There's an old African saying "It takes a village to raise a child'. This can be applied to our 'child', the Cafe Art 2016 My London calendar, as we have many members of our "village" helping us. If we could continue the analogy then Carter Wong Design would be one of our village elders. A few days ago we signed off the calendar with graphic designer Alex Mesher-Smith and it is now being printed. Calendar design Since 2012 Carter Wong Design has done the design for no charge. The design firm that created the famous Wall's ice cream and Formula 1 logos, also created our coffee ring Cafe Art logo for us free of charge. This generous support from the founders Phil Carter and Phil Wong has enabled us to plough everything we earned from the calendar back into the project and raise £10,000 for art groups.
Graphic designer Alex Mesher-Smith from Carter Wong Design and Paul Ryan from Cafe Art check the rolling proofs before signing off the 2016 My London calendar to be printed.
Phil Wong is about to retire so we thought this would be a great opportunity to ask him a few questions about how he started Carter Wong Design and what motivates him. "One of the first students I bumped into in my first morning at art school was Phil Carter. Forty two years on and I still bump into him each morning as we work for the small design company, Carter Wong Design, that we started up in 1984. "In between, we've worked hard, played hard and done some recognised work (the Wall's Ice Cream logo, the Formula 1 logo). But up there with these achievements I include having created a caring environment that values creativity so that the people who work here may realise their potential. Indeed, our most notable achievement is that we have nurtured a generation of illustrious designers who used our company as a stepping stone for their careers. "In a small way Carter Wong Design is emulating what Café Art is doing on a much bigger scale. Valuing the creativity that is inherent in everyone gives people pride and that alone is often the catalyst for greater achievement. "We were initially alerted to Café Art through my cousin, Michael Wong. He had a crazy idea to help the homeless in London through showcasing their artistic talent. That simple yet powerful idea struck a chord with us and we were delighted to be involved in a small way. "I am even more delighted to see that the initiative has taken off and flown. Mike and Paul Ryan always believed that Café Art would be the success it undoubtedly is fast becoming and we applaud their commitment and achievement. The homeless in London are benefitting from their inspiration and vision." Thank you for your kind words Phil and for the support you and Carter Wong Design have shown to Cafe Art.
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