An unusual client

How would you feel if you received this message? ‘My name is Ernesto Bones and I write to you with an important request. I have a very serious problem that only you can help fix. You see, though I am writing to you now, I do not yet truly exist.’

Confused, concerned or inspired? Ab Rogers Design hopes the latter. The studio sent out this note to 24 different creatives, asking each to document an hour of Ernesto Bones’ imaginary life using only a few sentences from the previous hour in a game of consequences.

The aim of the game was to develop the character of Ernesto Bones, so that the studio could then develop an installation for the enigmatic figure.

Ab Rogers says, ‘Storytelling has always been central to my practice – in many ways it is the creative starting point to all of my studio’s work. We use stories as a tool to communicate our ideas to each other, to our clients and to the end user.

‘For this “fellowship” we wanted to take this concept further – not merely to tell a story about our design for the project, but to make the story the design itself.’

So far, Mr Bones is quite a reflective type – odd considering how he has no previous life to reflect on – and a bit of a drinker. ‘Perhaps it’s reflective of the creative bunch we approached,’ laughs Rogers.

Chef Heston Blumenthal, Design Museum director Deyan Sudjic, architect Andrea Branzi, illustrator Sara Fanelli, fashion designer Shelley Fox have all contributed to tipple-loving gentleman.

The installation, which will be exhibited at London’s Stanley Picker Gallery, is being put together with the help of Kingston University’s MA Curating Contemporary Design and BA Interior Design courses.

It will feature areas dedicated to each of the 24 hours and will include objects, like furniture, and graphics. Rogers says, ‘The content will vary as much as the hour narrative.’

A Day in the Life of Ernesto Bones runs at the Stanley Picker Gallery Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture, Kingston University, Knights Park, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 from 24 March-21 May.