Why Bother?
01.
02.
03.
Kessels Kramer:
KarlssonWilker:
Wes Anderson:
Design studio based in Amsterdam, London & NYC.
Design duo based in NYC.
American film director and screenwriter best known for his unique visual style.
04.
05.
06.
Ian Stevenson:
Studio Dumbar:
Anthony Burrill:
British designer + illustrator.
International design agency based in Rotterdam, Shanghai and Seoul.
Graphic artist, print-maker and designer.
07.
08.
09.
Sagmeister & Walsh:
SNASK:
Stanley Kubrick:
NYC based design firm.
Design, brand and film agency based in Sweden.
American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, and editor.
10.
11.
12.
Daniel Eatock:
Bob Gill:
Tibor Kalman:
British Graphic Designer.
American Advertiser and Graphic Designer.
Art Director and Magazine Creative Director.
A selection of somebody elses interests.
Joel Christopher Burden (Some guy you probably don’t know) Print+Communcation+ Creative Direction.
01.
02.
03.
Kessels Kramer:
KarlssonWilker:
Wes Anderson:
Design studio based in Amsterdam, London & NYC.
Design duo based in NYC.
American film director and screenwriter best known for his unique visual style.
04.
05.
06.
Studio Dumbar:
Anthony Burrill:
British designer + illustrator.
International design agency based in Rotterdam, Shanghai and Seoul.
Graphic artist, print-maker and designer.
07.
08.
09.
Ian Stevenson:
Sagmeister & Walsh:
SNASK:
NYC based design firm.
Design, brand and film agency based in Sweden.
American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, and editor.
10.
11.
12.
Daniel Eatock:
Bob Gill:
Tibor Kalman:
British Graphic Designer.
American Advertiser and Graphic Designer.
Art Director and Magazine Creative Director.
Stanley Kubrick:
’I love you, but you don’t know what you’re talking about.’ ’Bob Gill blah, blah, blah, blah.’
13.
14.
15.
American Illustrator and Graphic Designer.
Commerical Art and Printmaking.
Film Graphics.
16.
17.
18.
Revolutionary Chef.
Comedian and Writer.
Publishing and Book Design.
19.
20.
21.
Paul Rand:
Ferran Adria:
Paul Sahre:
Aesthetic Apparatus:
Stewart Lee:
Yellow1:
KELLERHOUSE:
Penguin Books:
Milton Glaser:
American Graphic Designer.
Film Graphics.
Illustrator and Graphic Designer.
22.
25.
TED Talks:
Dieter Rams:
25.
Ideas Community.
Product Designer.
Design Consultancy.
Graphic Thought Facility:
’The next time you see a sixteen colour, blindembossed, gold stamped, die-cut, elaborately folded and bound job, done on handmade paper. See if it isn’t a mediocre idea trying to pass for something else.’
Disciplines: Print+ Communcation+ Creative Direction.
01. KesselsKramer:
Who? Established in 1996, KesselsKramer is an independent, communications agency in Amsterdam, London and now in Los Angeles with about 50 people of 10 different nationalities. THE KK ETHOS: Make it meaningful. From film to digital, we make every piece of work social, in the very origins of the word (society), something that can engage and become part of a community, rather than just rack up “likes�. We make content that is human and risk taking. Relevant yet irreverent communication that helps our clients drive business, build loyal communities and reshape mindsets.
Why? Strong ideas. They put real thought into the context and audience and attempt to create work that is not necessarily on trend in design world but instead functions and communicates messages in an array of different tones.
Disciplines: Design+ Art Direction.
02. KarlssonWilker:
Who? Welcome to karlssonwilker, the design studio of Icelander Hjalti Karlsson and Jan Wilker from Germany, founded in 2000 and located in the heart of New York City. Along with their team of creatives, they work directly and independently for a diverse mix of cultural and commercial clients—from local non-profits to global corporations.Today, karlssonwilker continues to push forward on behalf of their clients.
Why? They follow strong ideas through mainly in video, print and exhibition, all mediums I have a strong interest in. But most importantly, they have a playful approach to briefs.
Disciplines: Director, Screen-writer.
03. Wes Anderson:
Who? Wes Anderson is an American film director whose works feature a recurring ensemble of actors, including Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. He is known for quirky, comical movies with flawed characters.
Why? His films are a treat for the eyes, ears and mind. Putting the visual integrity aside, his films are uniquely his own.
Disciplines: Print, Illustration.
04. Ian Stevenson:
Who? Ian is a professional man, secure in his sexuality and proud of his body. He attended Camberwell College of Arts between 1996 and 9 where he learned to make things look pretty on a variety of surfaces including paper and fabric ... Hawking himself on a dirty alley named graphic design, he was picked up in the slick limousine of a famous company who, for no reason at all except to add the illusion of foul play, will remain nameless, where he stayed for three circles of the Earth’s orbit around our Sun (that firey, heartless life-giver), making many good things there including videos for songs by a band and little creatures and t-shirts and so on and so forth.
Why? Ian Stevenson really doesn’t seem like he gives a f*ck. I respect that in a strange way. He keeps an extremely minimal aesthetic that always seems to react like a passenger to the message, or rantings, of each piece. Strong sense of personality within the work.
Disciplines: Branding+ Identity.
05. Studio Dumbar:
Who? Design is at the heart of what we do. We describe our work as ‘visual branding, online branding’, meaning we create every visible expression of a brand or organization — offline and online. This involves expertise in strategy, communication, branding and process-management. It is in our nature to look for the pure essence — in the people we work with, and the projects we take on. It’s a mentality that helps us to build a great team and achieve extraordinary results, no matter how complex or demanding a project might be.
Why? Experimental in their approach to visuals. More importantly however they produce strong, thought through idents. The integration of a strong idea is always appealing to me and the best branding projects (the only ones that interest me) are ones that are more than just an exercise in spreading a logo and colour scheme over a range of deliverables.
Disciplines: Graphic Design+ Print.
06. Anthony Burrill:
Who? Graphic artist, print-maker and designer Anthony Burrill is known for his persuasive, up-beat style of communication. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, New York and has been exhibited in galleries around the world including The Barbican, The Walker Art Centre and The Graphic Design Museum, Breda. In 2012, he made his first foray into curating with the exhibition Made in L.A. - Work by Colby Poster Printing, at KK Outlet in London.
Why? The use of typography and simple colour are attracting for obvious reasons, and though some of the messages are not necessarily dripping in originality, I appreciate his agenda of communication over decoration.
Disciplines: Graphic Design+ Art Direction+ Branding+ Self-initiated.
07. Sagmeister & Walsh:
Who? Sagmeister & Walsh is a NYC based design firm that creates identities, commercials, websites, apps, films, books and objects for clients, audiences and ourselves
Why? Sagmeister, whatever your opinion on him may be, has always been pushing the boundaries of graphic design. Not many in the field do this as it involves taking risks and not producing things in a style that has been tried and tested to be approved of by other designers and clients.
Disciplines: Branding+ Digital+ Film.
08. SNASK:
Who? We believe in standing out and have opinions to stand up for. To be a part of the present time and have the gaze nailed to tomorrow. We believe in telling stories and to really dare to be personal. To constantly question and challenge social conventions and to never be afraid of making enemies. Why? Because with obvious enemies a brand becomes clear and distinguishable, and will have millions of fans and followers. Finally we believe that the only right way is your own, walk with us. Snask Off!
Why? SNASK seem to follow some of the teachings of Bob Gill and try to inject their personality into the work. For me, I enjoy the use of humour within their work, especially the film pieces. Branding can be terribly dry, so to find a studio that actually has some fun with it, whilst still communicating the companies message, is a winner for me.
Disciplines: Film+ Cinematography+ Editing+ Screenwriting.
09. Stanley Kubrick:
Who? He is regarded as one of the great filmmakers and was part of the New Hollywood wave of filmmaking. His films, typically adaptations of novels or short stories, are noted for their “dazzling� and unique cinematography, attention to detail in the service of realism, and the evocative use of music.
Why? I draw huge influence from film in terms of its ability to communicate stories and messages, and also in terms of its ability to inflict emotional response to its viewers. Kubrick was most certainly one of the masters of the practice, and like Wes Anderson had a key eye for detail. Decades ahead of his time.
Disciplines: Design+ Art Direction+ Branding.
10. Daniel Eatock:
Who? Using my background knowledge from working as a graphic designer, I employ a rational, logical and pragmatic approach when making work. I have an ongoing interest to proposing and finding solutions to problems, often problems that cannot be formulated before they have been solved, the shaping of the question is part of the answer. I look for things to fix or improve, working like a tinkerer/inventor, I propose alternatives to existing models, preferring to find ways around doing things properly, bypassing the struggle. I make work for museums, galleries, television, cinema, design, advertising, branding, and education.
Why? Eatock is another designer who does things his own way. In terms of my own personal practice, I’m interested in his thought process and how he looks at design and its place in the world.
Disciplines: Advertising+ Graphic Design+ Illustration.
11. Bob Gill:
Who? Bob Gill (born 1931, Brooklyn, NY) attended Philadelphia Museum School of Art and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art before starting a freelance career in New York. His early work included illustrations for Esquire, Architectural Forum, Fortune, Seventeen, The Nation, children’s books and film titles. He won a New York Art Directors Gold Medal for a CBS television title in 1955.
Why? His teachings of the subject, like most of the older generation, are extremely insightful. Some of the things that trouble me about the industry today, such as designers only designing for other designers, awards and appreciations, he vocalises. This is an overarching theme for me. I find myself yearning after greater depth within work over aesthetical beauty. Perhaps finding the right balance of the two is the ideal.
Disciplines: Art Direction+ Graphic Design.
12. Tibor Kalman:
Who? Tibor Kalman was the ultimate rebel, the quintessential graphic designer, and the revolutionary artist who invented new paradigms in design and influenced generations of practitioners in the field. Born on July 6, 1949 in Budapest, Hungary, his father was a well-to-do engineer. His family settled in New York after the Soviet invasion. Kalman attended journalism classes at New York University (NYU) for one year and dropped out to pursue a career in design. Window displays he designed for an NYU student book exchange so amazed its proprietor, Leonard Riggio, that when Riggio acquired the Barnes and Noble chain of bookstores, he appointed Kalman its creative director.
Why? Kalman is a great source of inspiration for me. He stood up for his values and strived towards making design that spoke to people and raised awareness of the rest of the world in consumer society. This political-social agenda within a design spectrum is vastly interesting. He believed that design is a tool that is not being used for good the way it has potential to, and instead is purely reserved for selling goods we don’t need, and ideas we don’t want.
Disciplines: Graphic Design+ Illustrsation.
13. Paul Rand:
Who? Paul Rand (August 15, 1914 – November 26, 1996) was an American art director and graphic designer, best known for his corporate logo designs, including the logos for IBM, UPS, Enron, Morningstar, Inc., Westinghouse, ABC, and Steve Jobs’s NeXT. He was one of first American commercial artists to embrace and practice the Swiss Style of graphic design.
Why? The use of shape and colour drew a new line where art and design could mingle. This minimalist approach gave work greater clarity through allowing elements to breathe on a page.
Disciplines: Commerical Art+ Printmaking.
14. Aesthetic Apparatus:
Who? We call Aesthetic Apparatus a “commercial art and printmaking studio.” But what does that mean? On the surface, it means our work is a bit too commercial for “fine art”, and our studio is a bit too messy for “graphic design.” On a deeper level it also means that we have recognized a tendency towards expansion in many studio practices, and see a creative price often paid for unchecked growth. So we designed an intentionally small design studio, and included our small-scale printmaking discipline within it to seal the deal. But balance is important. We’re not puritans. We love the tactility of ink on paper, and we also love the shared cultural experience of a well-executed national campaign. Why? One of my great passions within the design world is print. However much I enjoy experimenting with new processes and ways of working, print will always hold a special place. Aesthetic Apparatus have one of my dream set-ups, that of creating prints for a living. Both for music, and more commercial ventures. They are also forever evolving their style through found media, something I find interesting as a working process.
Disciplines: Graphic Design+ Film Graphics.
15. KELLERHOUSE:
Who? “I was working in the music industry until they sued Napster. I thought that was a really dumb thing to do, so I started aggressively moving away from that industry. I’d already been working with Disney’s marketing department, primarily on Pixar films. I had a class with Jules Engel when I was at CalArts, and classes with Don Levy and Gene Youngblood. They introduced me to experimental film directors, people like Stan Brackage, Bruce Conner, Maya Deren. I knew about the Janus film library and Criterion, so I sent some work to them and they hired me.”
Why? As a lover of film, working in the industry intrigues me. Neil Kellerhouse is one of the leading men for just that. His film posters are experimental but always nail the brief and capture the essence of the film. Creating work for someone elses project can be difficult and is an everyday for anyone working within the film or music business. How they deal with this collaboration has always interested me.
Disciplines: Gastronomy.
16. Ferran Adria:
Who? Ferran Adrià i Acosta is a Spanish Catalan chef born on May 14, 1962 in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. He was the head chef of the elBulli restaurant in Roses on the Costa Brava and is considered one of the best chefs in the world.
Why? People like Ferran Adria influence me in the way they think, even if this has nothing to do with design. In Ferran’s case, he thinks about food in a completely revolutionary way. This desire to push things forward must be admired and is something I aspire to (or at least attempt) within my own practice, no matter what that is. I find it extremely important to take influence from contexts outside the field of design, sometimes more so than ones within (sitting on behance for example can be severely detrimental to original thought). It is far too easy to become comfortable with what we know and this is a dangerous notion. Innovation is rarely comfortable.
Disciplines: Writer+ Stand-up comedian+ Musician.
17. Stewart Lee:
Who? In his twenty year career, Stewart has performed on over two continents, written for Steve Coogan and Michael Barrymore, squandered development deals with massive American TV Networks and interviewed Neil Diamond. He has also written a confusing novel about native American clowns, been denied entry to Spike Milligan’s house, appeared in the forgotten double act Lee and Herring, had two TV series cancelled by Jane Root at the BBC and dressed Johnny Vegas as a yeti.
Why? Another non-design related influence. Comedy and writing is a form of communcation, they have an audience, context etc. It is interesting to see how lines are delivered, especially in respect to copywriting. The values of timing within their vocal delivery can perhaps be used as inspiration to a visual delivery of information.
Disciplines: Publishing+ Book Design.
18. Penguin Books:
Who? Penguin Books was founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane, as a line of publishers The Bodley Head, only becoming a separate company the following year. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin’s success demonstrated that large audiences existed for serious books. Penguin also had a significant impact on public debate in Britain, through its books on politics, the arts, and science.
Why? Something about the classic orange modernist design of Penguin books has always pleased me. More importantly here I’m interested in how the classic becomes the modern. Penguin are constantly trying to evolve their cover designs whilst maintaining their heritage.
Disciplines: Writer+ Stand-up comedian+ Musician.
19. Paul Sahre:
Who? Paul Sahre is an American graphic designer perhaps best known for his book cover designs and illustrations for The New York Times. Sahre was born in Johnson City in upstate New York, and received his BFA and MFA degrees from Kent State University.
Why? Another designer who works primarily for print and publication. His work is both visually stimulating whilst providing clear communcation. Something I both respect and aspire to.
Disciplines: Graphic Design+ Film Graphics+ Music Graphics.
20. Yellow1:
Who? Established in 2001, Yellow1 is a creative design agency based in Copenhagen, Denmark headed by Creative Director Paul Wilson. Formerly London, England based, Paul Wilson has produced work for Quentin Tarantino, Guy Ritchie, Baz Luhrmann, Jonathan Glazer, M. Night Shyamalan, Texas, Elvis Costello & Elton John among others.
Why? Like KELLERHOUSE, one of the stronger film + music graphic designers working today. His work is slightly more straightforward persay but no less effective.
Disciplines: Graphic Design+ Illustrsation.
21. Milton Glaser:
Who? Milton Glaser (b.1929) is among the most celebrated graphic designers in the United States. He has had the distinction of one-man-shows at the Museum of Modern Art and the Georges Pompidou Center. In 2004 he was selected for the lifetime achievement award of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum. As a Fulbright scholar, Glaser studied with the painter, Giorgio Morandi in Bologna, and is an articulate spokesman for the ethical practice of design. He opened Milton Glaser, Inc. in 1974, and continues to produce an astounding amount of work in many fields of design to this day.
Why? Like Bob Gill, another one of the great design thinkers. Believes in originality and idea over process and visual flourish.
Disciplines: Thinkers+ Theorists+ Lecturers.
22. TED:
Who? TED is a global community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world. On TED.com, we’re building a clearinghouse of free knowledge from the world’s most inspired thinkers — and a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other, both online and at TED and TEDx events around the world, all year long.
Why? In terms of forward thinking, TED is the place to go. People from all over the world, in every field, talk theories and philosophies over life and work. Always inspirational and holds a well of possible ideas that could be applied in different ways to design. How people think and create is becoming an on-going obsession.
Disciplines: Industrial Design+ Product Design.
23. Dieter Rams:
Who? Dieter Rams (born 20 May 1932 in Wiesbaden, Hessen) is a German industrial designer closely associated with the consumer products company Braun and the Functionalist school of industrial design.
Why? Rams found beauty in functionality, much like the Bauhaus. Product design can be extremely inspirational to me, mainly in the way it aids the human race and how we interact with the spaces and objects around us.
Disciplines: Graphic Design+ Curation+ Identity.
24. Graphic Thought Facility:
Who? Graphic Thought Facility is a London-based design consultancy with an international reputation for appropriate, effective and original solutions. We believe that a successful project is rooted in a deep understanding of its objectives and we take great care to listen to our clients, often forging long-term relationships. Although our approach has been cited as original and unconventional, our underlying principles are clarity, simplicity and a belief that functional need and emotional response demand equal consideration.
Why? GTF have quickly become one of my favourite studios. They produce work that is both beautiful, and functional, something I most certainly aspire to. Creating an emotional response in design is not common place but something I feel I need to find in my own work to be satisfied with the impact it is creating. GTF find ways of doing this.
’The vast majority of designers today think the idea of a wonderful job is to create something that’s beautiful. They’re just not that interested in expressing an opinion.’ - Bob Gill
13.
14.
15.
Paul Rand:
Aesthetic Apparatus:
KELLERHOUSE:
American Illustrator and Graphic Designer.
Commerical Art and Printmaking.
Film Graphics.
16.
17.
18.
Ferran Adria:
Stewart Lee:
Penguin Books:
Revolutionary Chef.
Comedian and Writer.
Publishing and Book Design.
19.
20.
21.
Paul Sahre:
Yellow1:
Milton Glaser:
American Graphic Designer.
Film Graphics.
Illustrator and Graphic Designer.
22.
23.
24.
TED Talks:
Dieter Rams:
Graphic Thought Facility:
Ideas Community.
Product Designer.
Design Consultancy.