A Reason To Design
Joanne Catlow Design Context
Although visual inspiration has been important within the understanding of my work I feel it is just as necessary to highlight the way my thought process has altered in discovering what graphic design is. This book contains a collection of quotes, images and outlooks from designers and thinkers which have been turning points in the way I view graphic design. Ultimately I have found a reason to design.
‘Form ever follows function’
Louis Sullivan
The Consult
‘Without constantly scanning, scrutinizing and absorbing everything that goes on around us, we can’t hope to become successful and efficient graphic designers.’
Adrian Shaughnessy
SNASK -Sweden
Triboro Design
‘Everything about it was made to reveal rather than to hide the beautiful thing it was meant to contain.’
Beatrice Warde
Glasford and Walker
HEY Studio
‘Graphic design is not interesting.’
Craig Oldham
Left Loft
[A graphic designer should] ‘prefigure a better world where visual communication would enlighten rather than simply reproduce the prevailing tastes, attitudes and conditions.’
Jobling and Crawley
Due to working on ethical projects do you find there are limitations within the resolution, e.g. print production, quantity? Do you often initiate projects as a Print production is certainly one of our studio or are you approached by biggest problems when producing cost charities or groups with a set brief? effective solutions. We usually don’t have UHC Design haven’t initiated many of our large budgets and we often want 100% own projects recently. We work closely with recycled solutions which increases prices and are often commissioned by the art side further. of the company who are awarded grants With regards to quantity, this is usually based upon our own ideas. dictated by the client and isn’t affected much We have also been undertaking a number at all by our budget. It hasn’t been an issue of unpaid briefs lately, we’ve rebranded and for us so far. promoted the Liverpool Art Prize amongst It’s very tough as we would love to use others. We also help host and produce to most luxurious papers and processes posters for a weekly movie night at Hotspur however often these don’t comply with the House for local creatives, friends and people UHC ethics; they are often wasteful and we work with. unnecessary. With time restrictions it is often As a design studio we are contacted by hard to think of alternative solutions but regular clients such as the Green Party, wherever we get chance we like to use hand Greenpeace, Platform London etc with briefs finishing or similar methods to increase a which we undertake just like any studio. products worth. When we’ve finished our rebrand and are a bit more organised we plan to get back to As an ethical studio, do you find there initiating our own projects more often. is still a broad range of subjects to work on? Could you give examples of Do you find, due to the subject this range? heavy focus, that it is easier or more I find working at UHC to be possibly one of difficult to be creative? the most interesting and educational places Our subjects are almost always loaded to work. The subject matter of our clients with content, messages, issues that inspire briefs are always varied and in the changing us and spark some sort of creative focus. world the repeating subjects seldom remain Other than that, we’re all very interested in exactly the same. design so we always have a stock of ideas and Some examples of the subjects I have techniques that we’ve been waiting to use. worked on personally include; activism, Our clients come to us expecting a high sustainable living, climate change, nuclear standard of design. UHC have been around war, migration, extinct species, artist’s and long enough to build up a bit of a reputation designer’s websites, education and a variety for what we do and we plan to constantly of local business’s. improve the quality of our work and continue to develop without alienating any of our smaller clients.
An interview with Jimmy Edmondson from The Ultimate Holding Company.
‘ENJOY!’
Fred Bates
No Days Off
There will always be more to see and learn and I will constantly change the way I see design as long as I keep an open mind. It is exciting to imagine what will inspire me next. Thanks Joanne Catlow