Bob Gill and a bitesize audio interview from 2013
Bob Gill / 1931 - 2021
Almost 10 years or so ago I had a creative news blog called “Creative Notebook” where I did much the same as I do on this platform. One of the main features of the site was a section called “10 Pennies” where I interviewed creatives from many different creative disciplines and stages in their careers. The idea was that each creative would get the same set of 10 questions to answer. I’d simply email and for the most part people would say yes, which was amazing as I got to interview and meet some of my creative heroes.
It was a success to some degree and I was pretty pleased with what I was doing until I decided I wanted to interview design legend Bob Gill. These 10 questions in Bob’s opinion weren’t great. He told me straight that he simply wouldn’t answer them and thought he had much better stories to tell. Fair enough I remember thinking. He did however agree to do a phone interview which I recorded via Skype I think. Result! These recordings I found today whilst looking on an old hard drive. I had almost forgotten their existence.
Bob Gill for those of you who don’t know was an early pioneer in the design industry who, with equally well-known creatives Alan Fletcher and Colin Forbes, set up a design studio under the name: Fletcher, Forbes & Gill. This creative outfit later grew into Pentagram which is by all accounts one of the biggest multidisciplinary design studios in the world today.
As a creative, for me he’s someone who blurred the lines between illustration and design. Google refers to him as an “American Illustrator” and Wikipedia says “Artist”. However, in this promotional card (below), Bob states illustration, design, writing, multi-media, teaching and of course: whatever… ha! He was indeed everything as a creative… and as you’ll hear below, Bob liked to creatively ‘follow his nose’ and go in different creative directions.
Bob unfortunately passed away in November 2021 at the age of 90. Listening back through the clips from this notorious and (at the time) active creative, who by the way was late 70’s I guess at the time of recording, I’m inspired all over again. It was an honour and a privilege to pick his brains, hear his stories and hear his wit come through my speakers… a wit which was something very strong in his work also. It’s also an honour to share this with you again today nearly 10 years on.
These bitesized clips below are broken into sections for ease. That’s also how they were recorded. Had I known at the time what a podcast was I would have done one long one, but this works just as well I guess. Enjoy and thanks for reading (and listening).