This week, Sophy Henn takes us into her studio, where she comes up with the wonderful Pom Pom books, including the new Pom Pom the Champion.
I am lucky enough to have my workspace in my home. Well, I say lucky, it does result in me working all hours, but the commute is a dream! It's nice and light and I have the whole room to myself. I often dream of giving it a makeover so it could look like the Pinterest board of my dreams, but there's just never the time! Though I have just ordered some String shelving, which is something I find incredibly exciting. I can fill it with the overflow of books and a few choice bits and bobs I have accumulated. I think having things you love around you helps the creative process, it's comforting and reassuring. Though I do find there's a fine line between that and feeling claustrophobic, I can't have too much stuff or I can't think. I'm a fiend for a clear out!
I have been really lucky to attend lots of lovely festivals and bookshops this year, to do events and talks, so the train has become a bit of a mobile studio. It takes some getting used to and I have to confess I do find myself accidentally gazing out of the window sometimes, but I'm slowly getting the hang of it!
What is your design process?
I suppose it really depends on what I'm designing. If I am working to a client brief then my first task is to understand their visual language and target market, then approach the brief from that direction. Making sure the core message and all that malarkey are in place.
If it's a book, I have control over the story and visuals, though obviously I still have to bear my audience in mind. There has been occasion where I have a spread (or whole book concept) I love, but it's just not right, not needed or too personal and it has to be cut! Heartbreaking! But I do love the process of arranging, rearranging and cutting, I think my past life in advertising has something to do with that, always trimming things back. And I must say I work with the most amazing designers on my books, so they are a HUGE part of that process!
Where do you get inspiration from?
Inspiration can strike at any time, so you have to be ready! Sometimes a picture, sometimes a doodle, and sometimes what’s happening right in front of you. I just try to make sure I have the means to write it down really quickly as my old brain doesn't seem to keep hold of information the way it used to! Then I just have to remember that I had an idea and wrote it down!!! This dwindling memory does make going through old sketch books quite exciting though, so many surprises!
I use pencils, cheap copier paper (FSC approved mind you!) a light box, scanner and an iMac. Not at all fancy I'm afraid. I use Indian ink with nib pens occasionally, and always mean to more. I have developed my illustration process to not only create the end result effect I am after, but also to give me the ability to move elements of the illustrations/designs around or change colours as and when I want to. This is obviously very useful when it comes to editing and refining the layouts etc, though often results in me sitting in front of one illustration for HOURS tweaking it a little here and a little there!
At the moment I am currently upgrading from my old and now very slow iMac to a shiny new one, but I haven't quite made the full leap so I'm a bit like those keyboard guys in eighties bands, with multiple keyboards on the go at once!!!
I also love print making and have enjoyed a minimal amount of book making, both are something I want to do more of. I think it's the fairly rigid process of both that appeals, you can't rush or skip a step. I would really love to hand print and bind a book one of these days!
If I'm writing I can't listen to anything as I find it too distracting. I remember my step brother listening to really loud music when he studied and wondering how on earth anything got through the wall of sound (it did, he's very clever). But if I am drawing or colouring in then I have to listen to something or I get distracted by my mind wandering! I love a good detective drama, Agatha Christie, or maybe a Wodehouse, all occasionally found on BBC iPlayer, which I use daily. And I have now finally admitted I am a Radio 2 listener. Sara Cox making the transition from Radio 1 to 2 made it easier to deal with, but only in the morning or lovely Liza Tarbuck on a Saturday.
Music wise I still love a bit of old school Hip Hop! I listen to it on the school run, when the children are NOT in the car!
Which other designers do you admire?
So many. I love a lot of mid-century modern designers and have done for a very long time. Saul Bass, Alexander Girand, Hervé Morvan and many more. I love the simplicity they achieve without losing any of the detail. While I love a lot of very complex design, it's the more paired back work I aspire to.
So many of the designers and artists who worked at Disney in the 1950's/60s were amazing. Special mention has to go to Mary Blair, not just for her amazing design eye, but also for her incredible use of colour.
Going further back, I love the work of William Nicolson, you can see the influence of his iconic Alphabet far and wide.
And obviously the hugely talented art editor and designer extraordinaire that I am lucky enough to work with, Goldy Broad. She's a genius, but don't tell her I said that.
