[Maranzano Track 13]

Satisfaction of the longevity of a design using example of BAA subways. On designer’s living for the moment. Graffiti line subway design. Pleasure at any form of recognition of the quality of work. Comments on lack of acknowledgement of individual designers using Marcello’s relegation of Brian in the Mintat books and reasons for this. Reflects on support from family and satisfaction of credits received. Admiration and affection for Marcello. Poster for British Airports Exhibition at the Design Council, now in New York MOMA. Description of Mintat designer Ian Grindle’s design for ‘Taste’ exhibition [at the Boilerhouse, V&A]; outcry at designers’ seeing their work on dustbins. No specfici memories of Design Council as clients. Description of British Airport exhibition design. Comments on working for design-aware clients such as the Design Council. The Mintat archive from hard copy to virtual: details. Current award of credit to designers. Anecdote about friend who advised AMM against joining Mintat. Brian retired in 1996. Reflects on emotional excitement and achievement of becoming a director; wanting to set an example. Mentions former employees: designers Carter Wong, Simon Pemberton, Nick Wurr, Bruce Duckworth. Training them in the financial aspects: example. Current design company practice of employing freelancers but Mintat only bring in specialists. Increasing travel involved and its effect on the design process described. Mentions current job for Fouman Chimie, a family owned company whose approach is reminiscent of the 1970s when clients only wanted a design solution. Comparison with current trends, which include creativity and marketing. On designers becoming ‘business consultants’. Accountability climate of the 1980s introduced by the Thatcher government; deleterious effect on design using example of CAFOD logo. Parkway Group corporate identity design explained. Substantial comments on shift of terms ‘corporate identity’ to ‘branding’ in the early 1990s: difference between visual and corporate identity. [27:28 mins]

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