Inspired – Philip Handford

Inspiration for me comes from personal relationships – I enjoy exploring ideas with creative people who have enthusiasm, understand and appreciate the complexity of the context, and have fun doing it.

People are my inspiration – and no one more so than Christopher Bailey. He has been called England’s Tom Ford, and at 38 he is creative director of Burberry, quite an unbelievable position to hold for someone of his age. Yet he is still totally down to earth and a lot of fun to work with.

How does he do this? Well, I don’t know his secret, but I have been lucky enough to have worked with him for a few years now and he has always brought to the studio an infectious enthusiasm, inspiring creative dialogue in a truly personable way.

It was Bailey who first enabled me to start working independently, making it possible to set up my consultancy Campaign. He is the person whose advice I have always valued. Working with him has given me a benchmark. It not only creates wonderfully timeless and progressive design, but it is also good fun and a personal adventure.