Vox pop

Conran & Partners is collaborating with Nigella Lawson on a kitchenware range (News, DW 29 August). Which celebrity would you like to work with and on what kind of project?

‘I think the public get fatigue from the over-exposed “Jamie Oliver effect”. You have to make a call on whether spin-offs enhance or devalue the brand of that celebrity, and “does the celebrity personify or simply endorse a brand?” It also depends on what you define by celebrity. I’d be more interested in challenging an industry – maybe an airline with Liam Gallagher.’

Jon Edge, Senior creative, Wolff Olins

‘A straw poll in our studio has come up with a design project wish list; a chip shop with Paul Smith, swimwear range with Kylie Minogue, pub snacks with Johnny Vegas, London Zoo with Damien Hirst, Werthers Originals with Ant & Dec and Design Week with Hugh Hefner. If any of these projects gets off the ground you’ll be the first to know.’

Ben Stott, Founding partner, NB Studio

‘Working with John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister charged with the Government’s accelerated housing programme, is a must. We are going see a substantial wave of construction that will have a profound impact on our surroundings. There are tremendous challenges for all designers, but the realisation should be a delight, rather than a drudge, for those who will live, work and experience these new environments.’

Richard Woolf, co-founder, McDaniel Woolf

‘There is a nice parallel between celebrity and products. The current cult of celebrity in the media has reached such a pitch that a smidgen of talent appears to go a very, very long way, and ‘fame’ is momentary, transitory and ultimately fleeting. Modern products are the same, flitting in and out of our consciousness at an ever-increasing speed; one day a bright and sparkly star, the next consigned to a dusty shelf or worse, trashed and wasted. I don’t fancy the prospect of working with a fragile ego (or one larger than mine anyway), it can only end in tears and tantrums, and I wouldn’t enjoy either.’

Andy Davey, Principal, TKO

‘In the style of an MTV Celebrity Death Match, I would love to work in collusion with [shock Goth rocker] Marilyn Manson on a range of toys for teenagers.’

Simon Waterfall, Designer, Poke