What am I reading?
Mayflower's Book Club
Reading is wonderful. It takes us to new places, introduces us to new people and helps us to think new thoughts. Most reading, outside of school, is taken alone. Our school motto is, 'Together we can...', so we like to share and celebrate reading as a community. To help us to achieve this, we use an online tool called Padlet. This tool helps us to log and share the books that we are reading. Padlet has helped us to start our own online Book Club. Click on the images below to view what we are reading. You are also invited to share with us what is grabbing your attention too.
'Together we can...ignite the reader within'
MCA Children's Book Club
Click on the image above to take part in our online Children's Book Club.
MCA Adult's Book Club
Click on the image above to take part in our online Adult's Book Club.
MCA Professional Development Book Club
Click on the image above to take part in our online Professional Development Book Club.
My Reading for Pleasure
Monocle Magazine | Issue 133
Rarely do I read fiction. In fact, almost never. I never have done. Many say that I am missing out. For me, relaxing and reading for pleasure is losing myself in study. In noticing details in design. In making links in what I observe in books and magazines, both online and paper copy, to my daily life.
Here I mention Monocle Magazine Issue 133 where I observe chair design and link it back to our Autumn Term Year 2 Design and Technology topic. I have enjoyed hours noticing not just how the chairs are designed, but also how the entire piece of writing and journalism is constructed. The magazine is jammed packed full of articles. Sometimes I don't know where to look first on a page to take in the story. The experience of engaging with the magazine is an assault on my senses. Every month, this experience becomes my favourite type of reading for pleasure.
Four Thousand Weeks | Oliver Burkeman
My colleague Helen Jennings bought me this book to read. As she handed it to me she stated,
"I wanted to read this book. I thought of you and how you like to live every moment in the moment. When you have finished, can I have it to read it too?"
It was very kind of Helen. I have started to read the book. I understand that we have a finite time on this planet. I understand that it is important to use our time as we choose. The idea that sticks in my mind is that of a sand timer. Something that can, at times, motivate me to reassess how I spend and focus my energy. I am sure that Helen will enjoy this text soon too.
From Japan | Graphic Design from Japan, compiled and published by Counter-Print
Counter-Print are one of my favourite publishers. They are also a bookshop with a story that sits close to my heart. I challenge you to view their website and leave without lusting over a book cover design or two. Their style resonates with me and has inspired many of our conversations here at Mayflower about how we want our long term plans for an online community bookshop to evolve. I love the idea of making something beautiful, but at the same time staying humble. This graphic design book, with a focus on Japanese design, highlights this way of living with art. I own an incredible amount of design books. I am fascinated by Japanese art. This book keeps me entertained for hours. It seems impossible to interact with it without leaving with a long list of new ideas jotted down on scraps of paper. I find it hugely pleasurable skimming a book such as this. I like to quickly flick from back to front - stopping on pages of visual interest and then delving deeper.
Playing the Arsenal Way | Jon Sammels
For obvious reasons, I often refer back to this book, written by family member and ex-professional footballer, Jon Sammels. It is the story of a young player who went on to live out his boyhood dream to become a top flight player. A maverick, a skilful and attacking midfielder, ahead of his time, but dynamic and deadly in front of goal. Jon Sammels had a career that made headlines for all the right but also wrong reasons. His book inspires me as it tells how Jon tackled the dirtier side of the game (of business) and remained a gentleman and stylish leader throughout. His story is a reminder that life can be both glorious and cruel in equal measures. Reflecting on leadership and re-living the biggest games. Jon inspires me not just as a distant family member, but also as a model professional. Many say that the 5th Beatle really did exist. Jon's book might just touch on this too.
The Magazine | 199?
I still have flick style magazines from when I was a teenager / young adult. I used to spend hours sat on my bed reading copy about design and fashion. It was a type of hobby. One that filled my mind with ideas and excitement for how good design could inspire and excite. This is the first ever magazine that I ever read from cover to cover. Each time I spotted something new. Something that I hadn't seen before. The imagery was well shot - a mixture of hand drawn illustration, raw photography and digital graphic design. The paper used to print on was thick and gave a lot of friction as I handled the pages. I have kept this magazine. I suspect most of the copies were destined for landfill or recycling. I imagine that this magazine was piled high in clothes stores - free for pickup by the public. I have so far saved my copy from this inevitable fate. Rubbish. My Father used to travel a lot for his job. He would sometimes return with a bag full of magazines or stickers that shop owners had handed him. Not that I am entirely sure, but I think that this fashion magazine / logbook was one of his finds during a work trip away. The excitement of seeing what was in 'Dad's bag this week' has stuck with me. I love magazines. They are my favourite type of skim and read relaxation. I have just taken time to revisit this magazine. Memories and emotions from when I was young came flooding back. When reading leads to much more than you bargained for. Powerful stuff!
Paul Smith's Cycling Scrapbook
I like how Sir Paul Smith, designer and cycling fan, sees the world. He projects pattern and colour in such an interesting way. His office space is filled with objects of interest that spark curiosity. He is playful yet highly expert and experienced in his field. He takes on collaborations as a way to continuously evolve. His work resonates with me. I have been gifted many of his books. People know that I like how they are weighted with large images and minimal text. I like to flip through Paul's books and take in the imagery. I have learnt a lot from Paul's work about layout, design and letting what you notice in life guide your ideas and next creations.
Whenever I am in London, I always visit one of Paul's stores. His staff always let me come inside and lean my bike up against the interior walls. I once took my BMX into Paul's Covent Garden store. I spent 30 minutes talking with people about my choice of bike and 10 minutes browsing the store. Bikes always help you meet new people. Paul's books always make me feel like I meet new ideas.
Paul's stores always feel just like his books. Filled to the brim with colour and ideas. My Father raced bicycles. He has no time for such expensive or flash design features, such as Paul Smith's. My Father and I would ride the hard tarmac of Dartmoor. He would humour me by spinning his pedals at a pace that allowed me to stay close. When he felt me getting comfortable, a little 'Paul Smith' like, a bit flash and confident, he would simply dip his head, spin his legs effortlessly quicker and leave me 'for dead'. A reminder that when viewing these beautiful books, when feeling a little comfortable or dreamy, hard work and a sense of grounding is also useful as a way of keeping dreams real.
Not a book, but I love Paul's website design too. Reading Paul's work allows me to dream and lose myself in ideas. True reading for pleasure. One day I hope to meet the great man.
Hiut Denim Year Book | I Try. I Fail. I learn.
David Hieatt is one of my favourite copywriters. He is a very talented and inspirational thinker. He inspires many of our staff. We love his Do Lecture work and I have been privileged to attend many of them as well as work with a few of his team members on creative projects. I like the idea of an annal year book. Our team have often wondered how a Mayflower year book might look. Watch this space on that idea. I have purchased many of David's year books.His mix of graphic design, illustration and copy inspire me. I like slogan writing. It suits my style of thinking and writing. I often purchase the year books for friends. I especially find that they help our team think differently and remember what we do what we do. It takes courage to create a year book. To publish to the world how you see the world. Reading this year book is a real joy to me. I like simple short sentences. It takes skill to write that way. David inspires me to write shorter. Write better. Reading David's books are an intellectual but also playful activity.
The Courage To Create | Rollo May
This book offers a series of observations made by the author. It enlightens us to what it means to take risks and lean into fear.
Rollo May describes how she has grown over many years and channelled her inner strength, in the face of constant challenge, to take on her creative desires.
'Creativity is a necessary sequel to being'.
Rolo May draws upon knowledge from great philosophers and links them to her life and its struggles. Using all senses, the mind, the body, instinct and intuition to help step into a new world where our creative dreams come true.
Rollo clarifies her stance on remaining courageous...
Courage = Making Decisions
The Baughaus and design theory | the ABCs of... | Ellen Lupton and J. Abbott Miller
Rules...
It is often thought that it is good to know the rules. I can't say I enjoy learning rules. Bauhaus, however, is fascinating as a concept as well as an influence on daily life. It's history, and how schools of thought, and design were created by such maverick leaders, is mind opening to learn about.
I have been working on a pedagogy for leadership, culture, teaching and learning, and Bauhaus is an inspirational reference point for so many of my thoughts about what is possible. This applies to 'the rules' as well as 'the anti rules'.
I am inspired by how Bauhaus principles influenced so much of life as we know / see / use / experience it. I am inspired by how principles can be simplified, made abstract and then play out in everyone's daily lives. Many people do not even know the origins of design behind the furniture that sits in their homes or the workplace systems that drive creativity. I turn to this book for its abc's of design theory.
Know Your Onions | Graphic Design | How to think like a creative, act like a businessman and design like God | Drew de Soto
My colleague, Penny, bought me this book. She knows that I am a design fanatic. I am not one for always remembering facts or rules though. This book offers opinion, but also time old design rules that I can flick to and revisit with ease. I post here a few of the most obvious ones. No doubt I will find myself going back to look at this post. I recently organised some large printing of pupil's art work. I really should have remembered paper sizing and their dimensions. Thanks to Penny, I can now do this more easily. A useful book if you are like me, and like to know where to look for the information that we are expected to remember. Some say, it's not what you know, but who you know. Luckily I know many designers and printers. I also have this book.
Semantic Organizers | A study Strategy for Special Needs Learners | Roberts S. Pehrsson | Peter R. Denner
My good friend, Oli Cav, recommends so many books. He is a wealth of knowledge on all things research and education. He also knows much about design. I value his words of wisdom. If Oli recommends reading a book, I generally do so. I have many stacked up yet to dive into and digest. This one is not one of these books. I have devoured it and enjoyed reading about the theory of organising using diagrams and illustrations. Much of the theory has informed our work at Mayflower. I have much to thank both Oli and the authors for. Our pupils and parents at Mayflower also base a lot of how they study to remember and understand on the theory found within this text. I am certain that many of the worlds educators would agree with my thoughts on Oli Cav and his extensive knowledge of research...
'A 20 minute chat with Oli Cav can create years of curiosity and further study'.
Pinocchio | Animated Classics
With young children all around me when at home, I am never far from a book that has fairytale plots and beautiful illustrations. A good friend of mine recently sent me over a traditional doll from Italy and a copy of the beautifully illustrated Disney version of Pinocchio.
Pinocchio is a story that has a deep meaning and conjures up my imagination.
My daughters love how the pages look old and classically designed.
