Design Undefined #3: Q&A with Anthony Burrill

Ahead of Design Undefined #3 — where Burrill will showcase a collaborative furniture project alongside some of his more traditional work — we caught up with the famed creative to hear his thoughts on working with Michael Marriott, the power of persuasion and why he’s looking forward to exhibiting with Alex Booker. 

I was keen to work on a new project with Michael Marriott, we’ve worked together in the past and it’s always been a great experience. So when Design Undefined came along it was the perfect moment! I’m looking forward to seeing all our plans come together in the space.

As designers we have a responsibility to constantly challenge both ourselves and the design industry, it’s the only way we can all move forward positively. Everything around us is changing rapidly, we have to respond to these changes with our work to be part of the on-going conversation. 

I first discovered the delights of Clerkenwell while I was studying at the RCA, lots of friends had studios and workshops around there. Friday nights at the Three Kings was always fun, it was like an extension of the college bar. I’ve always enjoyed the social side of the design world, meeting friends and chatting about who was doing what, with who and where! I met lots of people who I eventually ended up working with on projects, there’s a lot of cross over between friends that I made around that time. Like the rest of London, Clerkenwell has moved on and changed over the years, but I think it’s still held on to it’s creative spirit.

My work has become more focused on words and typography over the past few years, I was originally from an illustration background and had a fear of typography. As I developed my own approach to working with type I began to understand how to use it successfully, using letterpress has given me a real insight in to the craft of typography, it’s something that I think is missing in digital work. I like the physicality of wood and metal type, they have a warmth and character that is impossible to create digitally.

I’m collaborating with my friend Michael Marriott on a “room within a room” installation, we will create an environment that will host a variety of creative activities. For example a screen-printing workshop, postcard making using rubber stamps and a chance to browse through copies of my new book MAKE IT NOW! Michael and I have created a series of furniture pieces, a table, bench, bookshelf and stools that will occupy the room. The furniture is made using screen-printed plywood, the typographic pattern applied to the wood is taken from my book, it shows my favourite letterforms from my wood block prints.

The mixed use nature of the venue creates an interesting dynamic, there’s a lot to take in! Our aim is to make a room that feels both lively and exciting, but calm and reflective at the same time. It’s the same feeling you get in my studio, there’s lots to look at and plenty to get excited about, but there’s also space to think and create new work. 

Alex and I both share a love of print, the tactile nature of printing with wood, paper and ink. Alex creates images from his imagination and visual research, my working method draws from collage techniques, I combine letterforms and words. It will be interesting to see the contrast and parallels between our work. 

I’m always on the look out for new inspiration and ways of working, I’m fascinated by other designers' working processes and how they draw their influences together to create new projects. I love having conversations with interesting people over a few drinks, chance meetings with people who’s work you admire are always fun and inspiring. I keep an eye out for the unexpected and look forward to being surprised and inspired!