Journal
Ideas and inspiration can come from anywhere.
“The mind is like an umbrella. It’s most useful when open.”
Walter Gropius, Founder of the Bauhaus
The Jotter - issue 43
“When burdened by the feeling that there are too many photographs in the world, I ask myself if there are too many flowers.”
The Jotter - issue 42
“Commonplaces never become tiresome. It is we who become tired when we cease to be curious and appreciative. We find that it is not a new scene which is needed, but a new viewpoint.”
The Jotter - issue 41
“How much you should worry about being an outsider depends on the quality of the insiders.” Paul Graham
The Jotter - issue 40
“Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible.”
The Jotter - issue 39
Rick Rubin on creativity, Thomas Heatherwick on the “blandemic”, Brian Eno on sculpting sound, 40 photos which changed fashion, why technology never gives us a shorter working week and Craig Mod celebrates grace.
The Jotter - issue 38
A DO/Interesting taster, you may not like Elon Musk but you can still learn from him, Monument by Trent Parke, The Great British Colouring Book and new websites for The Perfect Bottle and Lauren Dunleavy.
The Jotter - issue 37
Too many buzzwords, slowing down, the iconic portraits of Jane Bown, a new colosseum for Bath Rugby, ditching the process, what questions do people ask and a new website for Humble Bee Films.
The Jotter - issue 36
“I like elements which are hybrid rather than ‘pure,’ compromising rather than ‘clear,’ distorted rather than ‘straightforward.’ … I am for messy vitality over obvious unity.”
The Jotter - issue 35
“The best place to have or develop ideas is a small town. It has to be a big enough place to run into smart people but quiet enough to allow you to escape back into your own mind.”
The Jotter - issue 34
“When the world demands toxic productivity, contemplation is a radical act.” Grenfell by Steve McQueen, a thank you letter to Vitsoe, Brutiful Brutalism and rediscover the lost art of the insult.
The Jotter - issue 33
“That’s why the time to resist is at the point you find yourself going along with conventional wisdom. It’s uncomfortable to be the outsider. But the only opportunity you have to think is before you join the herd. Once you’ve joined, it’s too late.”
The Jotter - issue 32
This month - allergy to originality, the lure of free teddy bears, a curious story about WD-40, Alec Soth’s A Pound of Pictures, Nick Cave’s wise advice to a 13 year old and more.
The Jotter - issue 31
This month, computers can’t cry, David Ogilvy’s writing tips, I thought about this a lot, what was David Bowie doing at your age and Robert Darch’s photos of The Island.
The Jotter - issue 30
“To achieve great things two things are needed; a plan, and not enough time.”
The Jotter - issue 29
David Shrigley on being happy, Paddy Gilmore on the Economist ads, sifting the essential from the inessential, beautifully savage insults, why you should ask people to “gift’ rather than “donate” and a pesky cookie banner you might like to see.
The Jotter - issue 28
Here's to the little ones. The pebbles, The rubble-makers. The ting pegs trying to fill massive holes. The ones who say things differently. They're not fond of 'cool', and they have no respect for the status show.
The Jotter - issue 27
“I have worked here my whole life, but I am only now beginning to truly know this piece of land. I stumble across a field at a different time of day, or in different light, and I feel as if I have never seen it before.” (James Rebanks)
The Jotter - issue 26
“These are some of our favourite things…” A compendium of beautifully made objects. Objects with timeless design, which age gracelessly, are built with quality and are intuitive to use & fix.
The Jotter - issue 25
“Resting on your laurels is as dangerous as resting when you are walking in the snow. You doze off and die in your sleep.”
The Jotter - issue 24
"A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a joke, or worried to death by a frown on the right person’s brow.”