, 28 Shad Thames, London, SE1 2YD

Exhibition Review By Reshma Upadhyaya

The exhibition at the Design Museum, takes you through the career of fashion designer Paul Smith, from his humble beginnings in a three-metre wide shop in Nottingham to his success in an array of design fields and international acclaim today.

As you enter the exhibition you are faced with a hall full of Paul’s inspiration, from film posters, to photography and works of art. You could wander through countless times and always notice something different, which gives you a taste of all the things that may have sparked a design.

You are then led through galleries that display the many collaborations that he has taken part in; from the Mini Cooper, to David Bowie’s album artwork and stamps from the London 2012 Olympics, it’s fascinating to see how much further than fashion his designs go.

It was refreshing to see that he had dedicated an entire portion of the exhibition to the design of his shops. Several examples showed the incredibly diverse design of his shop interiors, exploring inventive ways to display his clothing range. His design goes beyond the product to embody the whole experience of a Paul Smith boutique.

The exhibition then turns its focus to the design process, with replicas of his studios showing sketches, fabrics and prints, as well as what seems like clutter , but is explained to be anything that could spark off an idea.

Finally, you reach a gallery of selected items from his collection, inspired by travel, colour, print and British tradition. The preceding rooms of the exhibition serve as a prelude to uncover the journeys he has taken to reach these pieces.

What I found most inspiring about this exhibition, is that it demonstrates Paul Smith’s attitude towards design. Inspiration is gained from anywhere. A designer need not be constrained by their field, but instead could benefit greatly from exploring other mediums.

The exhibition takes us briefly “Inside Paul’s Head”, where we hear him speak about his inspiration as vibrant videos are played around us. He encourages us to keep track of all of the ideas that come into our head, with sketches, notes or photos; something that none of us probably do enough.

He tells us: “You can find inspiration in anything. If you can’t, look again.” With any luck, we can take this moral with us as architects, especially in those desperate moments when it feels like inspiration is truly lost.