The Source: Robin Derrick

What is the most creative advertising idea you’ve seen in the last few months?

Mainstream advertising is not really a place I look for creativity. I do think this season’s print fashion campaigns are good; Gucci, YSL, Miu Miu. The return of great fashion photography feels modern again.

miu miu AW2017

What’s your favouritewebsite?

Lisaeldridge.com – my wife’s stunning and authentic beauty channel. This is how it’s done. No sponsored content, YouTube revenue donated to charity.

What website do you use most regularly?

WeTransfer.

Who’s your favourite designer?

Marc Newson; friend and #mancrush. I’m basically jealous. I wish I had done some of the work he has created. And he is so nice with it!

Embryo Chair by Marc Newson

What product could you not live without?

(Yawn) My phone and laptop.

What product hasn’t been invented yet that would make your life/job better?

A single product that replaced both the above. No, it’s not the iPad…

What’s the best film you’ve seen over the last year?

New film: Good Time, a great indie film starring Robert Pattinson. 

Old film: Two-Lane Blacktop from 1971, which follows a ‘55 Chevy GTO race across the US. It features James Taylor and Dennis Wilson and the best movie haircut on a girl (Laurie Bird).

TV: A 10-part PBS documentary, The Vietnam War. No words, just watch it.

Still from Two Lane Blacktop

Who’s your favourite photographer?

Right now, I’m looking back at the war reportage of Don McCullin; “if the pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough”.

Photograph by Don McCullin

Mac or PC?

Are you fucking kidding or what? Apple owner since Apple II. External hard drives, the lot, even when they were rubbish. I wish there was an alternative.

What fictitious character do you most relate to?

Flash Gordon.

What’s your favourite magazine?

American Hot Rod.

What track/artist would you listen to for inspiration?

I’ve always returned to David Bowie; Young Americans is his best LP. Best track? Can You Hear Me.

What show/exhibition has most inspired you recently?

The exhibition that has inspired me the most in the last year has been Jean-Michel Basquiat, Boom for Real, which I am sure will spike renewed interest in New York’s late 70s/early 80s New Wave scene... Expect a revival of graffiti artist Futura 2000, fashion designer Steven Sprouse, director Jim Jarmusch, the music club CBGB and Blondie.

If you could live in one city, where would it be?

London, the only liveable capital in the world. But I fantasise about living in Rome.

If you could have been in any band, what band would you choose?

Either [Bowie’s backing band] The Spiders From Mars or The Sex Pistols.