Introducing: KesselsKramer art director and freelance designer Freddy Taylor

For a chap that graduated in 2012, Freddy Taylor has produced a staggering amount of work. As a freelancer he busies himself by art directing, designing, publishing and producing everything from fashion photoshoots to identities for new television channels. In his day job he’s doing pretty much the same but for the mighty KesselsKramer as a junior art director and designer. Quite how he manages to fit it all in is a mystery though we’re inclined to suspect he’s one of those that lives for the thrill of making work; the smell of fresh ink and the taste of the biscuit.

Quite apart from his obvious talents, Freddy once sent us a rainbow-coloured cake (he’d just set up a collaborative platform between students and industry at Edinburgh College of Art) which immediately ingratiated him with the It’s Nice That gang. We stuffed our faces and now we’re singing his praises. Take it away Freddy…

Where do you work?

I work for KesselsKramer as a junior art director and designer by day, freelance ddesigner in Wandsworth by night.

How does your working day start?

During the week with a cycle to the Northern Line, Nutella crumpet, Grandma’s Elderflower (if it’s the season) and a flick through any new arrivals in our KK Outlet bookshop. On the weekends with a massive bowl of mixed cereal.

How do you work and how has that changed?

For some reason some of my best ideas come to me when I’m cycling. I know it sounds odd but I often chat to myself on the saddle and swerve to the pavement to jot down thoughts. Getting out of Britain is pretty useful too. Last summer I was in Fez and after getting utterly lost, found myself stumbling upon beautifully carved, 10ft tall wooden doors, a boy selling umbrellas made with palm leaves and spectacular Arabic typography chiselled in marble.

Generally though I’d say experimentation and perseverance are fundamental to my work. I won’t go into too much detail, but over the three years I spent at Edinburgh (and all in the name of design) I was electrocuted, hit by a car, cautioned by the City Fire Marshal, mixed hair straighteners with shower curtains, dived into October Scottish seas, was interviewed whilst hanging upside down and had the pleasure of being questioned (and flat searched) by Edinburgh’s Terrorist Detectives.

The big change this year came after I was fortunate enough to be offered a place with KesselsKramer. The value of working with and being surrounded by some exceptionally talented people is hard to put into words. After the introduction to art direction I found my approach to freelance work altered. Instead of trying to do everything yourself the inclusion and collaboration with specialist, appropriate creatives from outside your discipline can not only lift the project to a new level, but help you develop as a designer.

The aim for the rest of this year is to keep busy, keep improving and keep selling fonts.

Where would we find you when you’re not at work?

I’m big into my gardening – there’s something quite therapeutic about swapping computer for spade, starting bonfires and exploring the exotic stone statues at Forest Lodge garden centre. Failing that Vauxhall Tavern’s Tranny Bingo. The long-term plan is to explore San Francisco and the West Coast.

Would you intern for yourself?

As nobody should intern on evenings and weekends (and that’s freelance time) I’d say hell no. However I am looking for someone to collaborate with to develop bespoke KesselsKramer five-a-side football kits.