Pierre Vermeir will be a great loss to design in the UK

Many years ago, when I was a designer at Brewer Jones, I interviewed a young designer from Belgium. His work spoke for itself. Although we weren’t recruiting, we took him on as the principals, John Brewer and Joe Jones, recognised an exceptional talent.

Pierre Vermeir went on to found HGV, whose work was always of the highest creative order, punctuated with wit, intelligence and even genius.

Each generation mourns the changing of the guard and holds up its leading lights as the best ever. With the closing of HGV and the departure of Pierre to Thailand (News, DW 9 July), we have most certainly lost a great designer, and time will show that we have lost one of the best, bar none.
Philip Wong, Director, Carter Wong Design, London W2