The virtual shutters are up, fresh print goods stacked high – we’ve got a brand new shop!
The Stranger Collection houses all our publications and tickets for our events and workshops. You’ll now also find products from our network of talented illustrators, makers and writers. All things papery, written and drawn. Last week we snuck into the stores to catch up with Fiera magazine producer, and our go-to expert on all things design, Katie Treggiden.
What have you chosen to sell on the shop? Tell us a bit about it.
Fiera is an independent magazine discovering new talent at the world’s design fairs. Exploring themes, trends and movements through the lenses of editorial writing, creative writing, illustration and photography, Fiera sheds new light on the ideas shaping the future of the industry and the wider world. Issue 04 covers IMM Cologne, M&O Paris, Reykjavik’s Design March and Milan Design Week.
By day you’re…
A design journalist. I write for publications such as the Guardian, Crafts Magazine, Elle Decoration, Design Milk and Monocle24. I also do a little bit of public speaking, copywriting and consultancy for design brands. I have written three books – the latest of which, Urban Potters, was published in September 2017.
By night you’re…
Studying a part-time Masters in the History of Design. I am fascinated by design and wanted to deepen my knowledge as well as using the opportunity to explore subjects I wouldn’t normally get to write about, with the aim of developing a real expertise in a specific area of design by the end of the course – and possibly following that up with a PhD!
What does a normal day look like to you?
One of the things I love about my job is that there’s no such thing. I start feeling like I’m trapped on the set of Groundhog Day if I begin my morning the same way three days a row, so I need a bit of variety. Luckily I get it: recent days include starting off with a sea swim on Gylly Beach followed by a day in the library researching an article for Viewpoint Magazine on the history of the colour pink; a day bouncing around London starting by chairing a panel event, followed by meetings with editors and brands rounded off with dinner with an old friend, and a day in Oxford starting with an architectural tour of concrete colleges, followed by a day of lectures and workshops for my course.
What’s your most treasured piece of stationery?
I have a beautiful wooden box on my desk that I spotted at an antiques fair as a child. I loved it because it had a lock and I knew I could hide my diary in there! Without me knowing, my Dad sneaked back, bought it for me and even had my initials engraved on the lid. It’s now got all sorts of not-so-secret things like lip-balm, handcream and USB sticks in it, but it makes me happy every time I look at it. Beyond that, I am a Blackwing pencil, Muji pen and Moleskine diary addict, like everyone else in the industry!
What are you listening to at the moment?
I am working in Good Vibes cafe in Falmouth this morning and have a combination of the cafe’s music system and terrible singing coming from the kitchen(!), but usually I listen to jazz. I can’t write if I can hear words, so it’s got to be acoustic and I love the way jazz twists your brain up, making you think in new ways.
Favourite word and why?
The c word, because I am fascinated by the power of language. How can a four-letter word be so offensive that I can’t even type three of its letters?!
Recommend us something to watch, read, listen to or purchase.
I saw Little Lapin perform live at Artists Residence in Penzance recently and absolutely loved her vibe. You can find out more at littlelapinmusic.com. [Little Lapin also performed at our recent event aboard a 1930s steam train. Not sure if we’ve mentioned it?]
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