37 Comments

From 1990 to 1993, I sat adjacent to Alan Fletcher in Pentagram's London office. Alan was a generous man, full of understated wit and a innate passion to express his take on the world through his distinct style.

I appreciated the time he gave to me; a genuine mentor with a gracious manner. That he could be both eloquent and brusque in the same sentence was a constant source of amusement - perhaps even his 'trademark'.

Alan invited me to contribute to the Feedback series of books, even though I was very new to the Pentagram environment. He was a man of largesse, and was surprisingly open to new ideas in the field of design.

I extend my sympathies to Paola, and all who knew Alan should celebrate his significant contribution to advancing visual communications.
bwickens
2006-09-22 18:53:05

I was shocked to hear the news about Alan today.

He is someone who's work I have admired for a very long time. He was also very generous with his time when he came to speak to my students at the University College for the Creative Arts, Epsom Campus. An inspirational speaker, who's presentation students referred to for months afterwards. He will be greatly missed.
Sallyanne
2006-09-22 19:22:24

Way before i ever met Alan, he was one of my heroes. When i finally did meet him, i was in awe of him, but he wasn't the least bit arrogant, condescending or distant. Having lunch at his house was like hanging out with old friends, although there were always people there who i'd never met before, but had certainly heard of.

It is unfair that someone like Alan should not live to be 120.
eriks
2006-09-22 20:03:39

I was not fortunate enough to meet Alan or even hear any of his lectures, but the man is still a great influence to me. His witty and genuine style of communication is what fueled my passion in visual arts. Because of him, I'll always be looking sideways.
koleslaw
2006-09-25 04:12:22

A sad loss to the graphic design industry....he will continue to inspire designers for years to come.
kirstenjohnston
2006-09-25 09:52:14

Today's Guardian contains an obituary here here

Steven Heller is also writing one, for the New York Times, which should appear tomorrow
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-25 10:01:02

From Michael C Place/Build:

"Sad news indeed, while I didn't think I knew much about
his work I only this morning pulled off my shelf in the studio a copy of 'A
sign systems manual' only to discover it was written/designed by
'Crosby/Fletcher/Forbes', I'm sure I'll un-knowingly have more of his work.
The piece in The Guardian really brings across the warmth of the man, and
the scale/influence his work has had on today's graphic design."
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-25 11:00:28

From David Kester, chief executive of the Design Council and former chief executive of D&AD:

"Sixties London fomented revolutions - social, political and cultural - which rippled around the world. One exceptional idiosyncratic dry brilliant and self-deprecating revolutionary was Alan Fletcher. Alan is synonomous with the very best of graphic design, with Pentagram with the meeting point of design, art and commerce. I had the great privilege of knowing Alan, throughout a decade at D&AD and over recent years at the Design Council. He was to me what I know he will always be to so many others of all ages and nations - an unfailing inspiration and a great human being."
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-25 12:12:14

From Michael Johnson, johnson banks:


"Was Alan was the ultimate designer-role model? In the fifties he studied with all his heroes: in the sixties he started the ultimate creative hot-shop (Fletcher Forbes Gill); the next two decades were devoted to the establishment and world-domination of Pentagram. Then he stepped sideways and became a one-man thinking, designing and publishing phenomenon. You couldn’t script a better career if you tried.
But throughout this fantastic, fifty-year designer journey he always had time for people - he never had to resort to anything beginning with ‘don’t you know who I am…’ But of course everyone knew who Alan was. Never was the phrase ‘living legend’ so apt. Never has British design felt quite so deprived."


MIchael has also written a piece here
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-25 14:05:34

he was my hero,
my inspiration.
the best thinker that ever lived.
he really was the ultimate smile in the mind.
a gruff man in ironed jeans with a huge heart and a blotchy pen which gave birth to a world of ideas on a napkin.
a man who was one of the founder partners of pentagram and for me he was the reason it was great.

i want to thank you alan for teaching me to think hard, the power of ideas and to be playful and have fun in the process.

my sympathy goes to his family at this very sad time.

love and massive respect, vince
vince frost
2006-09-26 00:09:16

Memories, dreams, reflections…

The endless evenings in his studio; him always opening a second bottle of
red wine. The ache in my jaw from the
laughter. Swapping books, ideas and dreams. Never heading home on anything
less than cloud nine.

Ideas we’re his lifeblood, he seemed to be watching for them constantly. I’d
get little notes and notions in the post - a follow up to a conversation I’d
forgotten, from weeks before.

Earlier in the summer I arrived to see him with some layouts for his new
book. I was wearing clear-topped flip-flops, ‘Fuck, your shoes have fallen
off!’ was his greeting.

The last time I was with Alan was in Paris in June. We had breakfast
together at the Pentagram IPC. He was so frail; worried about the walk back
to his room, yet he’d come all this way to be with us. He left the table
smiling, I left in tears. Later that day I found a wonderful old wooden box
in a market. It had ‘A.F’ in rough Bodoni stamped on the side. I took a
picture and framed it for Alan. When he called to say thanks, I said I was
sorry it wasn’t the actual box. He laughed, saying he was pleased as it took
up less space.

Very few in this industry of ours have real soul in their work; Alan had
nothing but. To be close to him was a profound privilege and I know he
changed the course of my life on several occasions, encouraging me in
directions I would never have been brave enough to take had it not been for
him.

The future will be impoverished without Alan unless we truly follow his
example of intuitive design, from the heart.

I found him a generous, caring and inspirational man.

The last book he gave me was called ‘Life’; the last book I gave him -
‘Memories, dreams, reflections’.

Harry Pearce.
harry pearce
2006-09-26 08:48:49

From Michael Hockney, chief executive, D&AD:

"Alan Fletcher was a design icon who produced innovative, world-class work throughout his life and remained committed to encouraging creativity in others.  D&AD owes Alan Fletcher a tremendous debt – not only a founding member, Alan served as one of our first Presidents in 1974.  In 1977, with Colin Forbes, he received a President’s Award for his outstanding contribution to creativity. That contribution, particularly in support of D&AD, never really stopped. Alan only just completed a project for us in the last few weeks and last year at Congress, audiences hung on every word of the original Fletchers/Forbes/Gill team as they reviewed a lifetime of incredible work.  

On a personal note, I always knew Alan as a great character – full of fun – who has remained an inspiration as long for as I have known him. He will be missed tremendously by everyone with a passion for great creativity."
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-26 09:50:14

Read Steven Heller's New York Times obituary of Alan here
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-26 10:07:13

From Alan Dye, NB: Studio

The first time I met Alan I had just left Pentagram and was a little
unsure about my next move.
A few glasses of wine later my anxiety had gone, hugely inspired with
a big smile on my face I left his house with a new direction and two corduroy burgundy Habitat sofas (circa 1970) for my flat !
Such a huge creative force, he will be missed…
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-26 11:40:50

There is also an obituary in today's Times, here


and one from Emily King in The Independent here
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-26 15:38:05

From John Dowling, Dowling Design & Art Direction:

Whist working at Pentagram between 1998 – 2001 I regularly used to spot Alan Fletcher around Notting Hill. You couldn't miss him in his big black hat, occasionally picking up the odd piece of treasure from the pavement or numerous skips which littered the streets. I always wanted to tap him on the shoulder and say hi, I'm part of the family, I work over at Pentagram – but never had the bottle to do so. I would sometimes make a detour in the mornings and on my way home, walking past his large alphabet gates not realising that in a few years time I would be sitting in his studio working under his guidance and direction on a number of Phaidon books. He was to me, like many others, a hero – the ultimate designer. Our last meeting was about 4 weeks ago – his words and advice from that meeting will stay with me for a long time.
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-26 17:14:14

For the five years from 2001 - 2005 I was co-director of a five-week study abroad to London each summer for two dozen Visual Communications students from the University of Delaware headed into their senior year. Alan was gracious enough to allow us to visit him in his studio on our trip's first Friday afternoon each of those years. The students would sit on the floor and listen to Alan talk about his life and projects he was currently working on. When you were in his studio you were surrounded by examples of his creativity. One year there were several dozen toys he had made for his grandson out of abandoned cigarette boxes. On another the entire back wall was covered with thumbnails of his "The Art of Looking Sideways." He would walk the city with a mat knife cutting typography off the ends of boxes and organizing them into small typographic stillifes spelling out word by organizing the scale or color of the type or its background. He was nice enough to give me 'color' done in black and white. We had started a letterpress shop called Raven Press at the University of Delaware in 2002. We were visiting with the class of 2004 and one of the students thought it would be great if they could get Alan to design Raven Press a logo as a gift to the faculty for the trip. Can you imagine having a student letterpress shop and Alan Fletcher designed your logo (you can see the story at http://designers.art.udel.edu and clicking on Raven Press)? The following year we had him write our the studio name in his wonderful handwriting. He could make a killer "A" out of three marks. He was doing a project for a chemical company in Switzerland. The fences were incredible. The fountains were ultimately simple and astoundingly cool created by simply revolving the silhouette of a scientist's face. Every detail of a project was worth the effort the whole project deserved. He was the most creative person I've ever had the opportunity to meet. He was sharing. He would always make time for dinner afterwards and we would invite a couple of deserving students to join us in another couple of hours of talk. We will forever miss those wonderful Friday afternoons.
Raymond Nichols
2006-09-26 18:15:00

I wrote this up a bit eariler for my own blog, and thought I would post it here:

“Most people live with a bag over their heads. Seeing, for them, is just a convenient way for not bumping into things.” - Alan Fletcher

Alan Fletcher passed away last Tuesday (September 21st, 2006). His book, “The Art of Looking Sideways”, was the first book I ever received on graphic design. I received it as a present from my parents on Christmas. They were looking to support my interest in design and art. At the time I only had a vague idea of what visual communication was; I had no clue who Alan Fletcher was.

The book ended up having a huge impact on me and my thought process. Every time I open the book I notice something new, something that makes me respect Fletcher that much more. To this day the book motivates me to be a better designer and person. Fletcher created beautiful work and had a beautiful attitude. I hoped to meet him one day and say thank you, but this will have to do.

Rest in peace Alan Fletcher.
Markj
2006-09-26 18:32:19

From Sarah Temple, London College of Communication:

When I breeze through the LCC library (the best design library in
London) there are always students fumbling through Problem Solved or 8vo / On
the outside, books by Tomato or Muller-Brockmann, but its "The Art of Looking
Sideways" to which they return and return. Alan's books will sit there for many,
many years to come, (fittingly next to Gill's "Forget all the things...") inspiring
literally hundreds and hundred of design students from all over the world. It's a
comforting thought.
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-27 10:13:01

Alan Fletcher has been a great influence to me in my work and obviously thousands of others. I feel fortunate to have met him and his advice will stay with me forever.

I'd like to produce a tribute.

The Idea:
All designers submit an ‘A’ (UPPER CASE) designed and created by themselves. Participants may use collage, paint, write, draw, scribble, scratch, photograph or otherwise produce the letter.

Once all the letters have been sent in they will form a poster, that will comprise all the submissions.

The A, is not only for Alan but:

A designer
A painter
A risk taker
A thinker
A traveller etc…

Entries to be sent to tribute@ninepin.co.uk, let me know if there are any questions/queries. If you'd prefer to send in the orginal artwork then contact me and I can give you the details.

If enough people participate in the project, and I think they ultimately will, it will show just how inspirational and far reaching his influence was on not just graphic design students, practioners, illustrators, etc. but many other profession's aswell.

All my thoughts to his family,

Thank you
Daniel Adam
2006-09-27 10:27:06

From Jeremy Myerson , Royal College of Art, Author, Beware Wet Paint with Alan Fletcher
I thought Alan Fletcher was one of the world's most exceptionally talented graphic designers - until I worked with him closely on a book for Phaidon about his life and projects called Beware Wet Paint. Then I discovered that he was an artist, philosopher, linguist, all-round communication genius and much else besides. He told me lots of stories, as he told everyone lots of stories. My favourite Alan Fletcher story was his true tale of returning as a young boy by ship from Africa, the 'white man's grave', in the late 1930s after the death of his father. The ship passed through the Straits of Gibraltar. In the sky he thought he saw fireworks but it was the opening volleys of the Spanish Civil War as Franco's army advanced from Morocco. Perhaps there should be fireworks over Gibraltar to mark his passing.
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-27 11:32:56

From Derek Stewart, Metalli Lindberg:
"I can't remember how many copies of Alan Fletcher's wonderful 'The Art of Looking Sideways' I've bought in the past and I still don't have my own copy - it always ends up being passed on for others  to enjoy and to marvel at. Fletcher was one of the best, may his spirit and his wit shine on. Pace e bene Alan".
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-27 12:44:45

Pentagram partner Michael Bierut remembers Alan at Design Observer
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-27 14:43:24

Alan was a mentor to many, an inspiration to more, incredibly modest, he was never a snob but was the absolute enthusiast.

Alan was my hero, so I thought up a lame excuse to intoduce myself to him, I was 27 and had just started a design company. He was at Pentagram and I phoned him, amazingly he took the call and invited me in, he saw through my excuse straight away and asked me why I was really there - so I asked him how do you charge clients. He took a little sip of his drink and told me to think of the right number then double it. If the client doesn't have a sharp intake of breath then you've shot too low. A couple of years later he rang me wanting a days work on a project, I thought of a number and doubled it, he took a sharp intake of breath and said bloody hell, for that much you can do two days work!

I'm 41, I still need his advice and will miss him.

Tim Fendley, AIG
timfendley
2006-09-27 16:45:43

From Richard Schlagman, Publisher, Phaidon Press:

Of the many designers that Phaidon has collaborated with over the last 15 years, Alan was unique. He was a highly original thinker with an unusual thought process. He overflowed with creative ideas, and though some of them completely missed the point, others were pure genius that could only have come from Alan. He always cut through to the essence. He is one of the very few people I have encountered who had the ability to make me look at things in a completely different way to how I was seeing them, even though I was fairly certain I had the answer. Alan was a true editorial designer concerned with ideas, content and communication, and never satisfied with just a stylish but superficial solution. For us, he is irreplaceable.
 Patrick Burgoyne
2006-09-27 21:33:03

I was devasted to hear the news of Alan's passing this week.

It felt as if I'd lost a personal friend and had my right arm chopped off. Even though I only met him twice, he always made such a big immpression on me, as a student, a designer and finally as an educator.(I spoke to his daughter Raffaella this morning about this blog and felt I just wanted somewhere to express my own thoughts about Alan. What an apt opportunity CR has placed for us to celebrate Alan's life and work.)

What a loss to his wife and daughter and family and also to the design community around the world. He will be sadly missed by all.

Alan was a huge influence during my student days at college. He first addressed us as students back in the Icograda conference in London in the '80's. Since then I've sung his praises to everyone that would listen and recommended his books to all my students. They will always remain on our reading lists here at Wrexham! I sat at my desk this morning and poured over them again and still can't believe he's not here any more!

What a legacy he has left behind for future generations of design students.....what an incredible man he was!

I've made sure that all my students here at the North Wales School of Art & Design (Wrexham.) know about this blog. So hopefully they will feel they have a place to express themselves and say a few words about how Alan has influenced them with their work.

Good bye Alan, see you in the next life.

Regards,
Pauline Amphlett
(Design Educator)
paulineamphlett
2006-09-28 14:45:39

What an extraordinary man!
Alan was my mentor at Phaidon and I feel so incredibly honoured to have known him. He left us too soon. I will miss his brilliant humour and wit and generosity. He use to take me out to lunch to a fish & chip restaurant, it was a real treat — I loved being in his company. We drank wine and talked about holidays. This is how I would like to remember him. Paola, my thoughts are with you.

Sonya Dyakova, head of design dept., Phaidon Press, London
Sonya_Dyakova
2006-09-28 20:59:17

Alan Fletcher was one of a golden generation of creatives who managed to combine a renegade approach with charm and professionalism.

I will remember him as the fascinating man of the trademark black fedora, with the ability to depict the essence of a subject with a few swift well placed lines, and to cut through plethora with a keenness of wit and economy of words that at first terrified me, and then endeared me, as I realized that, although an undisputed ‘design icon’ he wasn’t too grand to respond in the positive to my requests to be part of this or that ISTD event.

Receiving his faxed reply, to an invitation to take part in ISTD’s 26 Letters 2004 London Design Festival project, I was convinced it was a ‘thanks but no thanks’, however with his renowned brevity and humour, he had sketched in large capitals:
F
OK
A

Unusually, he at first turned down the 2006 project invitation – but no ISTD exhibition would be complete without his work – and he readily agreed to contribute the suggested ‘one I made earlier’, a work perfect for the theme, My London, My City. It was typical of Alan that his supplied biog (Jeremy Myerson’s apposite words) was a picture of the man, not a list of his many awards and achievements.


Alan was an active member of ISTD, a Fellow since 1983; he was about to receive Honorary Fellow of ISTD just the week before he died. It was an honour to work with him – everyone in ISTD and the design world will miss him greatly.


What remains is, a ’smile in the mind’.

Freda Sack
President ISTD
Freda Sack
2006-10-02 21:05:39

I dreamt about Alan the other night - I suppose it was due to the fact I had spent the morning searching through portraits of him for the commemorative ad we (Pentagram) are publishing in Creative Review. I don't quite know why he had entered my subconscious; it occurred to me when waking that the reason so many people in our industry had expressed their grief was because he was so unique, so irreplacable. I suppose we all are, at some level. But there are a few who's passing seems to touch such a variety and breadth of people that they can clearly be regarded as special. And we always miss the special.
Angus hyland
2006-10-05 17:18:39

Whenever I struggle for inspiration, there’s one source I can always rely on. Alan Fletcher’s ‘The art of looking sideways’ is, in my opinion, one of the most important books of the last decade. It is truly an awe-inspiring compendium, a feast for the mind and eye, overflowing with wisdom, wit, and a singular creative genius. As a bibliophile, a graphic design enthusiast and a fan, it was like manna from heaven.

I didn’t know Alan very well, but having worked at Pentagram for over seven years I was fortunate enough to meet him on several occasions, and we even chatted on a few occasions. I was at Pentagram when the ‘The art of looking sideways’ was published and I had the honour of arranging a visit to Alan’s studio for a book signing attended by around a dozen Pentagram staffers; among them, some very excited graphic designers. Alan was a fantastic host. He was an incredibly generous man: generous with his time, his spirit, his energy, his wit and even with his wine. We stayed for hours. Alan signed our books, entertained us with stories, and even showed us some wonderful sketches from his youth.

I will never forget that evening. Like many others whose lives were touched in some way by the man and his work, I will never forget Alan Fletcher. His example remains a beacon, and it will burn for many years to come.

Steven Bateman
bateman
2006-10-06 14:04:31

posted by Julia Hasting, Design Director, Phaidon Press, New York

When Alan walked in, the world suddenly looked finer, easier, funnier, more interesting.

With a single letter, a one word comment, a little gesture, a smile at the right time, Alan could change the athmosphere in the room, turn black into yellow, make an empty glass look full, transform a boring meeting into an interesting one, change a normal day into a day that I will always remember.

The way of looking at things and pointing at them from different angles is one of the most important wisdoms in life.

I miss Alan around so much, but also truly feel that he is bigger than life.

My deepest sympathies to Paola and Rafaela in this very sad time.
Julia Hasting
2006-10-17 21:59:56

alan fletcher, a name i had never heard of until a trip i went along to with college for the 4 designers conference in london,unfortunately alan fletcher was scheduled as a speaker but was not able to make it so we were treated to a video of visit to his house/studio and he made great first impression...unlike the other speakers present what we saw of alan fletcher was a unstylistic person...open to all boundries, and a genuine interest from every student watching was evident...a few months ago i took a random risk and bought the art of looking sideways..turning out to be one of the best random actions i have ever taken....my interest has truly just begun with his work..i look forward to reading,seeing and learning from his legacy...a thanks in advance for alan fletcher.....camran
camran
2006-11-14 03:22:40

My enduring memory of Alan Fletcher is when I was a student over 25 years ago. Several of us from Preston Polytechnic had been highly recommended in the the then very fledgling student D&AD awards. (In fact it's fair to say that Preston swept the board taking almost all the prizes too.)

A certain ex-leader of D&AD deemed that giving "highly commended" certificates would "devalue the awards". So Alan brought along a box of his books to the awards ceremony at BAFTA and handed them out to us. An extremely generous and much appreciated gesture. He went on to become my all time design hero, bar none.

Fast forward 20 or so years: in need of inspiration I went to a Fletcher lecture somewhere near Guy's Hospital. I had foolishly happened to mention to an account management colleague that he was my hero: standing in the queue for the great man to sign my book she very indiscreetly let him know of my admiration, barely looking up he said in that inimitable growl "Bit bloody old and ugly to have heroes aren't you?" he said to me.

Unforgettable in every single piece of work, word and gesture.
michaelpod
2006-11-24 18:24:35

I first met Alan after I'd approached him asking if he would help me with a design brief I'd set myself at college. It resulted in a small book called "Get a real job", his response to a question I'd asked about any advice he had to students just starting their design career. I sent him a copy of the book once it was finished and was really excited when he sent me a signed book of his.

After I graduated he offered to take a look at my folio in his studio. I was a bit nervous but found Alan to be welcoming, encouraging and excited to show me what he was working on, reacting with unquenchable enthusiasm. He then handed me a corkscrew and a bottle saying "Here Sharif, open this!" After much advice and a conversation about design and Fedora hats I left feeling really touched by the generosity of spirit of a great designer and man who took the time to engage with people who looked up to him and was just as enthusiastic about sharing his work with me as I'd been to show him what I'd done.

I think anyone who met Alan, read his books, saw his work or heard him speak became his students, the amazing legacy he will leave will be a body of fantastically creative, intelligent and fun work but also the influence he's had and will continue to have on everyone who falls in love with his work.

One piece of advice he gave me was that "A foot in the door is worth two in the shoe". I think Alan has his foot firmly lodged in the door of design. It's not only his foot but also his door!

Sharif Moran.
sharif.moran
2006-11-30 17:13:06

Alan is a great role model for the Graphic design industry. It was our preveledge to have him. Nowonder, he will remain imortal due to his produced creative ideas.

by Darpan Sunwar
Darpan
2006-12-10 00:38:49

This is my responce to Daniel Adam's uppercase A tribute.
WOWBROW
2007-03-16 18:06:21

That was a great post. I will have to bookmark this site so I can read more later.
Study Abroad Asia
2008-09-16 22:56:59

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