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.