Part 17 – 1990s The Challenge of the Future

A taste of the future

The commission from high-class wine retailer Bibendum to design their catalogue was one of our prized jobs because of the high level of typography it demanded.

It was also memorable for another reason; Bibendum was the first of our clients to move their catalogue to the web in 1995.

Quality photography and copywriting, together with a passionate client team who understood the importance of high production values, made this a designer’s dream.

A low-key and restrained approach to the front cover of the catalogue gave the contents more life.

Love of Learning

Channel 4 Learning is a great example of how we searched (and found) high volumes of work in less obvious places.

Channel 4 has an educational remit similar to that of the BBC and this involved supplying schools with textbooks, programme guides and timetables – in vast quantities.

It was our job to design and produce them to the highest possible standard.

Channel Four Learning needed a new, livelier, approach to their promotional material which we were able to provide.

No free lunch

Producing creative proposals (pitching) is something designers relish because they can let their creativity rip.

We were involved in a good many pitches but as far as I can recall we never pitched for free – that was something unheard of years ago.

Free pitching hurts both designers and clients, but it is the clients that are the bigger losers.

While the client liked our presentation, alas on this occasion we were not successful, but the fee we received covered our expenses.

My journey as a graphic designer, an introduction

Part 01 – 1960s In the Beginning: Undergraduate work

Part 02 – 1970s The Royal College of Art & The Advent of Colour

Part 03 – 1970s Starting Out in the Real World

Part 04 – 1970s My First Major Client

Part 05 – 1970s More Than One Man

Part 06 – 1970s Striking It Lucky

Part 07 – 1970s Embracing Ground-breaking Techniques

Part 08 – 1980s Changing Roles for Designers

Part 09 – 1980s Our First Technology Client

Part 10 – 1980s Growing Through Recommendation

Part 11 – 1980s The Dream Client

Part 12 – 1980s Moving into Corporate Design

Part 13 – 1990s Ramping Up the Workload

Part 14 – 1990s Graphic Design goes Global

Part 15 – 1990s A Steep Learning Curve

Part 16 – 1990s Working for The Nation’s Favourite

Part 17 – 1990s The Challenge of the Future

Part 18 – 1990s Picking up the Crumbs

Part 19 – 1990s Vested Interest

Part 20 – 1990s Setting the Standard

Part 21 – 1990s Still Growing after All These Years

Part 22 – 1990s New Business from Old

Part 23 – 1990s Keeping up with Demand

Part 24 – 1990s A Full-Service Consultancy

Part 25 – 1990s Into the Unknown

Part 26 – 2000s Learning New Tricks

Part 27 – 2000s Lifestyle Publishing Moves on

Part 28 – 2010s and Now…