Photo © Christine Donnier-Valentin
This is number two in our Second Thoughts series, following on from last week's interview with Andy Altmann. In case you missed why we're doing this, the same series of questions are asked to well-known design and creative people. This week, Simon Waterfall.
Simon Waterfall: founding partner of Deepend in 1994 and of Poke in 2001, a trustee of the Design Council CABE and an ex-D&AD president, winner of two BAFTAs, RDI (Royal Designer Of Industry), creator of fashion label Social Suicide and now Creative Director of Fray. Β
How old were you when you first suspected you could become a designer? As soon as I opened the first box of Technical Lego as a very young child. It was a box of delight that swallowed afternoons and weekends whole.
Did you see or experience something early in your life that was a significant influence? Both my Grandfathers were engineers, one in electrical and one mechanical, both had workshops full of lethal spinning, parent wetting, metal forming machines, perfect for a non PC 70's childhood.
Technical Lego from the 1970s Β©1977 LEGO
Who were your early heroes (and what do you think of them now, in retrospect)? An early hero was my Regimental Sergeant Major Chris O'Connell at Brighton College who took in waifs and strays and instilled in them discipline to believe in themselves. He passed away in January 2011 and left a dent in the world.
What's your recurring dream (or nightmare?) I don't sleep so I can't answer that. Now Daljit Singh on the other hand is one seriously disturbed sleeper/walker.
Describe the worst boss or client you've ever had. The worst client is actually not a long list but worst JOB is massive, dish washer at a Little Chef (1 day), Mexican waiter in ball crushing trousers (to get through Uni) and shutting Deepend when everything came undone.
What's your worst 'Apple-z' (undo) moment? Regret is the very worst emotion of them all and I avoid it like the plague. I wish I had made more time for my family when the dot com boom was on. I travelled too much and should have been present at a few more precious moments.
What do most people cite as your best/most well known piece of work? The companies I have had a hand in starting. I am a Creative Director not a Designer. Deepend, Poke, Fray.... next?
What do YOU think is your best piece of work? Why? The work I am doing now is amazing as it finally joins all the parts of my life that before had been in separate boxes. The last work for Sky has led me into amazing areas and I have been lucky to work with some amazing people both client side and partner side.
What font would you choose for your gravestone? Morse code (below)
... .. -- --- -.Β Β .-- .- - . .-. ..-. .- .-.. .-..Β Β -.-. .-. . .- - .. ...- .Β Β -.. .. -.-. -.-
What wins, ideas or style? Appropriate authentic ideas.
People have different ways to stay enthused, excited and interested in what they do for a living? What's yours? Don't make it your living, make it your calling. If you do it for the money then go work somewhere else. It has to be what makes you smile in the morning.
When and where do you have your best ideas? Talking to people much brighter than myself. 'What do you give a man who has everything?' Ten minutes of your undivided attention."
Seeing, smelling, touching, hearing, tasting. You have to give up two. Which ones? I could give them all up as long as I could think and most importantly TALK. I love talking more than breathing.
If you could travel back in time, just once, and give yourself a few words of advice, what would they be (and when would you say them?) 10:30 a.m. 07/06/2012. 5,11,22,34,40, bonus numbers 9, 11
Do you still draw or has the computer taken over? I draw terribly and write like a junior doctor on 48hr duty. The computer is a tool to communicate, record and fascinate. It is not a creative source.
Simon Waterfall meeting the Queen in that suit.
What's the worst design crime you've seen (or committed?) Most of my hair cuts and fashion over the last 20 years. They are right up there I guess.
You can only watch one film, read one book, listen to one album and eat one type of biscuit. What would they be? Film: Blade Runner. Book: Snow crash (Neal Stephenson). Album: The StreetsΒ 'A grand don't come for free'. Biscuit: Jaffa Cake.
Let's say it all goes pear-shaped. What's your back-up plan? Marry Michael Johnson and start a shampoo range. Such a great mane.
Find out more about Simon here www.fray.co.uk.
Follow johnson banks on twitter @johnsonbanks, and feel free to suggest who we should ask next #2ndthoughtsΒ