On 16-17th July, in the heart of London, newly founded organisation Mindapples joins forces with Courvoisier’s two-week summer extravaganza to present The Big Treat, a pop-up urban health farm that invites you to treat yourself better.

Over the weekend, Courvoisier’s London home at The Future Gallery will be transformed into an experiential treatment room with radical exhibitions and installations to stimulate the mind, body and soul. Working with a host of health conscious enterprises, The Big Treat presents a kaleidoscope of revolutionary approaches to give you your 5-a-day for the mind. In the words of fellow NoD writer, Mark Brereton, ‘From little acorns grow mental, physical and visual health.’
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To find out more about The Big Treat, join the event on Facebook. You can also keep up to date with Mindapples on twitter @mindapples.

With a uniquely playful and colourful approach to both two and three dimensional work, London based Illustrator and Set Maker Hattie Newman has spent her first two graduate years working for an array of high profile clients, including; AMV BBDO, Cadbury, Sony, Fedrigoni UK, Grafik Magazine, The Guardian, Macmillan Publishers, Make A Wish Foundation, Royal Mail and Universal Records. Notes on Design caught up with Hattie this month for a quick glimpse into her world.

Notes on Design: Can you give us a brief insight into who you are and what you do?

Hattie: I am an illustrator and set maker working in London. My background includes a first class degree in Illustration from UWE, Bristol and a breadth of projects for a range of clients. Combining my two and three dimensional imaginations, I enjoy making work inspired by all things charming and strange.

Notes on Design: So, how did your career start?

Hattie: I am originally from the quiet countryside of West Devon, but I studied my degree in Illustration at Bristol UWE. Read the rest of this entry »

With strong ethical and social motivations and an awe-inspiring work schedule, Amisha Ghadiali is a Jewellery Designer working in London. Alongside running her own label Amisha: Elegance.Rebellion, Amisha is also the Associate Director of the Ethical Fashion Forum and Founder of political fashion campaign, Think Act Vote. We caught up with Amisha this week to find out exactly what she’s up to.

Notes on Design: Can you give us a brief insight into who you are and what you do?

Amisha: I am one of those people that doesn’t easily fit into a box. I am an activist for positive social change, a designer, a campaigner, an entrepreneur, a writer, and a connector. My favourite eco-fashion designer Mark Liu recently did a “Unicorn” collection, which is inspired by the idea that, in an unpredictable world, attempting the seemingly impossible is not only the most exciting, but also the safest thing to do. Liu says that the key to the future lies with those who have the imagination, courage, and will to chase seemingly impossible “unicorn” ideas. I like to think that I am one of those people.

Notes on Design: So, how did your career start?

Amisha: I studied Politics at Leeds University. It was really interesting to have that time and space to learn about the world and theories of change and growth. I worked in Politics and International Development for a while including for Congressman Cardin in DC, John Battle MP and on the Make Poverty History campaign. Read the rest of this entry »

Notes on Design recently spoke to London based Graphic Designer Fraser Muggeridge about his current venture – the Typography Summer School. Held over the duration of one week progammes, designers can apply to attend the course and study typography to enhance their practical skills and theory. This introductory interview is part 1, with part 2 consisting of a studio visit and further conversation with the programme participants.

Notes on Design: Hello Fraser, I know of your work through your design studio and understand that typography is of great importance in your work. Please can you tell us how and when you first got into typography and graphic design?

Fraser: I have always been drawn to letters. As a schoolboy my parents asked me if I wanted to play a musical instrument. I said I would prefer to be taught calligraphy, so once a week I would sit at the kitchen table with the only graphic designer in the town, drawing letters. This was the start of my study of typography, a process which still continues today. Everywhere I go, I am fascinated by what I can learn through my obsessive observations of typography: from paper bags in Kolkata, to haulage trucks on the M1 motorway.

Notes on Design: When you work with a client on a typographic project how do you communicate the best direction or outcome?

Fraser: This will depend on many factors. Sometimes we might want to be big and bold and sometimes not. Typography can be a very subtle thing – A lot of it is in the detail – clients will notice when something isn’t right but they don’t know why. Read the rest of this entry »

Born and raised on a Suffolk farm in East England, Richard Sanderson moved to Bristol to study Illustration. After graduating last year he moved to London to embark on his career in the UK capital. Since then he’s worked with, amongst others, YCN, Zizzi’s, The Ride Journal, The Newspaper Club & Form Fifty Five and exhibited in London, Bristol, Amsterdam and Glasgow. We spoke to Richard this week to find out how his graduate year is unfolding.

Notes on Design: So, how did your career start?

Richard: I’ve been drawing all my life and thanks to the positive encouragement from my family it’s never stopped! After an unhappy experience doing Art A-Level, I reveled in my Foundation course at Suffolk College, Ipswich. All the freedom and encouragement to experiment, particularly in the screen printing, illustration and design modules, really put me on the right path. I ended up going to Bristol UWE (University of the West of England) to study a degree in BA (Hons) Illustration, where I met a wide variety of different people carrying out different practices. Read the rest of this entry »

As Founder of London-based web design and development agency, kulör, digital guy at YCN, and founder/curator at siteInspire, Daniel Howells has been building quite a name for himself over the past few years. Notes on Design spoke to Daniel this week to find out how a Psychology degree, jobs in account managing and investment banking led him to a finding his feet in web design and the creative industry!

Notes on Design: How did your career start?

Daniel: I actually did my degree in Psychology, at Manchester University. When I graduated, I had no idea what I wanted to do so I blindly entered the world of advertising, after joining the agency J Walter Thompson (now JWT) as an intern. I progressed as an account manager on various accounts, until I realised advertising wasn’t quite for me. I then pursued a career in management consulting, and then investment banking, before realising that none of these things genuinely interested me.

Notes on Design: So, how and why did you choose a career in web design?

Daniel: All the while during these stints in various industries, I had a keen interest in web design and development, which started at University where I created a website with two friends whose purpose was to host photo galleries from various student nightclubs and bars, before digital camera were ubiquitous. At that time, I also had met Nick Defty – the founder of YCN – who was looking for some help with the organisation’s website. I worked on the first version of the YCN website about 9 years ago, and working in evenings and weekends I continued to help design and develop the website. It was when I realised that I enjoyed my “hobby” far more than my actual job that I actually made the break, and joined YCN full-time to look after its digital projects. Making the break away from my previous career(s) and moving to YCN was wonderful; discovering a world which revolved around creativity rather than Excel spreadsheets.

Notes on Design: How has running your own company effected your creative practice?

Daniel: I wouldn’t say it has affected my practice a great deal, other than new business development can often take over your life since suddenly you’re in a situation where work doesn’t automatically appear for you. I’ll admit that it was terrifying at first and the stress levels were pretty high! But now I feel a lot more comfortable Read the rest of this entry »