AUTHOR & MAKER

• Find two examples of designers who demonstrate authorial / making expertise in the delivery of a component of their practice. Is it their sole output, are they passion projects or are they opportunities where they saw a gap in the market?

• Upload onto the Ideas Wall and discuss.

• Think about a series of outputs you could make as an author.

• Generate 10 ideas for discussion, upload to the Ideas Wall and elaborate further on the blog. Please note, this is the first step of you considering one idea that will be researched and potentially launched as an authorized artifact through the last part of this module

INSPIRATION

I came to this exercise inspired by many design entrepreneurs. Picking just two was impossible. Below is a small gallery of my all-time favorites:

Top to bottom, left to right:

Anna and Nathan Bond of Rifle Paper Co. was founded in 2009 by husband-wife team Nathan and Anna Bond. Over the last 10 years, we have grown our company from two people to over 150. Our world is full of bold colors, hand-painted florals, and whimsical characters—and our goal is to create quality products that bring beauty to the everyday. Their current collaborations include globally recognized brand, KEDs and a new rug line for their home decor channel.

Aaron Draplin of Draplin Co. and Field Notes The Draplin Design Co. finally stepped out on its own four hairy feet in the fall of 2004. Collaborating with the likes of Bernie Sanders, Patagonia, Target, Chris Stapleton, NASA/JPL, John Hodgman, Ford Motor Company, Woolrich and even the Obama Administration, if you can believe that. He is also the founder of the universally handy and well-know Field Notes brand.

Christine Schmidt of Yellowtail Workshop Fueled by too much black tea and public radio shows, Schimidt spent nights creating hand-printed cards and gifts. Seeking out local suppliers and working with fine, momma-earth loving materials, she began honing her line of wares. In 2007, after steeling her nerves, Christine took a box of her goods to some local stores, they placed orders and Yellow Owl Workshop was born. Yellow Owl Workshop now bustles with a team of hard-working humans in a sunny Mission district studio. Though Yellow Owl Workshop has grown and can be found in stores worldwide, the original values of expert attention to detail, ecological awareness and premium U.S. made materials are evident in every product. Legend says if you hold a stamp set really closely you can probably still smell the Earl Gray and hear a "Radio Lab" episode.

Tina Roth Eisenberg (aka Swiss Miss) and Tattly Co. Tired of putting poorly designed temporary tattoos on her daughter’s arm, Tina Roth Eisenberg took matters into her own hands. After soliciting a dozen renowned artists and designers, hiring the first two team members, and learning what a temporary tattoo was actually made of, Tattly was born. Eisenberg is founded and runs Tattly, CreativeMornings , TeuxDeux and her Brooklyn based co-working space Friends.

Adam J. Kurtz (aka @adamjk) is an artist and author whose illustrative work is rooted in honesty, humor and a little darkness. His books have been translated into over a dozen languages and his work has been featured in the New Yorker, VICE, Adweek and more.Kurtz speaks frankly about channeling human emotion into our work, and generally just trying to be more okay with whatever we've got. His latest book, Things Are What You Make of Them, is a handwritten essay collection that digs into the emotional realities of creative entrepreneurship. ADAMJK® is an art and stationery brand focused on gifts that are fun, weird, sentimental, and often literal. 

Timothy Goodman is a designer, illustrator, muralist and author. Timothy Goodman's art and words have populated walls, buildings, packaging, cars, people, shoes, clothing, book jackets, magazine covers and galleries all over the world. He has collaborated with peer creatives such as Jessica Walsh and globally recognized brands such as Tiffany & Co., GUESS, and Uniqlo.

What inspires me the most about these six creators, authors, and makers is that they established their voice through an unwillingness to compromise and identifying opportunities to share their unique voices in the global marketplaces. Many starting with their niche skills and as their reach grew, as did their risk/reward ratios by partnering with well-known brands as well as establishing their very own brands with robust offerings across many platforms. All are authors of books, speakers, marketers, designers — and entrepreneurs.

(ART)IFACT EXPLORATIONS

Where to even begin? I have ALWAYS dreamt of making and selling the ideas that rattle around in my noggin. From t-shirt designs to stationery to bespoke posters… making has been a big part of my life. Unfortunately, the making goes on mostly in my head, a notebook, or in my computer or iPad. I’ve not turned many of my ideas into actual things, real, physical artifacts. So, this course has placed me square my dreams demanding they become (well, at least one) a reality. Here is a list of ten ideas for artifacts in no priority order:

1. Coloring books. Could be digital, printed and published, more elaborate like wallpaper products and posters, or even an app.

2. A (card?) game about the intersection of design and empathy or the role of empathy in the world with just really good design/illustration.

3. A bespoke journal designed for the creative or designer. I have YET to come across a notebook or journal that does everything I want it to. Trust me, I have purchased MANY and still haven’t found that unicorn that does it all. Might just have to make it myself.

4. Apparel for cause. I have always a a t-shirt, pin, or tote bag design floating around in my head. I’d like to create apparel that speaks to people and to the times we live in with the hope of giving voice to causes I believe in.

5. The Vintage City. I grew up and remain fascinated by vintage ephemera especially the vintage travel posters of the 40s-60s. Given how tribal our global citizens tend to be, I think there could be a market for vintage posters, notecards, t-shirts, mugs, etc. that speak to one’s hometown or chosen hometown. I’d add a twist that incorporated modern times with a vintage look and feel.

6. Antique illustrations with modern-day messages. This is one that I’ve stewed on for EVER. I love the intersection of yesterday and today. There is a lot of really great illustration that is not seen or appreciated any more and I love the idea of pairing them with thoughts and ideas of where we are as a society today.

7. DIY Riso prints. This idea would be to create a catalog or repository of designs that could be brought together by the user of the shop to create something bespoke on their own. They would choose from a library of designs to create something that helps them tap into their own creativity and then have it printed on a Risograph and shipped (framed or unframed) to them.

8. Good trouble socks. I think this could get folded under “Apparel for cause” or stand on its own. With the passing of John Lewis, I’ve been thinking of ways to carry on his message and keep his commitment to justice alive. I also think most really great socks are BORING. Bombas comes close to fun socks that are definitely well-made, but they aren’t unique enough for me. High quality, eco-conscious, and serving some sass and justice all at the same time.

9. Better together. I have long found a fascination/obsession with well-matched pairs: peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, Hall & Oates, and so on. I’d love to create a line of items that leans into the notion of the fact that we are all: better together.

10. Creative coffee. My biggest love outside of my partner, my pups, and design is COFFEE. I’d love to create a coffee brand that is either a collaboration with other artists and designers or one that pays homage to the design greats. Of course the coffee would have to be amazing, sustainably sourced, well-designed, and create the likely opportunity to create items that go along with a hardy coffee addiction: mugs, accessories, apparel, maybe even artwork. The coffee world is vast and there are niche brands that speak to many audiences. I think the intersection of design and coffee could be really neat.

REFERENCE

Falmouth University (2019).  Case Studies Exploring Trends and Outputs of Influential Studios | Lecture. Studio and Entrepreneurship GDE730 19/20 Part-Time Study Block S2 (Falmouth, UK: Falmouth University)

Creative Mornings, Anthony Burrill(2017) Make it Now [online]. Available at: Anthony Burrill : Make It Now 

Soames, M. (2008) ‘17 things we know about Daniel Eatock’ [online] Eye Magazine, Winter. Available at: http://www.eyemagazine.com/review/article/17-things-we-know-about-daniel-eatock 

Kelvyn Smith: www.smithsrules.com/ 

It's Nice That, George Hardie, 2016 George Hardie on five decades of illustration

Parry, V. (2018) ‘A Certainty of Ideas: Tom Sharp’s Poetic Vision’ [online]. Available at: https://www.oneandother.com/community/features/a-certainty-of-ideas-tom-sharps-poetic-vision 

Lettering Artists Tom Perkins, David Kindersley, John Neilson

• www.letteringartstrust.org.uk 

• www.bl.uk/events/david-kindersley-alphabetician 

• www.letteringartstrust.org.uk/artists/browse/john-neilson 

Alan Kitching, The New Typography Workshop 

Julian House Ghostbox Records

• ghostbox.co.uk/category/julian-house/

• Q&A Ghostbox Records 

• Ghost Box at Further 

Rock, M.(1996) ‘The designer as author’ [online], Eye Magazine, Spring.