Darren Leader Studio

In 2019, Bauhaus celebrates its 100th centenary. But before all the hullabaloo, my son Bill and I visited the campus in Dessau, Germany.

I was first introduced to Bauhaus in 1987, as a first year OND student. We were a primitive bunch but there was always something about Bauhaus style which connected and would later resonate in our own work. I think this experience is typical of most designers, as its impact in graphic design, architecture, product design and textiles was massively influential in the 20th Century and beyond. It defined not only International Style, but the experimental type practice that you can see everyday via various Instagram hashtags.

So you can imagine, when I visited the Bauhaus at Dessau, I was a bit over-awed (OK, a lot).

Oddly, the workshops were locked but it was an experience wandering the corridors once paced by Josef and Anni Albers, Walter Gropius and Herbert Bayer. But we did manage to blag our way into the hallowed lecture hall. Even the seating was in the Wassily style.

We enjoyed a brilliant visit to Berlin and Dessau. I plan to return in September, for when a new museum is being opened on the site. Interestingly, I returned home feeling in awe of my own art school at Norwich University of the Arts, its tutors and students and the amazing work generated there.

Photos: Lucy Marks

www.bauhaus-dessau.de

Recently, I was invited by the National Centre for Writing to deliver a visual identity workshop at Dragon Hall, Norwich.

The participants were a group of young people who are devising their own event for this year’s Norfolk and Norwich Festival. Entitled, ‘Handover’ the event will feature a programme of five activities to spark debate and generate ideas. The purpose of the workshop was for the team to design their own logo, via an introduction of design techniques to inspire their own design responses .

However, the first task was to divide them into two discussion groups to define their values and write a mission statement to outline their objectives. This would become the DNA to inform their ideas for design.

It was a productive day, where I later left with a bag full of sketches to work up into finished designs for the team to select at a later date.

Handover – Literary Festival in a Day
Saturday 11th May 2019

For more information, please visit: ww.nnfestival.org.uk