 |
Tue 09.02.10
Plebs 2891 |
|
| First Name | Lee | |
| Last Name | McCormack | |
| In the field of | Designer | |
| Hardest lesson to learn | patience is so difficult to crack because it's ongoing and has to be learnt over again everyday | |
| Still to learn | that the mundane is an essential part of the process | |
| Home truths | a bamboo hut on the beach often seems like a good option | |
| Inspiration | coincidence and the people around here | |
| Most fruitful collaboration | finance mixed with creativity is a great cocktail | |
| Open ears to | how to get more finance | |
| Untapped skill | has to be breakdancing, (sort of) as a veteran member of the Bromham breaking crew | |
| Future plans are for | Sticking fingers in pies | |
| Style of approach that works | Building Bridges | |
| Me on me | ||
| Incubate incubate incubate, sowing seeds for a creative future - never bored with ideas, always happy to be challenged on them and love bringing them to life. | ||
|
WHAT A WEB 22/12/2009 10:51 Damn damn and double damn - I'm looking into a new web platform for this site because the last one PHREADZ by Kosso has been a nightmare. There is another plan afoot, we're just going to have to wait a wee while longer. Comments ( 0 ) DESIGNERS ARE WANKERS 12/08/2008 10:15 BREAKING NEWS !! Finally after all the hopes and dreams for an improved site, we're going to have one, we have now agreed the terms to produce the next version of this lovely (but a bit awkward) website.... it is to be produced by none other than Kosso - the mastermind behind Phreadz - google him, he really is the web don out there, we're going to have a really kick ass site coming up and you won't have to do a thing, sit back and watch....I'll keep you updated as we get into it but over the next few months this is going to evolve into a site that will bring us into the sphere of true web connectedness. FYI - there's over 50,000 of you coming here every month, meeting and connecting with each other ! **NEW BOOK** Anyone who has been inspired by the book or this site, I'd love to hear from you, tell me what you're doing, how it may have helped you or anything that may have come from it....send me an email and thanks to those that already have - another book is in the brewing and I'm going to include some the best stories and profiles into it. Comments ( 6 ) Introducing you to the team behind the "Ovei". 11/07/2008 05:19 I've been working on the Ovei, (prior Oculas) for six and a half years now - sketch to reality! "NOW IT'S FINISHED". At least in its current form, these things are never really finished, I can keep developing it now for years, six and a half at least :) As the designer, we tend to receive most of the credit within the industry and media- generally that's OK because there's always a single vision driving any project to completion and also if it doesn't work out then WHO WAS THAT DESIGNER? A single product, a single designer, BUT, a massive commitment by a lot of people who deserve a big thank you from me - THANK YOU. Mike Hannaker, Andrea Reynolds, Darren Mennell, Perry Darling, Jamie Rose, Dennis Cooper, Mike Phillips, Nick Bright, Michael Grubb, Dan Eades, Derek Rackley, Dave Cox, Frank Langley, Mike Hannaker jnr, Chris Hannaker, Devraj Joshi, Paul McAnelly, Wayne Turtle, Rigor Tabbert, Waseem Ahmed, Neil Pereira, Robert Urquhart, Designersblock crew, John Helps, Matt Arnold, Steven Dolley, Bill Amberg, Nigel Harley, Mark Landale, Piers Fallowfield-Cooper, Simon Jones, Thomas Fern, Christoffer Rudquist, Dipak Sen Gupta, Robert Welch, Jamie Petrie, Claire Sambrook, Bob Taylor, Chris Pell, Albert Reynolds, St. John Bowman, Michael White, Chris + Kathy Darling, Kevin Crilly, Abbie Reynolds. Dame Elaine Kellett Bowman, Dominic Kellett Bowman, Melanie Satterthwaite, Joe Roman, Paul Kilmurray, Miriam Reynolds, Cathy Reynolds, Niall Maloney, Mathew Cowan, and Richard Brattle. www.ovei.co.uk Comments ( 1 ) Software cracks its whip, and the designer gets busy designing. 09/02/2008 12:36 Software is still a new tool in the process of design, although now it's very difficult to imagine life before CAD, Photoshop, In-Design etc. Technologies inform the way in which we use raw materials; bending steel tube to make legs for chairs and tables, forming wooden laminates for seats and surfaces, processing glass into fibres to create fibreglass and the subsequent plethora of design variations that that brings. The creation of innovative, beautifully crafted furniture, books and products is certainly not new. There are specific periods in the evolution of the design industry as we know it today that captured the essence of materials like GRP, steel tube, laminated woods, and plastics. Understanding materials and their production processes is vital for the execution of high quality designs; this necessity one could argue, has been reduced by software.. Contact with materials during the process of construction is no longer essential; we send an email, sit back, and a sample is delivered direct to the studio. There's a disconnect apparent in this process, although its' efficiency and usefulness is undeniable. What we have lost is the potential to discover; the discovery of new ideas caught within the production environment, the connection with the machine operator, the materials, and the process, are all missing. The random element, the mistake on the machine that holds the potential for a whole new style, the ability to mix materials not usually connected together, again, missed. Yes, we do visit our suppliers' facilities on occasion, when necessary to see what they're up to. We will see some level of activity whilst checking on a job before it goes into production, but this is still, like our software, a streamlining of the process for maximum output with for the minimum input. Have we lost a vital connection to the 'making of' process because of our super slick, email-able, CS3, software mentalities? Software is here to stay. Where it's going is a lot less certain, as is the impact on our lives. Does our palette of possibilities originate in the engineers laboratory? Architects, graphic designers, product designers; all very much being now 'under the influence'! Should we storm the engineers' lab, and understand the roots level inspiration of the man in the machine? The man, creating software that millions of designers will lap up to produce the next wave of cars, buildings and posters surrounding us during the coming years. Are designers, masters' of our own destiny or is it the latest 'Filter' or 'Nurbs' tool that will be silently cracking the whip? Comments ( 5 ) How do I design a chair, lamp or toothbrush? 12/11/2007 10:05 I feel awkward, a bit out in the cold because I don't seem to get excited by the idea of creating another chair. What is wrong with me? Everyone seems to do it, I did it when I was a student, now I'm struggling with the very idea of it. Maybe I shouldn't question the validity of it because the magazines clearly like to see them, and lamps are popular too, I should also design a lamp, I would if I was a proper designer. No, I choose to design other things, why do I do that? The things I like to design are really complicated in form but simple in concept, I must have this the wrong way around, I'm sure of it. I want to design a lamp; immediately my mind wrestles with the validity of producing another lamp, you've probably produced an excellent and beautiful lamp so what's the point of me doing that? What's your problem and what are you looking at? I'd feel the desire to understand these two things, how can a chair do that for me? It sounds like a need a new challenge, I need to go to Finland and see how they produce wood, I should go to Wales and see them produce clay, I should go to anywhere and see them produce anything.. I'll produce it, you consume it and they'll take pictures and write about it - that's about it isn't it? I should force myself to design a coffee cup, I use one everyday and it would be useful. I could apply that logic to a chair, a lamp and a toothbrush; I've just saved myself from reality again, I can imagine designing lots of things once I finish the ones I'm working on. Comments ( 0 ) Nostalgia of memory 10/10/2007 10:51 Around the 5th Century BC in Greek antiquity there were concerns about the written word and it's effects on society. A few hundred years earlier, knowledge was passed on through the use of stories and poetry and committed to memory. The written word was dissolving the bonds of conservation and freeing space within the mind for moving into analytical thought. The beginnings of philosophy can be traced to this period. There was however a sense of nostalgia for the days of pre-writing, when knowledge was passed directly from person to person. The credibility of the knowledge was understood and with writing it was feared that knowledge could be misinterpreted or difficult to validate. Then I think about the Internet, email, forums, blogging and wonder if we'll move once more beyond letters and words towards a new technology and memory capacity will be something I'll just upgrade as needed? Comments ( 5 ) Time for a re-think. 10/10/2007 10:50 Here it comes......... Comments ( 0 ) Creative advice for the creative community ! 24/06/2007 06:23 The essence of the DAW book was to shed some light into the design world after college or university. It is my perspective up to date which has proven to be useful to many people from around the world. Some inspiring emails have been sent in telling me about the beeoks benefit to their thoughts and approach on what they're doing. It's good to get such feedback, I am designer like yourself, looking for the answers that had no foundation in education but instead have come from the last 10 years in the front line. This website is an attempt to capture the simple essence of the book, it does not really do it yet. The learning curve has been a steep one and a great reminder of how much need there is for a platform where creative can easily meet and network with each other. The last year and a half have not been in vain, this site has taught a great deal about so many things and has enabled us to create a spin-off product that is currently in development. I've always been open to the people I meet and those around me that the creative community would be in a much better position all round if it became smarter at doing business. Some people may not like that idea but I always come back to this, almost without exception, every creative I have met has at the core of their beliefs the fundamental desire to enact something positive into their environment around them. Based on this, I would rather see cities that are more easily influenced by creativity at the very least. There are millions of creative people in the world, how do we influence it, how could we influence it? Designers are wankers was born from frustration at the status quo, things need to change. The education of design fails in so many areas but succeeds in others, unfortunately the success is far too small for far too few people. If design education was held accountable for the success of its graduates I wonder what the outcome would be? The more we learn about the business surrounding the creative industries the more we are able to educate them in how to relate to the creative industries. There is a new slimlined, refined and simple version of this site coming. I need help, I can give help - there is an exchange, there is value - made simple there is benefit for many who need it and deserve it. Designers are wankers will re-present PLEBS VILLE, we're going to do away with the Guru - Pleb divide and build a platform where we can all be gurus and all be plebs. This is one thing that we've learnt in the last 9 months of being live. Any idea for what you want are welcome, you can leave them here or email me direct. Comments ( 0 ) Grafik magazines 150th celebration..! 02/06/2007 02:04 The guys and girls over at Grafik have been doing a lovely job, they have just published their 150th edition of Grafik which features 150 designers who have written about their personal inspiration. Order a copy in advance at http://www.grafikmagazine.co.uk/ The launch night at the Cobden club saw our site editor over here, Mr Robert Urquhart up on stage handing out bits and pieces, or rather chunks of the special 150 Birthday Cake. Robert was thrusting himself marvelously around the stage to the cheer of everyone there whilst the Grafik girls were igniting the mass of sparklers that could have been mistaken for November the5th. Those that saw it will know what I mean. If you were there drop me a note about your evening! Comments ( 0 ) Beyond The Valley and in Milan 22/04/2007 11:53 If you want to meet the next generation of designers coming out of the UK then have at look at what three graduates from St Martins are doing in the heart of London, Soho. I met Jo Jackson and Krystjana S Williams of the trio and their energy and enthusiasm inspires people around them. They have taken the initiative and set-up a unique space in the centre of London where they develop and promote the work of new designers and artists. The concept has developed into a thriving business and a focal point for reaching new and developing talent. They now have over 100 recent graduates from the UK's best art institutions now participate in the project. You can also visit their shop online or get in touch with them about your work at www.beyondthevalley.com. There were a lot of other great things happening there that I saw and people I met, a lot of them at Designersblock - have a look at their site to see them. "Ciao and thanks for all the fish" Comments ( 0 ) Too Creative ? 12/02/2007 02:46 Is it possible to be too creative and if I am does that mean that I will miss out on how to develop the commercial side of my career? You can never be too creative I think; how would it be possible? What constitutes being creative can be many things, it doesn't just automatically mean that it has to be wildly inventive and outrageous or it wasn't somehow creative enough. Creativity is really a lifestyle and can you be too much of a lifestyle? Don't think so, experience feeds into creativity and living life to the full and embracing all aspects of it can only benefit the intuitive, curios mind. When thinking about creativity we shouldn't just assume then that the business side of things suddenly vaporizes any creative lateral thinking. Have a read of Edward De Bono's works on lateral thinking and you'll see how creativity can be applied to decisions beyond the way something looks or feels but how to get it so people can interact with it and buy it and use it and appreciate it. Be as creative as you can be when embracing business and turn it on it's head and make it work for you because the way it's spoon-fed to designers from the institutions and banks is nothing like the reality and buzz of actually getting in there and doing it. If it doesn't stimulate you then ask yourself if you're approaching it like yourself or like your accountant, if it's the latter........!? What do you think about creativity and business? Comments ( 2 ) It's not them and us... 26/01/2007 12:23 I keep hearing the idea that 'they' need to understand how they can relate to us designers. Manufacturers don't seem to get it, they should be embracing what we are showing to them. A designer walks into a situation and expects the situation to evolve around them, if not then they're just not getting it. There is no them and us, there is only industry, theirs and ours. You would be in a much better negotiating position or at least have a better chance of pursuading others to back your idea if you took more effort to understand their needs. Expecting a magic wand to be waved and your designs to become reality and accepted by everyone all over the world and for them to then write about how wonderful you are is a misnoma at best. Be creative but also be smart, learn about the people and industries that you are trying to communicate with and you'll have a much better chance. The alternative is to throw your hands up in the air and let someone run your life for you whilst you create an increasingly isolated world for yourself, losing yourself up your own arse and quaffing large quantities of champagne at events where you are the the flambouyant and eccentric mouthpiece. Everyone will expect you to throw a hissy fit and act like a bit of a wanker, you'll be in good company. Comments ( 0 ) Thoughts on design... 26/01/2007 12:22 The toothbrush, the remote control, the calculator, the vacuum cleaner, the walkman, the camera and the cellular phone, all of which are firmly within the realm of the product designer. Not one of these was created by a product designer though, this is where the scope has begun to shift. These 'products' were the remit of inventors, engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs. We are becoming a cross fertilisation of many different disciplines. Comments ( 0 ) innovation... what is it? 26/01/2007 12:21 It is strange when you realise that your potentially far less innovative than you thought. I was under the impression that inovation was something that I could regsiter a patent for, an idea or an invention of doing something new, or something old in a new way. I was wrong. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on innovation.? Comments ( 3 ) |
