The Design Jones

Episode sixteen sees us joined by the man behind Face37, Rick Banks. We hear Ricks about journey into design, his first job and the story behind the Face37 name. Rick fills us in on what it was like to work on Football Type and the experience of trying to get everyone on board with the project. We also hear about Ricks favourite projects including the Triumph motorcycles logo and his favourite application of it so far. We end with asking Rick what he thinks the future of design will be and the effect it will have on typography.

In episode fifteen we hear stories from Gordon Reid, AKA Middle Boop! We get the story behind his journey into the creative world and how he is adjusting how he represents himself today. Gordon gives us an insight in to what its like to work on Middle Boop Mag and how much music influences his work including letting us know of some up coming projects. We also get to hear the story behind his Retro Film Profound Quotes series and how he took it across the pond to the states as well as what it has led to. To finish off Gordon gives us his thoughts on where the industry is heading and what he feels will shape it.

Today we are joined by illustrator Dan Woodger and hear is journey into the creative world and originally wanting to a career in golf. We talk to Dan about his emoji work and what it has led to, including revealing his latest, and possibly biggest, client! We get an insight on what Dan thinks about having an agent and its perks. Dan talks to us about some of his favourite projects including a phone box for The Times and BT. We finish with Dan giving us his view on where the industry is heading and what he thinks is shaping it.

Unlucky for some we hit Episode Thirteen and are joined by 2015 D&AD President and Creative Director at GBH, Mark Bonner. We hear Marks journey into design from starting at his local college (where Freddie Mercury also studied!) and onto Kingston and the RCA. Mark gives us an insight into how Peter Hale, Jason Gregory and himself formed one of the best creative teams in the UK today. We find about some of Marks favourite projects including a couple involving aircraft. Mark fills us in on his vision for D&AD, its future and how it strives to push the creative industry and those working in it. Lastly, we asked Mark what he thinks the future of design is and what part D&AD will play in it.

Episode twelve sees artist and self confessed sneaker head Phil Robson aka Filfury talk all things design and art. Phil fills us in on his travels from the UK to Australia then on to Amsterdam and finally back to the UK. Having seen the best of creativity around the world, Phil gives us an insight on what he loves about the UK industry and what he wants to bring to it. We talked about the influence of the 90's and the culture of street wear on Phil's work and clients. Now working full-time on the Filfury aspect of his work, Phil gives us the details on what projects he's working on now plus loads more! As always we end with Phil giving us his view on where the industry is headed.

For this episode we are joined by freelancer Chris Malbon. We talked to Chris about his varied career from bunking off and hanging out at arcades to started life working in studios. Chris gives us the details of how he became part of McFaul Studio and the various turning points throughout his working life. We also get an insight into Chris' favourite clients like Nike, Lucas Arts and Marmite. As well as his work within studios we also get to hear some of Chris' favourite freelance projects under the name Melbs.

We move into double digit episodes with a visit to Ali Graham! Ali fills us in on the story of his journey. Starting with his first family computer and his adventures with web comics. We get an insight into the thought process behind 99 Problems and Beyoncé vs Zombies. Ali also talks to us about his love for his current studio location, Hastings, and his appreciation for Tumblr. As well as this we hear of what Ali is working on next. To end we hear what Ali thinks will be in the future for design and illustration and what will shape it.

We are joined for this episode by the mind behind The Happy Ghetto, Darrell Thorpe. Darrell kicks off with his story into the world of design and how good ol' fashioned hard work is his main credit as to where he is today. We hear the story behind the creation of The Happy Ghetto and the story behind it's name. As well as the current influences of his career Darrell also tells us how big the skate and surf culture has affected his work, from doodling on his friends sketchbooks to the things he collects today. Darrell gives us a little insight into the other side of his creative life, his work at The Narrative. As always, we end on the tough question of where there industry is going, Darrell gives his views including the rise consumers actively searching for the original art.

Episode eight sees us joined by the incredibly talented Ben The Illustrator. We got the details on Ben's journey into the creative world from starting off in animation and getting his break with Skint Records to his current freelance career. Ben gives us an insight into how a moment at a Flaming Lips concert inspired the use of bubbles in his early work, the influence of a Go Team! track and how music still inspires his work today. We asked Ben how he feels creating works for good causes and his sold out Back to the Future print for Art V Cancer. Ben also gives us an insight into the process behind Fluid Animals, how they started and how he got in trouble for not doing a calendar this year! Alongside Ben's illustration work he is also one half of Huddle Formation and B-Goods with his wife Fi. Ben treats us to an insight into what to expect from them both in the year ahead before answering the difficult question of where he sees the future of design.

We also got a chance to ask Ben what a playlist to accompany his career would consist of and he has very kindly put together a Soundcloud playlist to go with his answer. You can check it out on our Soundcloud page, its' a perfect upbeat studio soundtrack.

Episode seven sees us joined by one of the team behind The Design Jones supporters Computer Arts and their on-line platform CreativeBloq. We talke to Julia about how she got to where she is within future publishing. She lets us know how she started off within one of its other magazines and managed to transition into the Computer Arts brand via their Annuals series. As well as giving us the other side of the story of putting together the Top 30 issue that Kyle Wilkinson (episode six) designed the cover and assets for, Julia tells us about the Computer Arts projects she has enjoyed the most. Julia gives us some insight into what its like to work whilst also attending some of the best design conferences in the world, we even manage to get her to list the ones you need to go to at least once! We get an insight into what Julia likes to do to unwind and the projects she hopes to start. To round things off we get an answer to what Julia thinks will drive the industry forward and what she thinks will change in the coming years.