CR Blog
Question of the Week 15.09.09
Posted by Mark Sinclair, 15 September 2009, 10:14 Permalink Comments (77)
We all have people that we admire for what they do, or simply for how they are. So this week we're asking, who in the world of advertising or design do you admire and why?
They don't have to be a famous designer or be part of a well-known agency.
Perhaps it could be someone who has been quietly working away for ages but whose work has moved you, or caused you to think, I wish I'd done that.
It could be a printer, or a tutor, or even a client; someone who through their work is making a great contribution to the industry.
Here's your chance to let everyone know about those who you think deserve more recognition, or simply acknowledge those whose work continues to make you just that little bit jealous.
Question of the Week is produced in partnership with MajorPlayers
77 Comments
John Maeda and Paul Rand
2009-09-15 12:02:01
Danny Yount, from Prologue.
His life story, from rags to riches a bit. The man had a lot of jobs, simple jobs, like catering and fixing windows and stuff (i think) in the early days.
Now he's a AGI member and Emmy nominated Creative Director. I would bet he'd be Oscar nominated too, if they would finally have the Main Title Design category.
He's a generous guy and I love the fact that he's not the typical design rockstar.
I like the shut-up-and-work mentality, and surely Danny Yount has shown that work is what working is all about.
2009-09-15 12:07:34
Rory Sutherland
2009-09-15 12:12:29
David Ogilvy and Drayton Bird. Straight forward and to the point everytime
2009-09-15 12:27:03
Jacob Cass - http://justcreativedesign.com/ - for being youthful and motivated, and for sharing his learnings with other young designers like myself.
Lest we forget the late Paul Arden...
2009-09-15 12:34:22
Jon Contino and Jonathan Ford
2009-09-15 12:38:08
Anyone who does interesting & original work, and doesn't have an attitude about it.
2009-09-15 12:48:47
Method - http://method.com/
For great branding and well executed and crafted design across all media. Not every agency can do that.
Folkert Gorter - http://cargo.superfamous.com/
For creating a brand out of himself and creating memorable work.
Cahan & Associates - http://www.cahanassociates.com/
The best thinkers in the business, bar none.
Not exactly our peers, but aspirations.
2009-09-15 12:56:18
My passed typography tutor Dave Dabner from LCC (retired in 2006 if I remember correctly) Please watch this video (it's lovely): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xg5O0l7ybY
2009-09-15 12:56:45
Thank you for the mention Andrea... as for my admiration, it would have to be Paul Rand for his contributions to what has molded design today.
2009-09-15 13:00:00
Marco Ammannati
http://www.castorini.com/ProjectsMarco/MarcoHome.php
I met Marco when we were both working at Research Studios. He wanted to move into film - I thought he would struggle to change discipline. He's since done idents for MTV, video for MIA, work with Discovery and National Geographic.
2009-09-15 13:13:18
Duncan Macdonald
For being an incredible illustrator and not having a huge ego about it, and for promoting other young designers and illustrators.
http://www.iamduncan.com
http:drawforever.blogspot.com
2009-09-15 13:15:23
Stephen Banham - letterbox.net.au
and so very many more...
2009-09-15 13:22:17
Jane Trustrum
She's making it happen
2009-09-15 13:26:46
Estevan Oriol
2009-09-15 13:30:21
A bit predictable I'm afraid:
Wim Crouwel.
He has always passionately produced rigorous, stunning, forward thinking work.
He is also one of the most humble, down to earth people I have ever had the good fortune to meet.
2009-09-15 13:54:42
The late great Alan Fletcher.
2009-09-15 14:03:40
Most of the TED speakers. Inspirational stuff indeed.
2009-09-15 14:06:00
Dave Kinsey gret artist, Robert Lindstrom top design geezer and my first and still best creative director Yannis Marcou
2009-09-15 14:21:19
Everyone that founded Poke, Ken Garland, Vince Frost, John Oldfield (my BA mentor), Mrs Everest (my art teacher at school), Malcolm Gladwell, David Adjaye, Paco Underhill...
2009-09-15 14:21:22
Stefan Sagmeister. He's my Desgin Crush....swoooon...
2009-09-15 14:21:53
Sam and Jude the founders of Suck Uk Product Design (http://www.suck.uk.com). They started the company from the ground up 10 years ago. At first they made all their products themselves first several and now they have distributors in every corner of the globe.
Then there is Inspired Flight Magazine (http://www.inspiredflight.tv) a handful of people building a mutli-media magazine as a plateform for up and coming artists from graphic deisgners, to muscians, to photographers, dancers - you name it.
Good stuff!
2009-09-15 14:23:07
George Lois.
Represents everything that is great about advertising and design.
2009-09-15 14:23:17
Paul Rand, Paul Arden, James Dyson, Raymond Loewy, Clint Mansell
For more reasons than I can think...
2009-09-15 14:26:32
Method, Poke, R/GA, Dan Wieden.
2009-09-15 14:32:16
Yves Klein, Wolfgang Weingart & Stephen Abis...
2009-09-15 14:34:36
For understanding business and creativity to produce great results; Mike Staines
http://www.fabricinterface.com/
2009-09-15 14:38:57
Weston-super-Mare, although as a youth the gaps in the timber boarding which enabled me to see the sea below played havoc with my vertigo.
2009-09-15 14:41:57
Chris Arnold --- to have founded Creative Orchestra...
2009-09-15 14:43:52
Michael Johnson (Johnson Banks). Never fails to produce work I wish I'd done myself.
2009-09-15 14:46:08
All those who know the original U&Lc logo should never have been replaced...
2009-09-15 14:53:20
Fletcher / Forbes / Gill
The pioneers of running a highly creative and successful design practice.
2009-09-15 14:58:55
Paul Arden, David Bailey, Nadav Kander, Peter Souter, Jeremy Carr, John Swannell, Jeremy Pemberton, Clare Mackie, Mark Denton, Steve Jobs - all brilliant - I take my inspiration from them.
2009-09-15 15:11:00
Jon Contino and Jonathan Ford
2009-09-15 15:18:18
Arjo Ghosh, Chairman of iCrossingUK, he built it, they only bought it.
Bip
2009-09-15 15:19:56
Kasimir Malevich
for introducing the world to geometric abstract art, Suprematism
2009-09-15 15:46:12
Kasimir Malevich
for introducing the world to geometric abstract art, Suprematism
2009-09-15 15:48:59
Ben Terrett.
No nonsense, good design and an entertaining blog.
2009-09-15 16:02:44
John Lowe, a tutor at Birmingham City University. The advice and encouragement he shows to his students is absolutely incredible, his links to industry second to none. He has raised lot's of creative talent and is one of the reason's i am in the advertising industry today.
Thanks again to the legend John Lowe.
2009-09-15 16:16:36
John Lowe
For inspiring me and so many others to be creative, work hard and achieve their goals.
He is a great teacher and has contributed so much to the advertising industry.
Without him, I would not have got very far!
Thanks J-Lo
2009-09-15 16:29:17
Matt Maurer, True North
Down to earth, great laugh to work with and on a night out. Wins lots of awards yet doesn't shout about it. Not many designers like that around. Great role model for budding graphic designers to look up to.
2009-09-15 16:29:26
John Lowe
Without a doubt I would not be the creative I am today if it weren't for this man. He was an inspiration to us in 3rd year and taught us everything about the advertising world.
Big shout out to him and BCU in Birmingham and thanks too
2009-09-15 16:50:56
John Lowe
Without a doubt I would not be the creative I am today if it weren't for this man. He was an inspiration to us in 3rd year and taught us everything about the advertising world.
Big shout out to him and BCU in Birmingham and thanks too
2009-09-15 16:55:45
I would also go with John Lowe.
He's always championed new creative and always inspired each generation to do something amazing.
2009-09-15 17:00:21
Without a doubt John Lowe, not only is he influential creative and immensely wise but he is also one of the nicest blokes you could ever hope to meet.
Absolute legend and it is a privilege to have been one of his students.
Cheers John I have legs!
2009-09-15 17:00:45
John Warwicker and his work with Underworld is a constant source of inspiration.
Mark Povell was an amazing tutor on Epsom's foundation course. A group of my friends would stay late each night working on projects and talking about art and design. Mark would drift in and out while we were just getting on with it. The following morning stacks of information about what we had been discussing would be on our desks unbidden but very gratefully received. I've never forgotten.
2009-09-15 17:05:33
Forgetting any differences in the past, I will always be eternally grateful to:
Patrick Lowery (Falmouth College of Arts)
Ian Middleton
Joerg Koch (032c)
Robbie Mahoney (GTF)
Christos Parry
Kevin Meredith
Tom Phillips (Exposure)
Peter Rogers
Patrick Duffy (NoDaysOff)
Frith Kerr
Nigel Robinson
Mat Strong
Bob Wilkonson
John Warwicker
Anthony Burrill
and last but by no means least, Scott King.
2009-09-15 17:07:22
JOHN LOWE,
This man is an inspirational tutor, he is the best teacher I have ever known and has helped some of the best creatives today get their foot in the door! John is an all round top bloke!
Thanks John you are a legend!
2009-09-15 17:13:46
in life: jeanne
in creative world: simon waterfall
2009-09-15 17:17:08
Lara Jade,
successful fashion fotog by the time she was 18 with little financial backing and wasnt even from London for a change! nuff sed!
inspiration to literally millions of young and amateur artists/photographers all over the world.
agency signed now and just turned 20
2009-09-15 17:30:39
The Chase. http://www.thechase.co.uk
Great work, and they are nice enough to let us come and talk to them as well for advice on the design industry after graduation.
2009-09-15 17:30:49
Working as a designer based around illustration and online communication I have always have huge respect for Mcfaul ( http://www.mcfaulstudio.com/ ) Everyone in design should have a vision of what they think are 'how things are done' and when I look at their work they encapsulate this all the time. They have a distinctive style however they show they can be flexible with their ideas and concepts.
In the freelance world I have huge respect for Radim Malinic of Brandnu ( http://www.brandnu.co.uk ) I have learnt so much from Radim over the last 3 years and his concepts and approach is a well oiled machine.
He pushs himself on everything and this element should be adopted by everyone.
The main elements that grab my respect are grounded people who do it for the love of their and others works and a urgency to communicate positively to their choosen audience in a effective and beautiful way.
2009-09-15 17:35:12
Big Fish
2009-09-15 17:59:05
The big guy, John Lowe.
From BCUniversity. The man thought us everything we know, and he thought us well. Inspirtation, kept pushing us and never let us give up. Had some funny jokes up his sleeve also. We love ya John!
2009-09-15 19:12:46
Not an easy question to answer. My creative passions have been influenced by the following:
Design and critical thinking: Paul Rand, Bob Gill and Milton Glaser
Advertising: Bill Bernbach and George Lois
Photography: Henry Wolf
Film: Saul Bass and Pablo Ferro
Art and drawing: Ben Shahn and Renée Bouché
Watercolor: Ogden Pleissner
and finally Victor Papanek in some category but I'm not sure where.
Bob Callahan
Stamford, Connecticut
2009-09-15 21:50:19
Ben Casey at The Chase - developing a great studio with bang-on work over the last 20 years, whilst balancing one of the best design courses in the UK, as professor at Preston. http://www.thechase.co.uk
2009-09-15 23:30:05
Folkert Gorter, because he is a pioneer and has opened my eyes to what designing will mean in the near future—without him and his innovations, I would not be working or learning as hard as I am now to become something more.
2009-09-16 03:11:51
It's good to see how many folk here refer to a tutor or lecturer that they had at art school / college. I know for a fact that many in the teaching professions often feel that once the student has left the course, they're input is forgotten - not so. Often their influence is immeasurable and lingers on for many years.
For the record, my tutor was Derek Hyatt, at Leeds Polytechnic - a prolific artist and a very wise man indeed.
Jim H
2009-09-16 08:38:37
Graffiti artist Can Two.
Rather than duplicating old graffiti styles, Can Two reimagines its inspirations, preserving the bone structure of traditional graffiti while meticulously coating it with new letterforms and delectable colour schemes. The results are fresh and familiar at once.
http://www.cantwo.de/
2009-09-16 10:00:28
John Heartfield, Emory Douglas, Atelier Populaire, Grapus, Ne Pas Plier, Gerald Paris Clavel, Alex Jordan, Hannah Hoch, Alexander Rodchenko- all vastly inspiring artist/designer/activists who did stuff that MATTERED!
2009-09-16 10:13:42
Michael Bierut -for his writing as much as his design work.
2009-09-16 10:48:44
Tony Heart
2009-09-16 13:25:32
forever and always, Scott King.
2009-09-16 13:46:06
In general hackers inspire me. The ability to take nothing and make it into something or even to recreate something is enough to get my brain working.
2009-09-16 19:47:15
Eduardo Paolozzi.
Sadly no longer with us, and of course great in his lifetime, but increasingly acknowledged as a titan of 20th century creativity.
2009-09-17 00:44:19
Alan Fletcher
2009-09-17 05:41:47
Some of the early Aphex Twin sleeves and Russell Mills' work for Nine Inch Nails first got me interested in design. Though it wasn't until I discovered tDR and David Carson that I could really put a finger on what I wanted to do.
These days, the designers that really inspire me tend to people I know.
http://www.youneedbirdseed.com/
http://www.squinky.co.uk/
http://www.madebyjones.com/
2009-09-17 09:43:48
Would have to be Joshua Davis for me, for doing it his way.
2009-09-17 11:52:03
I think Julia Pott is amazing!
http://www.juliapott.com
2009-09-17 13:48:17
Neil French, Luke Sullivan, Roy Williams, Yanik Silver, and Frank Kern
2009-09-17 14:52:30
My friend Tanja de Bie is one of the best UX designers in the Netherlands (and beyond) and I have the honour of working with her on our collaborations.
2009-09-17 17:15:18
Vaughan Oliver showed me the marriage of design and art --or design as art, or design through the eyes of art, or viceversa-- just when I was thinkng of choosing another career in my youth thanks to advertising-oriented design books who told me another story and encouraged me to draw deodorant ads and stuff for life.
Years later I've seen his style reflected in the work of many others.
2009-09-17 21:30:34
The French photographer Willy Ronis who has died very recently. There's lots of great photographers out there but his work is a reminder of the elegance and joy of Street Photography.
2009-09-18 10:51:41
Peter Saville, his record sleeves got me really excited about design
2009-09-18 12:47:49
Bill Petite.
(Ex CD at McCann Erickson Manchester, back in the day).
One of the last true gents in the business.
Fought passionately for what he believes.
Selflessly allowed others to flourish.
Passes on all his wisdom/experience...he's still got much more to give too.
Great fun.
Mischievous.
Gracious.
Stickability!
The list goes on and on.
2009-09-18 15:22:44
Grandmother India http://www.grandmother.in/
2009-09-21 14:44:55
Jim Sutherland.
Along with his other 2 partners at Hat-trick have, for the past 5 years, produced outstanding and effective design solutions.
Excellent
http://www.hat-trickdesign.co.uk/
They're website does need redesigning though :/
2009-09-22 09:15:43
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