Adam Frost

I have just had a few great days in Cork with my dad horse racing at Mallow. We had some great fun. It was a two day meeting. I know I am stating the obvious but the Irish are very hospitable and they love their racing – the atmosphere was top drawer.
 
The trip was part of my 40th birthday present from my wife (thanks sweet) and I feel as if I’ve been celebrating it for months – well, to be honest, I have! Anyway, all that just to tell you about another of  my presents which was a book from friends called ‘Wisdom’ (I think they were trying to tell me something…) It is a great book, basically wise words from some of the older statesman across the world from all walks of life.

 
The first one that jumped out at me was from Terence Conran because I’ve had the pleasure of working with him. Anyone who knows how I approach my work will know I do not think garden design is some wonderful art form. At best I’d describe it as a craft and I believe that every part of the subject can be taught and I don’t believe that true of art (you may disagree – it’s just my point of view). Anyway, back to Terence – it intrigued me how he described design and I have taken a few lines from the book:
 
It’s the responsibility of designers to improve the quality of people’s lives.
 
Don’t design anything you don’t know how to make.
 
I see so many designers with felt-tip pens sketching out things that have no part in most people’s lives.
 
Designers are servants of the community, design is just intelligence made visible.
 
I think it is spot on and what I like about Terence Conran is that he was a furniture maker long before he went into design, which for me gives you that all important understanding of how things are made.
 
Let me know what you think!