When I started this blog a decade ago, I used the word 'Journey' in the title. This was long before it became one of those ubiquitous, annoyingly overused words, applied willy-nilly to everything.
But no matter, I still love Graphic Journey. And the design of the title banner above echoes the iconic motorway signage system that can be seen on any journey when driving around Britain.
The 1960's graphic designer's toolkit. Nothing to plug in. nothing to crash.
As every designer knows that signage system was devised and designed byJock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert back in 1965. In those days the graphic designer's toolkit consisted of a scalpel, tracing paper, Cow gum, a Rotring pen, a wooden T square, and when a mouse, was still a little furry creature.
Our National treasure Margaret Calvert.
Jock Kinneir died in 1994, but Margaret Calvert is very much with us and is the graphic design fraternities National treasure. Margaret still hand draws everything she designs, sitting at her desk at her cosy North London studio. And that is exactly where I recorded an hour-long conversation with her in 2015. In it, she talked about her childhood in South Africa, her design education and the story behind our classic motorway signage system, and a lot more besides. She told me she hated being interviewed, but as you will hear she tells a fascinating story. Listen to it HERE