A rare treat

Wakefield College design and music students had a rare treat recently when Ian Anderson, founder of the internationally renowned company, The Designers’ Republic, went along to the College to give them some first-hand ideas about how to get started in the design industry.

Ian Anderson (left) with Paul Wheatcroft.

Famous for designing record and CD covers, posters and music merchandise for contemporary performers over the last 17 years, The Designers’ Republic currently has twin exhibitions - Selling Sound - on display at Wakefield Art Gallery and Pontefract Museum, which are attracting music fans, graphic designers and students.

Ian told the students how he himself had started up as a designer, and how advancements in both the design and the music recording industries had forced massive changes to the way the artwork is done that sells music.

Paul Wheatcroft, the College’s Programme Manager Media, Art & Design, described the opportunity for the students to hear Ian speak as ‘a fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime experience’.

Maggie Warren, Keeper of Art at Wakefield Art Gallery said, “From its initial work with local Sheffield bands, TDR has become leaders in all fields of design, known for their creative freedom and subversive use of graphic icons.”

ENDS