Last year I was lucky enough to contribute in some great discussions about the future of the mobile industry — among the perks of being part of an exciting company like Zolmo. Every conference revolved around a similar question: “What does the future hold for mobile?” I’ll be the first to admit I’m not sure at all how the future of it will be defined, but from the work we have been doing at Zolmo over the past two and a half years, I gave my thoughts on what we can do today in order to make it a worthwhile one.
Dave Brown and Herb Kim kindly invited me to speak at TEDxLiverpool among some top industry figures in the UK, including the infamous Mills from Ustwo. Here’s a quick rooftop interview and the talk itself.
2011 also saw the anticipated release of Rob Ford’s new book ‘The App and Mobile Case Study’ from Taschen. It’s a pretty great feeling to be alongside my good friend and mentor Ajaz Ahmed, chairman of AKQA, as one of the writers. The book itself is a spectacular collection of innovation in the industry and a great resource (as you would expect from Rob and co-editor Julius Wiedemann) that everyone in the industry should have. The book is available to purchase here.
Finally, and most surreal, last year gave the first appearance of Zolmo on live BBC World News talking about the late Steve Jobs and apps. Hopefully it won’t be the last, this was certainly a highlight of the year. Getting the call from BBC to me being on air was 55 minutes, and I was back in as little time – they are seriously efficient and professional people. Terrifying and immense fun.
A little under four years ago I left my design job in Manchester and moved to London. Not a decision that comforts the soul of a born-and-bred Northerner. With that move came my loss of daily interaction with hugely talented friends, colleagues and mentors, all of which I still miss.
One of those people, Matt Booth, recently invited me to speak at Northern Digitals for BLAB 8. Being asked to speak at any event is always a privilege, I have enjoyed each of the ten or so I have done this year. When that invitation coincides with going back home, however—to the place I learned the most important lessons in my career and met the people that gave me a shot in the industry—it becomes an honor, in every respect. Those lessons still determine how I work, the goals I set myself and form the very stories I tell in my talks. This talk, titled Bright Eyed & Bushy Tailed, is about the things I have learned so far with the help of everyone I have worked with; exploring creativity, embracing the ridiculous, working smart and daring to fail.
Enormous thanks to everyone who attended, listened, booed when I mentioned London (I deserved that) and who came to chat afterwards. There is nothing like the creative community in the North of England.
This is no revelation – creatives have to fight for their work. They have to fight for their career, fight to keep things a labour-of-love and fight to make their name. It’s not always rewarding, it’s not always fun and sometimes the clock turning 3am is much more noticeable. But you suck it up and battle through because every creative wants to inspire, make truly amazing things and be respected.
One of the most important lessons any designer, illustrator or film-maker can learn is that they are only as good as their ability to make themselves known. The Art Directors Club Young Guns award program is hands-down the most significant and meaningful piece of recognition a young creative can receive. Especially so if you are a multi-disciplinary designer. In my 9 years of paying attention to the industry I have never previously said that.
Last year I was lucky enough to be one of the YG8 winners and the following I can say with utmost confidence about Young Guns 9. It will present opportunities you only dream about in design school. You will meet an array of brilliant and inspiring people, both friends and future colleagues. You will have lifelong recognition from one of the worlds most respected creative organisations. It will act as a catalyst for the next stage of your career and most importantly – it will forever inspire and drive you to excel.
Times are changing, some of the most influential entrepreneurs, innovators and creative thinkers in the world are in their twenties – and proud of it. This is a good time to be young and ambitious. Make yourself known.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended my talk in January and turned what I feared would be empty seats and an ego-shattering chat with the Genius Bar staff into one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of my career.
Speaking at the Regent Street Apple Store on behalf of The Art Directors Club was, in all respects, a dream come true for me and wholly underlines everything I maintain about the industry and being a young creative professional.
In an attempt to make a forty-minute lecture about my work not exclusively self-indulgent I decided to title it “Bright Eyed & Bushy Tailed” and look at something I think immeasurably important: the usefulness of youth in creativity. Discussing work which included my short animated film Solar, The Mill rebrand, game trailers for Sony, the Jamie Oliver apps and a rather embarrassing piece of work from when I was 16 involving an owl, I tried my best to illustrate why I profoundly believe creativity is something best-practiced when embracing certain aspects of youth.
For context, someone once told me in reference to public speaking: if in doubt, start with a quote from someone more intelligent than you. So here it is…
Anyone who appreciates what Charles Saatchi has done for British advertising and how uniquely experienced and influential he is will know why this quote is such a big deal. Not only forming the basis of my talk it is also the reason I adore The Art Directors Club and Young Guns award. The creative industries, whatever discipline that may mean for you, are acutely complex worlds to navigate and (in terms of agencies in particular) not well geared for ambitious young creatives who want to excel beyond their years. The beauty of programmes like Young Guns is that they provide a platform to justify youth and stick two fingers up to industry silverbacks who still think ten years older means ten years better.
The reality is and always will be: Instinct beats experience. If you are passionate about what you are doing and make it a labour of love, anything is possible – at any age. Just look at what Zuckerberg has achieved. And he’s only 26.
Without writing up the entire lecture into a blog, I’ll mention one story from it, the one I wanted to leave people with on the night as a closing overview. A story that best illustrates my attitude towards creativity.
Gareth Edwards, a VFX artist at the BBC woke up one day and decided to try and make the world’s most realistic monster movie. He quit his job, took two actors and a crew of 3 (himself included) across Mexico, enlisted members of the public as additional actors and shot a feature film. He did all the visual effects, some 100+ shots, in his bedroom on a micro budget. Not long later “Monsters” had a theatrical release to universal acclaim, receives a BAFTA nomination and Gareth is signed by a major Hollywood studio to direct the next Godzilla film.
Passion. Instinct. Daring to fail. Three things every creative should follow.
Lastly, this is why I love my friends – for unconditional support and keeping me grounded by putting things in perspective. I forwarded the picture on the left to my closest friends, one of which being Sophie, a proud mum. Her photo response sums it all up.
Thank you for all the feedback about the talk – in person, on twitter and in blogs. I hope I managed to provide something useful. Huge thanks to Erin Biggerstaff at The ADC, Mark Ward for an incredibly flattering and well-versed introduction, Rich Tu for some NY-style inspiration and support and Robin Lingwood at Apple for the photos and organisation on the night.
I’m working on a new project related to everything I covered in my talk and the young creative world. When it has more stability I’ll reveal details. I’d love to hear from you if you’re a creative student, young professional or feel the same way to the things I spoke about.
Over the past five years I have been a huge admirer of the creative talent exhibited in the ADC Young Guns award. Each year since around the mid ‘90’s a new selection of creatives under 30 from around the world are honored as Young Guns – excelling beyond their years in their industry.
Amongst past winners are some of my favourite and most inspiring creatives: Rei Inamoto – Global Creative Director of AKQA, Stefan Sagmeister and Joseph Kosinski – director of the coming blockbuster release Tron: Legacy to name a few.
This year’s winners were announced and I am delighted (and altogether overwhelmed) to be an honoree alongside some extraordinarily talented young designers, illustrators, photographers and film-makers.
The event was held at The Art Director’s Club gallery in New York. It made for a great trip with one of my best friends Dave Elwell. We decided to stay at the achingly cool Ace Hotel just off Broadway.
Almost one year on from the launch of our first product, Jamie Oliver’s Twenty Minute Meals collects the most coveted award for mobile products. The ADA’s – hosted by Apple at the annual Worldwide Developer Conference in California – recognise iPhone applications that “demonstrate technical excellence, innovation, superior technology adoption, high performance, and outstanding design.”
We were lucky enough to be among only five iPhone apps awarded from over 250,000 available in the app store. Other winners included the incredible (and agonisingly addictive) hit games Real Racing and Doodle Jump along with the only other British win, The Financial Times iPad app.
Twenty Minute Meals has been one of the most successful and top-grossing apps released to date. It was named Best App of 2009 by iTunes, featured in the 2010 D&AD Annual and earned Jamie a place on the February cover of Wired Magazine.
