Michael Wolff

This practitioner report is on the lecture I went to by Michael Wolff at the Liverpool design symposium in November 2009. From the point that Michael walked into the theatre it was apparent that there was something special about this man. It was almost as if he had a glow of spiritual awareness around him, perhaps it was just because he looked like some a monk of some sort, but what he was to say affirmed my initial preconceptions. Michael had been a designer for the best part of his life, and it showed due to his lack of needing to prove himself by showing the work which he had produced. The lecture existed more like an interview with another person asking questions and him answering them. My notes consist more of a list of quotes due to the profound essence of his statements. These are as follows: 'There's always room for discovery' past experience can be a hinderance as well as a benefit due to arrogance. 'Don't expect a constant meaning'. 'Get Jobs, get fired'. There is enormous potential to be successful as everything is shit'. He discussed how there is a lack of communication between designers/designs and their subsequent effect on people, and how easily the majority of people can be upset by the smallest thing. Imagination is constantly suppressed by your own mind. 'If you ask the same questions, you get the same answers'. He also mentioned something which I believe completely, how there is a lack of originality in designers and their designs. 'BE REAL, BE HONEST'. Another thin which he mentioned is the use of your own portfolio and what your portfolio actually means, i.e the demonstration of what you are trying to say about yourself, your personality and your beliefs. 'Don't take no for an answer', 'Not doing justice to our roles as human beings'. The list goes on, but basically this man is a treasure in graphic design today, and is highly influential to me not just by the designs he produces, but more about the way he sees the world and its lack of originality and substance.