tat* by Andy Altmann
Some people collect wine or classic cars; others collect coins or stamps. Andy Altmann collects graphic ephemera ? or what he calls ?tat?. Altmann developed his interest in scraps during his career at Why Not Associates, the multidisciplinary studio he founded upon graduating from the Royal College of Art over three decades ago. Now, the graphic designer has compiled his collection in a singular, self-designed publication. Here, Altmann speaks to LUX about how the book mirrors his design evolution, and why brash design need not be devoid of beauty
1. Of all the things you might collect, you chose ?tat?. Why"
It?s hard for me to explain exactly why I collect tat*. When I was a young boy, my mother noticed me sitting at the kitchen table, carefully studying the label on an HP Sauce bottle. When she enquired why, I apparently replied, ?someone must have to design this?. I was instinctively attracted by the lettering, the colours and the illustration of the Houses of Parliament on what is still my favourite condiment. It?s a classic example of what was once known as ?commercial art?. It did its job and pulled me in. Follow LUX on Instagram: luxthemagazine
However, I didn?t start collecting any graphic ephemera until I was studying graphic design at St Martins School of Art in the early 1980?s. We were encouraged to keep sketchbooks, where we could practice our drawing and put our creative thoughts down on paper. I wasn?t as gifted as some of my peers...