Post-Digital Art School report

I’ve just published a report, written with my UAL colleague Charlotte Webb. It’s about the collaborative digital workshops I’ve been running during my time as Professor: it was a lot of work but it came out pretty well, IMHO. Many thanks to Peggy Wang and Ben McKean who designed it brilliantly: also to Bel Aguas, Daniel Charny, Sam Dunne, Malcolm Garrett, Will Hudson, Nat Hunter and Ben Terrett who all contributed. This is the download link: have a look and let me know what you think!

Viv Albertine

In January 2015 I interviewed Viv Albertine at Central Saint Martins and it was a real pleasure. I saw the Slits several times as a teenager and have always been a massive fan, and now she’s written this incredible book. There’s a brief excerpt from the talk on YouTube and I’ve also got a recording of the whole two hour conversation somewhere if you’re interested.

Forbes Interview

I was interviewed by Heather Lacey from Forbes magazine about my “portfolio career.” It’s a nice piece and full of useful tips! Funny how the internet needs lists to make sense of anything.

Sample quote: “I suggested to him that he was a modern-day Renaissance Man and he laughed and said thanks, but no, he really wasn’t. I still think it’s a fair description.” Thanks Heather! But I’m not. No really. Well, maybe, perhaps you have a point there but no, actually, no – definitely not! Oh, all right then, I am. Now, more about me.

Rough Trade book

Rough Trade is 40 years old: they’ve put a book out to celebrate this fact. I’ve got a piece in it where I talk about going to see the Raincoats as a thirteen year old (supported by Swell Maps and Kleenex – wottagig!) and lo and behold at the launch party the other day if it wasn’t the Raincoats on stage, talking about Rough Trade. How the years fly by, etc etc.

Modual Workshop Documentary

In May 2014 I ran a two week creative workshop with twenty UAL students: we created a “pop-up design studio” inside the advertising agency Mother where they collaborated across their disciplines to generate a series of powerful projects from scratch focusing on innovation and positive change.

It was pretty amazing and the fantastic Paul Wyatt was there to document the process: he has made a great film that really shows the journey that we all went on. It’s thirty minutes long so sit back, relax and enjoy a taste of what we got up to.

London Calling

I was recently featured in Simon Witter’s excellent documentary on British pop and its art school roots; here’s an edited film of my contribution. I recommend the full series highly: it’s currently showing on Sky Arts every so often.

D&AD Foreman

So I’m going to be a foreman at the D&AD Student Awards this year. I’d better get a hard hat, some hob-nailed boots and a reflective jacket right away. Oi, you! Put that consignment over there, not there! Just getting some practise.

Check me out! I get a fancy yellow tab on my picture. And I’m allowed to have the biggest smile, bigger than all the other judges. Except the one who’s just an icon who is actually smiling more than me in secret. She’s smiling because they didn’t persuade her to send in a crappy photo of herself like the rest of us. Except my photo is not crappy but in fact nice because my wife took it.

Are you still reading this? Then you win the prize! Hooray! That’s my foreman-ing done (no it isn’t – Ed.)

Cheltenham Design Festival

I’m talking at the Cheltenham Design Festival in April this year which is all about Design Futures. I was planning an optimistic message (the talk’s title begins “Hooray!”) but I’ve had the flu recently so finding the necessary positivity to write the damn thing is proving a bit elusive. Maybe I’ll do them a Goth remix; I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.

If you’re there I’m doing my thing at 17.00 on Friday the 12th of April. No Goth really, I promise! (Oooh, so tempting though.)