Well, surprisingly enough quite a lot of very famous individuals.
But to get to meet these amazing people a great deal of hard work goes in behind the scenes to secure visiting opportunities, making first impressions and then proving to be worthy of very busy professional expensive time.
In FD Work we record all the industry design professionals (both down in the capital and locally) who have been good enough to give FD (and HND) an hour or two out of their very busy day. We also record those businesses who have approached the course to involve students in their design process, to get a fresh 'student-eyed' view on their products.
The clock is turned back to March 2006 when the group travelled to London for the first time to visit an award winning advertising agency and the premier (in the 'Editors' opinion) design consultancy. On the first occasion the group met up with Gwyn March of McCann Erickson http://blogs.mccannlondon.co.uk and a partner at Pentagram (which is like meeting God) Angus Hyland. http://www.pentagram.com/work/#/all/all/newest/
The next visit in March 2007 proved to be as equally amazing. On the menu was a BloodyBigSpider, a Mother and the Golden Icon of advertising. Fascinated by the name of the company the 'Editor' approached BloodyBigSpider http://www.bloodybigspider.com/ to discover the company consisted of three guys, all operating from 'remote' locations doing the business. The principal is Stephen Holmes a very young Bath University educated Yorkshire 'lad' making good in the capital. He met up with the crew in The Tate Modern café - funniest part was Stephen and the 'Editor' talking to each other on mobiles outside the TM http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/ not knowing what each other looked like on a busy concourse day!!! As you'd imagine the two were almost stood next to each other.
Later that afternoon the group travelled over to Covent Garden. Beattie isn't that common a name . . . and up to this point it had never got the 'Editor' anything other then first on the register . . . well today that was all going to change.
It may not be common but within the world of advertising it strikes fear. Through a number of emails and odd phone call through the most wonderful of PA's, Antoinette de Lisser, the group had an audience with Trevor Beattie of Beattie McGunniess Bungy. http://www.bmbagency.com Infamous for the Wonderbra adverts and the FCUK campaign in a 'previous life' and there we all where in his company. Out of this world . . . which is apt as Trevor had already purchased a seat on Sir Richard Brandson's Virgin Galactic. http://www.virgingalactic.com Yes it's true the 'Editor' was star-struck (ooh that's a pun!) and when Trevor invited our author to his office and produced £40 and suggested the group went down to The Crown to get the beers in and he'd join us . . . well what's a person to do? From 6pm until 8.30 when a taxi whisked him off to Heathrow on the way to India, Trevor 'got-them-in!!!! Speechless!
November 2007 saw a return to Pentagram and McCann Erickson - with Angus and Gwyn being our hosts again - every visit brings something else. Either side of the agency visits the group went to the Design Museum http://designmuseum.org on the Thames and the Museum of Brands http://www.museumofbrands.com which is just around the corner from Pentagram up by the top end of Portobello Road.
In the same calendar year but with a new group in November 2009 it was our 'passing-into-folkflore' visits to McCann Erickson and Pentagram. This was the first part of a two day visit, the first day being graphic, the second day art based. A quick dash from the Royal National to McCanns to meet several new people. Amabel & Harriet (who has recently moved to Adam & Eve) account executives started our tour in the restyled decor . . . illustrated by Harry Malt http://harrymaltdrawspictures.blogspot.com/search/label/McCann%20Erickson (who has also drawn all over Neville Brody's 'gaff' http://www.researchstudios.com/2010/02/12/harry-malt-in-the-research-studios-hallway/) and then we met up with two creatives namely Neil Clark and Jay Phillips, both from Stockport, who explained how they work and the dedication they've had to demonstrate to make a name for themselves. To finish the tour every member of the WSA party received an array of printed material about McCanns . . . Fantastic!!! And just in case you are wondering why there is a can of Uncle Joe's Mint Balls in the centre of this image . . . if you look closely across our industry montages you'll see a can appears on a regular basis. You can see Harriet holding a couple here. The 'Editors' mantra when handing them over to our hosts is 'The only thing of any taste that comes out of Wigan'!
March is becoming the month that FD packs its bag - we've discovered the delights of Paris in Springtime, well, London isn't half bad then too . . . so our latest trip down south was in 2011. For the first time we were going for four days. So much to do and so little time to do it in!!!
First stop, Monday afternoon the Brit Insurance Design of the Year awards [see FD Play]. That evening the 'Editor' and 'Deputy Editor' met up with BloodyBigSpiders Stephen Holmes in The Hospital Club in Covent Garden. http://www.thehospitalclub.com Much to catch up on, business to discuss and some rather odd beers to drink!
Tuesday morning it was to Tate Modern for AiWeiWei's sunflower seeds . . . but in the afternoon a chance to meet again with Trevor Beattie at BMB. A mad dash around Covent Garden once the 'Editor' realised that Oddbins had gone into receivership that week looking for Trevor's favourite 'tipple' and a bunch of flowers for the wonderful Antoinette for securing the opportunity - both of which were presented by the Student Reps - and once more an audience with the charismatic doyen of advertising! [see FD Play with regard to a visit to The Crown (again!)]
Wednesday was a lovely day in the capital so we all walked past the British Museum to Covent Garden. First stop the Hospital Club to show the students what they can aim for once they had started the climb up the graphic ladder - this is BloodyBigSpiders second home and where Stephen meets clients to sign off business . . . then it was time to skip around the corner to Adam & Eve. http://www.adamandevelondon.com The 'Editor' had worked on getting the opportunity for several weeks and didn't they do us proud - thanks to Charlotte and Annie. If we hadn't been so 'chatty we would have met two of the creative directors . . . but as it was we only got to meet four fantastic creative people!!!! WOW!
First up Tom Webber and Nick Sheppard - two young creatives who explained their roles working with the creative directors - their advice was first class. Next to address the group was Andrea Walji. Amazing, she was working with John Lewis sourcing and arranging sessions with top, top model Jacquetta Wheeler and Vogue fashion photographer John Akehurst, an engaging and extremely driven creative talent. Our final host was Mat Goff . . . and everything was his fault!!! Entertaining but incredibly professional. He explained his role with in A&E as one of the company's top account executives and the part his hand played in Phones 4 U advertising . . . and it just so happens his hand has made another guest appearance at the end of the latest mobile providers campaign - check it out!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrIZnC8q7RQ
Back to the Old Street roundabout and down towards our final call of a busy day Creature. http://creaturelondon.com Three of Mothers finest decided it was time to 'move-on' and were tempted to join forces with the American based agency in establishing a London office . . . and yes, the builders were still in. It was a great pleasure to meet up once again with Stuart Outhwaite. Along with his design partners Ben Middleton and Ed Warren they are going around winning pitches and building a fabulous client list - including the recently required Science Museum account.
Full of energy and loads of opinions the group brought to an end a very busy day for Stuart . . . what better way to unwind then in the Horse & Groom across the road [there's a trend appearing here!] and pick his brain a little bit more. We set off for the Elephant & Castle, Stuart set off on his push-bike home.
So that is the end of our London adventures, so far. But it would be remiss if when looking at FD Work we didn't doff our caps to the local companies who have over the years been involved with us both from either side of the commercial fence.
As the new FD1 went through induction in early September we had the great pleasure of welcoming Luigi Carnovale back into the studio to talk about the life of a 'local' designer. We were fortunate to meet up during a NHS Trust project in 2010. Based up towards Blackburn and working closely with Fedrigoni Papers, Luigi has agreed to come and work alongside both groups setting one day projects.
Even closer to WSA is BD2. Will Bentley http://www.bd2.net has been a staunch support of the course and all we are attempting to do in developing young designers. A former student of the college and now has involvement in the external image of his old haunt Will has provided placement opportunities, Final Major Projects, seminars within his company at the beginning of academic years and is one of first on the guest list to every final show. Will's thoughts on the last show in June can be found within Dearly Departed.
Two 'likely-lads' and ex-students in Ben Gerrard and Al Wood dropped by to talk to the groups about the industry they have encountered since leave the 'bosom' of Wigan & Leigh College. We booked them in for a full day to interview the students after the Final Show . . . one or two scared them!! Ben stared in 'Naked Office' up in Newcastle a while ago and Al who once created all of Man United's publicity is currently working in the city (Manchester city!!?).
And a mention here for Chris Fogg and Danny Parker who have expressed their desires (again as ex-students) to meet up again and hopefully will spend a day in the studio. Also worthy of note NB Colour of Chorley and Learoyd Packaging in Burnley who have allowed us to view the inner-workings of commercial printing.
Finally a little culture . . . Martin Jones. Martin was a lecturer at the Art School when it was over in Pagefield - he had built a successful career as an illustrator and although 'affected' by his time at the college now has a successful career within the Liverpool art scene selling his paintings and working on commissions. The 'Editor' enjoyed a trip around the Scouse capital escorted by Martin and so it was only right he should have the opportunity to come back to his old ground. The students heading for The University of Salford illustration course enjoyed the opportunity to bathe in his experience.
Also want to make mention of student teachers who have passed our way and left an indelible mark on the course. First up was Paul Senior from, let's keep it simple Granada Television (3sixtymedia) who creates many of the companies opening video graphics and introduced After-Effects to the students . . . and Leanne Mansfield a freelance designer and artist who has vast experience in large format graphic design and output. Both brought their own style to the teaching and learning (only time I'm going to go educational on you) process.
Mention too for Express Electrical, Funky Gibbon, Douglas Valley Paintball, Performing Arts in the Art School and the Marketing Department of Wigan & Leigh College.
