Rapid-Fire Design Advice—25 Pointers from Hat-Trick’s Gareth Howat

Gareth Howat worked at The Partners before setting up Hat-Trick Design Studio with fellow designer Jim Sutherland. Since forming in 2001, Hat-Trick has developed an impressive client list featuring The Natural History Museum, The British Heart Foundation & Royal Mail. Alongside designing for iconic British companies they can be seen curating miniature exhibitions or continuing their proactive approach to personal projects, having designed a typography inspired chess set as well as bespoke playing cards.

While visiting #shillolon, Gareth shared 25 points to remember as a designer—each an invaluable reminder no matter which point of your design career you’re at.

1. Work hard
2. Do good work
3. Work together
4. Work with odd people
5. Stand out
6. Be enthusiastic
7. Make the most of every opportunity
8. Work for people you like
9. Learn to listen
10. Look at the problem
11. Scare yourself, you’ll learn more
12. Don’t avoid the obvious
13. Use notebooks
14. Use your hands
15. Play
16. Be obsessive
17. Have an argument
18. Research things to death
19. Be a sponge
20. Think big
21. Think small
22. Enjoy it
23. Do more
24. Don’t give up
25. Carry on learning

Huge thanks to Gareth for taking to time to visit #shillolon and inspire our current bunch of design students. If you’re looking for more Hat-Trick inspiration head over to their website where there’s lots of videos of their projects—don’t leave without visiting the shop as it’s bursting with design related treats!

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