Voxpop

What should David Stuart’s main objectives be when he takes over from Larry Barker as British Design & Art Direction president in January 2001?

“I hope he will help us to inspire clients as much as designers.”

Allison Miguel, Creative director, Coley Porter Bell

“Won’t it be refreshing to have somebody who has a sense of humour at the helm of D&AD? My hope for David’s tenure in office is that he can dismantle the ‘closed circle’ perception of the D&AD, especially on behalf of the design industry. Particular sectors of our industry are still perceived to be the poor relation to its advertising colleagues. I would name packaging and interiors sectors as two groups with a puzzling lack of gold pencils.”

Callum Lumsden, director, Lumsden Design Partnership

“Make more of the work; persuade Government agencies to spend their ample budgets for trade promotion on a travelling international exhibition of UK creative excellence following the D&AD judging. Also, forget the designer stubble; go back to the roots and grow a real beard like founder member Derek Birdsall.”

John Powner, partner, Atelier Works

“I would hope he could continue to shrink the mythical divide that exists between advertising and design. To my mind its all the same thing, intelligent communication. If he could infuse confidence in the design industry to take on the advertising agencies with a little more gusto, that would be great. The design world is a little short of quality personalities leading from the front.”

Jonathan Ellery, partner, Browns

“He should work to maintain the trend of non-elitism and continue to elevate the importance of the D in D&AD – oh, and please do something about the awards dinner ticket cost. Good luck.”

Adrian Berry, partner, Factory Design

“If there’s one thing a D&AD president needs to do it’s to make the design judges more generous. There’s an air of rejection to judging the D&AD design awards. There should be an air of congratulation rather than one of criticism.”

Michael Johnson, creative Director, Johnson Banks