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Sunday 30 December 2012

INTROducing...PATTERNITY

With our last INTROducing for 2012 and probably for a good few months we've decided to share a truly exciting and inspiring interview- thanks to everyone who has participated and enjoyed our series- Happy New Year from Light & Dew! xx 


How are you guys??
Good thanks, a touch busy so looking forward to a week or two off at Christmas!

Give us 3 words that describe you best:
POSITIVE. PATTERN. PERCEPTION. 
So, can you tell us what Patternity is all about?
Patternity is a creative organisation that's driven by the certainty that pattern is everywhere from the mundane to the magnificent. Our projects and innovations go beyond the surface, using the application of pattern to add substance and relevance to the aesthetic
Our clients range from high-end fashion houses, interior and architecture firms, media and publishing companies, to retailers, government bodies and universities. We believe a shared awareness of pattern positively engages us with our environment and each other.

Nice! How did this all come about?
We met through a shared love of pattern and drive to work across boundaries without limitation. Though we were from different backgrounds (Art Direction and Surface/textiles design) we were united by a shared drive to put our past experience working for global brands to good use, creating something different, relevant and worthwhile.

What’s the most exciting thing you've done in your career so far?
Our Shift table was one of our most exciting projects to date. Here we worked with marquetry craft specialist Toby Winteringham [who is also Grace Winteringham's father], using our addition of bold geometric patterns shifting from light to dark. This piece referenced the passing of time, acceptance, and change. It’s apt, then, that this project should win us our first Wallpaper* Design Award [in 2011] for our innovative approach to a long-forgotten technique. Bringing a new lease of life to Toby’s practice was the most rewarding aspect of the project.
What’s been your dullest job?
Entering binary code at a bank during the summer after my graduation. Good for patterns of 1's and 0's. Terrible for expanding my brain.

Where do you hope to see Patternity in 5-10 years from now?
Patternity is coming to define a way of seeing the world, and also a way of bringing people together. We hope to not only have expanded our range of pattern design collaborations and products continuing to innovate and blur boundaries between disciplines but also to be using pattern to educate and inspire on a much larger scale. Growing our educational/events arm of Patternity is key to the future of the company, promoting a deeper engagement with our environment and each other through real life patterned focussed experiences.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be??
We'd like to explore the connection between patterns and health, so working with the world health organisation on improving hospital interiors so surrounding patterns actually positively affect the wellbeing of patients.


Where do you look/go for inspiration?
We’re about finding inspiration absolutely everywhere: from spectrums of colour swirling in diesel-doused pavements under our feet, to the neat geometry of the high-rise architecture above us. The process of looking up, down, around and beyond – and noticing the patterns that surround us – helps us gain perspective and remember our place in the now. It’s a way of positively engaging with our environment and each other. Everything Patternity does is a celebration of this. It extends to exploring the patterns that often go unnoticed. For us the research and exploration of pattern is endless, and ranges across eras and fields. The natural world is becoming an ever increasing source of inspiration to us. We are looking into how we can learn from nature as the ultimate efficient and sustainable designer-engineer.
What’s taken the most balls?
Leaving our part time jobs to concentrate on Patternity full time (9months ago) There came a time when we both just knew we could either carry on working for other brands forever or just fully power forward with Patternity. It was a scary but exhillarating decision and we've not looked back since. We've both made a huge amount of sacrifices, and it's not the easy path to take but it's been extremely rewarding.

Tell us a bit about your exhibition coming up-
We're currently working very hard towards our first annual Patternity exhibition which will be taking place in April 2013. PATTERN POWER / SUPERSTRIPE is the first of in an ongoing series of annual pattern events which will see the core Patternity ethos on “seeing pattern everywhere from the mundane to the magnificent” move boldly into the real world - with a focus on Stripes. 

And lastly, the best advice you have for new graduates is....
In a world where there's so much 'stuff', consider how your creativity and fresh ideas can help innovate and assist the world at a what is historically and economically a difficult time. Stay inspired, be aware, work hard but take time out to enjoy the journey along the way. Don't worry too much about what's around the corner, don't be competitive - it's useless, be kind to people, and if you're new/doing work experience (a must if you want to get a taste of different ways of working) always offer to make the tea - it goes a VERY long way!


Thursday 6 December 2012

John Steinbeck on Falling in Love: A 1958 Letter

This beautiful response to his eldest son Thom’s 1958 letter, in which the teenage boy confesses to have fallen desperately in love with a girl named Susan while at boarding school. 


New York
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:
We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.
First — if you are in love — that’s a good thing — that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.
Second — There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.
You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply — of course it isn’t puppy love.
But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it — and that I can tell you.
Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
If you love someone — there is no possible harm in saying so — only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another — but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.
We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens — The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
Love,
Fa


Sunday 2 December 2012

INTROducing..... Colette Crespin: Advertising Agent


Oh Hey! How are you??
Great thanks, how are you doing?  Looking for a new assistant actually…  ;)

Great, thanks! 
Give us 3 words that describe you best:
Determined, Devoted, Loving

So, can you tell us what it is you actually do?
I run and own an agency called Tangerine that I set up just over two years ago within the world of advertising. Within this agency I represent global production companies and their directors who specialise in filming tv commercials, online content and music videos. I offer innovative ideas to companies to help them generate New Business Procurement and offer Public Relations and Event Management also. The idea being that with a tailored and personable services companies can reach out to people that they want to target using a variety of platforms and communication generating awareness, work and publicity.

...and you're how old?!?! 
30! Shhhhhhh!!!

Nice! How did you get into this?
Then I started off as a ‘Director Rep’ in 2006 for a company called Draw Pictures.  They only made music videos and were one of the best in London at that time.  They wanted to start making commercials as well so I took on the challenge.  I set up a variety of different ways for the company to get noticed, including ‘ADMA’, a one off, charity commercial competition to raise awareness of Carbon Footprint.  With a host of industry judges including Trevor Beattie and some great press support, this was a brilliant platform to introduce the music video company into the commercial world.

What’s the most exciting thing you've done in your career so far?
Travelled all over the world, meeting some of the most inspiring and influential producers, actors and directors in history.  Including Rutger Hauer, Sir Ben Kingsley, Jonathan Glazer, Tim Burton to name just a few…

What’s been your dullest job?
Within my company, putting together spreadsheets, guest lists or writing meeting reports at 2am on Sunday. I am one assistant down and a deadline is a deadline. Otherwise, I have always had pretty interesting jobs.

Where do you look/go for inspiration?
I look for inspiration everywhere, everyday, in human nature, interaction, behaviour, people, other companies, my competitors and of course - facebook.

What took the most balls?
Setting up alone.

The best advice you have for new graduates about to go into the 'real world’ is....
Talk to everyone. EVERYONE.