Category Archives: heroes…

pop up people

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Last week we had a very busy time indeed.

On Tuesday we attended the Eco Innovation event run in conjunction with the Centre for Sustainable Design, then on Wednesday we were at the South Coast Design Forum’s Brighton Design Showcase where I took part in the one minute Pecha Kucha style challenge (where I read a poem, which will be published here tomorrow) and lastly on Thursday we were at the launch of the pop up people report in Worthing at the lovely Fresh Egg offices.

The report has been compiled by Dan Thompson from Artists and Makers, and examines who the people are who create pop up events, what they can be, where they can be locate, and most importantly, how they can combine to create a re-enlivened High Street culture.

The front page of the report, which was supported by the Arts Council and Lottery Funding amongst others, begins with a brilliant phrase – ‘We can do much more together – it’s not so impossible’, which sets the direction for the rest of the document. This is not just supposed to be a list of what has been done and a few scattered statistics – this is a call to arms to those who want to resurrect the empty spaces within our towns and cities.

A few towns are highlighted in the report – Margate, Coventry, Leeds and Rotterdam are examined with We Are Bedford and The Brick Box in Brixton being used as case studies for what can be achieved.

It really is quite compelling reading – the realisation of exactly the state our Town Centres are in and the knock on effect from closure to closure yet inspiring at the same time – the fact that people have actually got up and done something about the issues.

The last section looks at how both we as consumers, potential pop-up creators and government can support those willing to re-open empty shops with new creative projects, listing a series of useful pieces of further reading on town centres and urbanism, empty shops and ideas and inspiration.

We thoroughly enjoyed reading the report, and having completed a pop up design studio ourselves (and designed pop up shops for others), we can testify to the fact that pop up events do assist in the rejuvenation of an otherwise empty, sad and depressing location. They do not have to cost the earth, can be completed and implemented effectively and have huge impact.

Let’s just get out there and do something about it.

recycling wood is good

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We are very lucky in Brighton as we have a wealth of brilliant, ethically minded and sustainably based businesses. With everything from local food to recycled goods, we have someone who can help.

Last week we were on the look out for something to create an interesting mirror out of for a current interior design scheme in Brighton, so we headed to the wonderful Brighton and Hove Wood Recycling Store in Circus Street – slap bang in the middle of the city.

If you do not know of this place you really are missing a trick. The project is a social enterprise, with all profits going back into the project, which takes in all pieces of scrap timber for reuse or resale.

We have got all sorts of pieces for all sorts of projects from these guys – from scaffold boards which we used to clad a cabinet, pieces of the old Palace Pier deck which we used as mounting blocks for small reclaimed sections of the West Pier and even a section of banister rail which we used, erm, as a banister rail.

And our journey last week proved fruitful also, as we sourced an original 1940′s door for a restoration project and a bespoke table made of old sea groynes for a courtyard project (which is one of many items which are made on site by the team and are available to purchase too)

But the mirror? Yep – sitting in the bargain £1 box we found two very old frames with original diamond leaded glass and window stays. A bit of tlc and they will look amazing.

So – for all your timber needs – especially those which are a bit odd or specialist – visit the Wood Store. You will be helping a great cause and will probably get a bargain to boot.

as mad as a bag of frogs…heroes part 3

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Well, here we are in another posting in the little series I like to call Heroes – people who inspire me and make my brain get all tingly and excited.

So, who do we have today?

This gentleman has gained the reputation of being a bit of a wild card in the cookery world – seemingly mad concoctions of food linked with the most extraordinary theatre and performance.

My next hero is…Heston Blumenthal.

Now, anyone who has been awarded the coveted title of ‘the best restaurant in the world’ must be pretty good. Sling in three Michelin stars and you have got a pretty sound guarantee that the food will be up to scratch.

But what I adore about Heston is the way his brain seems to work in ways that other chefs brains do not. For some, food is about food, for Heston the meal is an experience – taste, sight, smell, and sometimes sound. We are often told that we eat first with our eyes, and true enough, you can go to many fine restaurants across the land and sample some beautiful looking plates of grub.

But what about the rest of the senses? In one dish at The Fat Duck you are given a seashell containing a recording of the sea to listen to as you tuck into your wave like foam and sand like crumbs. It is this sense of delight and surprise that takes the eating experience to another level.

Unfortunately I have not had the eating experience for myself yet, but the whole concept of his ‘performance food’ appeals to me as a designer. Can I get this element of delight into my own designs? How can I lift a space from the nice to the extraordinary?

In some of his recent ‘Heston’s Feasts’ he has lifted this performance and delight to new levels. My particular favourite was the ‘Mock Turtle soup’ course in the Victorian Feast episode.

Based on both a real recipe and the book ‘Alice in Wonderland’, Heston created a super concentrated beef stock that was set into life size pocket watch moulds with a tea bag string dunker. These were then coated in edible gold leaf and served sitting in a bone china tea cup. Diners then poured boiling water into the teacups and dunked the watches a-la-Mad Hatter Style until they had dissolved to form the soup, which was then poured into an awaiting bowl filled with illusionary mock turtle eggs and accompanying vegetables.

And don’t get me started on the magic that was the ‘drink me drink’

Food as theatre – meals as performance and not just sustenance. Fun and delight. Heston is a true genius of the experience of eating.

If I can get even a glimpse of this delight into my own designs I will be happy…

it’s not easy being green…heroes part 2

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One thing I try not to do is get too preachy about the whole green thing. Yes, it is incredibly important, and I want to do as much as I can to help our poor little planet as I can. This involves letting people know the options available to them and the consequences of their actions, which is a difficult thing to do without getting on the soapbox, both in my personal and professional capacities.

But, occasionally, someone comes along who is so enchanting and mesmerising in their enthusiasm for a subject you cannot help but be drawn into their thought bubbles. And they never sound preachy.
And one such person is my next hero – Dick Strawbridge…

The man with the moustache and infectious humour has finally returned to our screens, with a follow on from his first two series of ‘It’s not easy being green’.

For those of you who are not familiar with Dick Strawbridge, he is a wonderful character who is so animated, sheer words do not do him justice. He is the sort of person who could make you interested in anything – the perfect presenter and teacher.

The previous series of ‘It’s not easy being green’ followed the Strawbridge family and their conversion of New House farm, somewhere in the depths of Cornwall to an eco wonder, covering such subjects as compost loos, pv panels, wind turbines etc. As these things take time to sort out (and pay for – many bits of kit are not cheap), we now have the wonders of another series.

I love it. I have the first book (great – go and buy it now and digest the lot), and could watch hours of the programme without ever getting bored. In fact, you watch the programme, are entertained by the wonderful Mr Strawbridge, and learn something without even realising you are learning it. He is excitable and knowledgeable, and it’s not often you watch an educational programme sniggering into your dinner. The last time I did, someone in Time Team fell into a trench.
All hail Dick Strawbridge – if we could clone him and put one in each school in the land, we would have the brightest young eco things on this planet. But I don’t agree with cloning, so we’ll all just have to watch him on the goggle box instead…

heroes…

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Designers are often asked where the get their inspiration from, and recently I have been thinking about who inspires me. Plus, one of my favourite games is the ‘Dinner Party Game’ where you take it in turns to choose your ultimate guests for an imaginary soiree (except I was disqualified once for wanting Charles Darwin, who is obviously no longer with us – surely this is part of the point???)

Anyway – this little series will be a brief intro into people who I admire (for many different reasons)…

And the first candidate is… Sir Paul Smith…

Yep – the man who made multicoloured stripes fashionable. He has a massive fashion empire across the world, perfumes to his name and has a particular pull in japan, who go mental for him.

So, for a person who generally dislikes large industry, loves the handcrafted and not mass produced items, why is Sir Paul one of my heroes?

Well, one of my favourite books of all time is by Sir Paul Smith, and is my personal mantra – ‘You can find inspiration in everything, and if you can’t, look again’. Find a copy and read it. All of it. Then read it again. It is an insight into PS, his life, inspirations and aspirations and is a wonderful addition to a designers bookshelf.

He is also the true English eccentric, having a ‘stockroom of silly things’ which random people send him for fun and for inspiration. From stepladders to snowboards, they all collect there. I once made and sent him a Paul Smith Snatie – a snake made from an old tie, and I received a wonderful letter back, thanking me for the donation to the stockroom.

Despite his success, he seems to be down to earth, and regularly works Saturdays in one of his shops, alongside the part time assistants. He is connected to his roots.

He also breaks the ice at overseas meetings by pulling a large rubber chicken from his briefcase when he gets bored. I think he is close to a genius.

And in design terms, he is the king of the hidden detail – different colour buttons, inside pockets that flash lime green or neon orange -seemingly random yet utterly British. This covert design is wonderful – and really inspires me…

So – find the book and read it, or read this interview.

Sir Paul Smith – a British design eccentric…