Cornwall Design Forum

Neil Tinson

Chair

Neil runs Neil Tinson Studio, a multi-disciplinary company offering graphic design and art direction. After graduating from Falmouth in 2001, Neil joined Thirteen in Bristol. Three years later he moved back to Falmouth and worked at Gendall for over two years. Neil has worked with clients such as Barclays, BBC, Defra, Objective One, Orange, RIBA Enterprises and Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Neil is a member of D&AD, the Typographic Circle and ISTD (International Society of Typographic Designers), and a Fellow of the RSA. He has also taught at both the University of Gloucestershire and University College Falmouth.

Katherine Smith

Vice Chair

Katherine is a partner at Empress, a design studio delivering imaginative and innovative outcomes for web, print, marketing and project management. She is a graduate in Medieval History of Art from the Courtauld Institute, where she discovered she had no desire at all to spend her working life peering at illuminated manuscripts. Instead, Katherine has worked in communications roles for a broad range of national charities and public sector organisations: most recently at the Greater London Authority, where she headed up a team delivering the Recycle for London marketing campaign.

Katherine came to to Cornwall in 2006 to join Empress, in search of big sky, open water and room to think. She has worked with project partners that include Honda, Unilever and Procter & Gamble, and is particularly interested in closing the gap between the design industry in Cornwall and clients based out of county.

Amanda Webb

CDF Co-ordinator

Amanda Webb is the development officer for the Cornwall County Council Creative Unit. She has worked in the creative and cultural sector for over eight years and has been part of the CDF since its inception in 2004, when she worked for Creative Kernow. The Creative Unit provide project support to the CDF through Amanda as a recognition of the importance of the design sector to Cornwall

Georgina Claridge

Student Rep

Studying Graphic Design BA Hons at University College Falmouth, about to enter her final year. Originally from the Midlands and now living in Cornwall permanently. Georgie hopes to work within design in Cornwall once she graduates from University, with the possibility of travelling and working abroad one day.

Helen Blake

Committee member

St Austell-born Helen graduated from Falmouth School of Art and Design in 1989 and has over 17 years' experience in the design industry. She worked in London before returning to Cornwall in 1991 to launch Absolute one of the South West's leading and award winning Interior and Graphic Design agencies. Helen is a fellow of the CSD and a governor of Cornwall College. Helen has also recently been appointed a director of DBA.

Matt Hocking

Committee member

I have been working as a graphic designer for 13 years, originally training under 2 D&AD ex Saatchi award winners. I have worked for a variety of companies ranging from blue chip to charities, including Sky and Lego.

Six years ago I was appointed as the Internal Graphic design for Eden as part of a large team.

Two years ago I founded Leap media. Leap take a stance on only working with companies who are prepared to work sustainable through their print and media, and Leap only use recycled and sustainable materials where possible. Both Leap media and many of our client base have now won awards for their use of sustainable materials and ethics.

A recent report has highlighted the fact that the green eco £1 is now worth more that the alcohol and tobacco industries combined. I sit on the Strategic committee for sustainability in Cornwall and I feel my contacts in this field could bring a lot to the CDF in terms of being able to offer workshops and seminars on this important area. I want to ensure that there is a voice for sustainability for the design sector in Cornwall, and that a level of guardianship in this area is committed to.

Joshua Hughes

Committee member

Josh Hughes is a graphic designer and founder of Fresh Branding, a small design agency based in Newlyn, where he specialises in creating standards-compliant, accessible websites that also look great. Away from the studio, Josh has a wife and two small children to keep him out of trouble, but still likes to escape now and then to his local climbing wall.

Howard Miles

Committee member

Howard is the Director of Aukett Brockliss Guy (ABG) He has run the Cornwall studio for the past ten years.

Howard’s role is to ensure the highest levels of creativity are met throughout all projects the company undertake.

Before joining ABG Howard held various posts in London with The Greenhose, Michael Thierens Design, Robinson-Laimbe Nairn and Workhouse Design. Howard is also on the advisory panel for Somerset College of Arts and Technology.

Howard feels passionate about proving the industry wrong with excellent quality of creative thinking and creativity coming from Cornwall.

John Miller

Committee member

John Miller is Director of Design at University College Falmouth. His role there involves developing Design as a subject at the College – shaping the future for the design courses, design research and the role of design in business and the community. Since his arrival in 2005 he has led the introduction of new BA courses in Fashion Design and Perfomance Sportswear design and five new Design MA courses. In addition he overseas courses in 3D Design, Contemporary Crafts, Garden Design, Graphic Design, Spatial Design and Textile Design.

John continues his practice as a furniture designer, recent projects have been in contract office furniture and seating. He advises several UK furniture companies on design and technology strategy and creative direction. He is an external examiner at London South Bank University and the Rycotewood Furniture Centre of Oxford and Cherwell College.

David Revell

Committee member

David trained at St Martin’s School of Art followed by a two year masters at the Royal College of Art. David was the lead designer on two of the Millennium Dome exhibition areas and went on to become Design Director and then Creative Director at London design agency Tango Design, where he specialised in youth marketing for clients such as Nike, Vodafone and Levis before joining Gendall as a Director in 2003.

Jono Wardle

Committee member

Jono Wardle is originally from Cornwall and returned in 2004. He was a graphic designer and (occasional) illustrator before becoming an advertising creative director and board director of J Walter Thompson, London. He’s also worked as a TV commercials director and creative consultant for television and films, and is a Business Fellow at University College Falmouth.