Dan Stiles is something of a tour-de-force in music circles, having worked with some of the best and brightest over the last 15 years; from Nike to The Arctic Monkeys, to The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Perhaps there is something about the US West Coast – living up in Oregon – that gives him his edge. It’s not just that his clients are cool, or that his work has featured in so many trendy magazines – although this is all true. His design talent deserves special mention as a confluence of cool and clever; more than just pretty. The good news is that at 38 years old, there is no evidence that Dan is running out of steam, putting shame to the idea [myth] that originality and energy are somehow exclusive to the very young. There is much to learn from Dan’s story, not least from his tenacity. He is a bona-fide role-model, and a creative hero from which we can all gain more than a little encouragement.

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Very rarely do my senses pull me towards anything materialistic shouting ‘Must Have!’. But I’m hooked! Merrimaking is a new fashion brand founded by two inspired young fashion designers [a recent philosophy graduate and a fine artist]. In an instant, they started a cult following with their amicable, animated animal hoods. There is something undeniably energising about their good-times fancy dress. Merrimaking Hoods are a perfect accessory for partying or festivals, immediately reviving a childish rush of joy. It’s hard not to feel a little lift when you see people wearing them. But aside from the originality and aesthetics, there is inspiration to be drawn from their zero-budget start-up story. This is a tale of two best friends playing around, and hitting on something brilliantly fun.

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The Hustler’s Edge

Celebrated writer, director & actor Noel Clarke was a film industry sensation at 29, performing in and writing his own feature film, Kidulthood. He went on to direct the much anticipated sequel Adulthood, which grossed £1.2 million in its opening weekend. Both films explore a darker side of London life, and are easily comparable to French classic La Haine. Last year he picked up a BAFTA – which was [statistically speaking] a highly unlikely event [did I mention he’s black]?

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29 y/o Drew Millward has been designing characters, posters and merchandise for 5 years, building up a considerable reputation. He prefers to assume that his success is somehow accidental, such is his modesty. His imagination translates brilliantly onto paper, bridging us with his world of weird, complex characters. Drew’s skill for personifying his subjects, and developing a sense of story around his designs brings his abstract characters to life in a very powerful way. Monster ice creams and bleeding cats have never looked so good.

Drew’s journey began by illustrating poster designs for his friends and favourite bands around Leeds, leading him to today’s international commissions. His prints now sell around the world to an ever growing army of fans. Here is a great example of creative talent emerging without the hidden hand of a PR team – essentially going viral through a variety of social networks. It is easy to see how word-of-mouth has sparked up so much interest in Drew.

A string of music industry and poster designs – racking up recent credits with Flight of The Conchords, Gallows, Sonic Youth and Mogwai – have allowed Drew to reach new audiences, attracting a wave of new fans to his online galleries.

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25 year-old Heather Gatley is a super-friendly young illustrator working in North London, enjoying phenomenal success with big-name clients such as The Times, Penguin, Harper Collins, The Guardian and Microsoft. It’s always tempting to believe that successful people have had some sensational stroke of luck, or insider contacts getting them ahead. But Heather’s story reminds us that it *is* possible to get ahead for being good at what you do. She was ‘spotted’ at her degree show in 2006 and taken on by The Artworks Illustration Agency, who promoted her from the early, uncertain days as a young graduate, to today’s worldwide success. They saw something they liked, and ran with it.

The first thing you will notice is how beautiful her drawing work is. Her combination of imaginative pencil work with collage and digital layering makes for a powerful mix. Her suggestive, understated style is ideal for magazine illustration. Even Waitrose packaging.

It would be  misleading to suggest that it has all been perfect for Heather. She’s a classic self-doubter, and a harsh critic. But there’s an energy about her. She has a certain spark. We laughed a lot during the interview – and it’s hard not to fall for her charms. This positive spirit has no doubt played a significant role in her success, following the rule that people do business with people they like.

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It is great to see someone so dedicated to documentary photography getting ahead in the magazine world. Reed Young’s portraiture has an enviable quality to it, brilliantly borrowing from his training in fashion. You know you’re witnessing something special when you go out exploring with your camera immediately after viewing his work…

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Dan Haskett fires up the imagination. There’s great personality in his animation and his illustration work, so it is perhaps not so surprising to read about his successes with The NY Times, The Guardian, AMEX and Amnesty. He’s a achieved a lot since graduating in 2005 [UWE], and chose Berlin as his creative home within the last year, having previously worked from studios in London and Helsinki. Now Dan finds himself back in education at 26, studying for a masters degree in storytelling at Konsfack in Stockholm.

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