Things I like: February 2011

Photo: Me talking to Shane Walter in 2008 at the Bloom, MTV/OneDotZero's launch party.

Last week a host of student and professional creative-bods from across the North of England packed into Manchester Conference Centre to see the Creative Director of OneDotZero, Shane Walter, give a talk on behalf of D&AD's President's Lecture programme.

Arriving slightly late to the event my partner and I found our way through a maze of doors into the theatre. It was pitch dark and we grabbed the only two spare seats as quietly as we could.

Shane took the audience through a varied selection of projects that OneDotZero have commissioned over the 15 years since it was established. And the audience were totally engrossed in each and every one, which is probably testament to the diversity of the work that they curate.

It's hard to explain exactly what OneDotZero do. It requires a whole new dictionary of terms to describe the arena of visual language in which they inhabit. They really are at the zeitgeist of the digital world.

Watching clips of people interacting with shape and sound installations at the Louvre and the V&A felt like a preview of the future, moving beyond mere technology and taking design into incredible spaces where the audience became absorbed in a unique type of experience.

OneDotZero are also pushing the boundaries of Code. Most recently with their exhibition DeCode: Digital Design Sensations (currently on tour in Moscow). It includes work from established artists such as Daniel Rozin meanwhile providing a superb platform for emerging talent.

The ethos at OneDotZero is incredibly positive and they have produced a community that finds value in convergence and collaboration. Thoroughly committed to supporting education they run a yearly workshop called Cascade which bridges the gap between university and employment for the talented candidates who secure a place on the course.

To be honest I struggle to convey just how important I think OneDotZero's contribution to the design/art world really is. Always seeking to support and share their knowledge I think the industry would be lost without them.

That's certainly my experience anyway. Working on a commission for them with two friends back in 2007-08 there was no telling us what we could or couldn't achieve, no holding us back because we were young, but instead always having an 'open door' and encouraging our ideas. I've met a lot of professionals since who it wouldn't hurt to take a leaf from OneDotZero's book and be a little more respectful of young designers.

Shane finished his talk with a Pecha Kucha style list of what he has learnt over the years. Personal favourites included a slide on which is simply said 'I LOVE THIS SHIT' and for me the hardest piece of advice to take; 'TRUST YOUR INSTINCT'.

I did actually manage to note down most of the rest but rather than quote him here I suggest you try make it along to one of their event's to experience the rich foundation from which OneDotZero stems.

A truly inspirational organisation I am always excited to know what they will do next. They've created a new audience for the future, a fan base of thousands, but something inside me feels like this is only the tip of the iceberg.