What exactly is ‘design’? Is it the beautiful creative branding and artwork flying out of studios across the north? Is it something more functional providing seamless solutions to daily life? The answer is yes to these and many more definitions. Leanne Buchan went off to meet a new kind of designer carving out a niche in Leeds.
When you say ‘designer’ to your average person on the street they snigger behind their hand whilst conjuring up an image of Nathan Barley prancing about Shoreditch in sprayed on skinnies and glasses bereft of their lenses. But not all designers are gin-soaked creative parodies. Some are genuinely talented, hard working folk who have the pleasure of doing what they love. Barry Darnell, curator of The Hang Gang, is one such designer.
So I’m told that The Hang Gang are the ones to watch, who are you and why should I be watching?
The Hang Gang is just myself. It’s a name that covers the wide range of things that I do without pigeon holing me as a particular type of creative person. I’m mainly interested in toy design and have organised a few events around this theme and the blog profiles some of the great toy designers working in the industry today. Beside hosting events there’s an online store selling designer toys, vinyl figures, art toys, kaiju, plush toys for big kids, blind boxes, lifestyle items & art.
Last year I went to a small but amazing Toy Icons exhibition at Full Circle. Was this your doing?
Yes that was one of ours and thanks for the kind words! The Hang Gang events are collaborations between lots of artists interested in the same thing. We work closely with FullCircle but we host other events too, it just depends on the project and what the needs of the exhibition are as to where we host them.
The next one is already planned and should be epic, it will be the UK’s first designer toy convention, ToyConUK. It’s taking place on the 6th April 2013 in the big smoke and the list of already confirmed artists is mind blowing. They include: A Little Stranger, Cris Rose, Doktor A, Mintyfresh, Play Lounge, TADO, Triclops, The Tarantulas, Squink, Ume Toys & Unbox Industries!
[Insert promo klaxon here] you can follow us in twitter @ToyConUk
After a quick bit of research into that line up it’s clear that we aren’t talking about the kinds of toys that littered my childhood. We are talking more about collectables here so your latest Star Wars venture makes a little more sense. Tell me a bit about what’s happening on May 4th.
The inspiration for Star Wars: May the 4th Be With You was really my toy collecting addiction. Over the last 13 years I have assembled hundreds figures, toys and memorabilia from all kinds of designers on various themes. I have a full set of sealed vintage Star Wars figures and really wanted to put them on public display.
The event includes everything from original art to prints, paper and resin toys and much more. It should be visually stunning mixing various forms of design, production and other creative disciplines.
There are 35 people taking part so it’s hard to give info on all of them, but most are British based and many are from up North. I really wanted to showcase & promote the amazingly talented artists we have locally alongside others at the top of their game nationally. There’s so many great designers exhibiting it’s hard to choose a favourite but I am super happy to have Abell Octovan’s Lord on Vacation resin figure in the show, I can’t wait to see that all set up. He limited the production to just eight and he’s sending one for my private collection too!
This sound like something I would like but I grew up on a diet of cabbage patch kids and Girls Worlds, what’s so special about Star Wars?
Where to start… It defined so many childhoods as there was nothing like it before in terms of effects, plot and style. It took sci-fi and made it cool paving the way for all the great 80s films that followed it. It was the first time that being a geek was actually allowed and even the cool kids at school loved the films. Crucially it was also the first film to have toy & merchandise tie-in’s that really sealed its legendary status.
Also it’s just class, enough said!
Not sure I’ll fit in not having a deep-rooted love of Star Wars though?
Don’t worry about that you don’t need to love Star Wars to come along and we promise not to make you dress up (although you can if you want). First and foremost it’s an exhibition of toys, art, prints, products and merchandise, it’s just around a Star Wars theme. There will be drinks, live music, visuals, film screeningsand the odd wookie floating about. It’s not about converting the world to Star Wars geekery, it’s about having fun and appreciating great design.
All of the merchandise will be available for sale on a first come first saved basis, so you could end up with your very own piece of design history.
OK I’m sold. But before I can be fully signed up to the Star Wars sisterhood I need to know your favourite power ballad and the reason for your choice of heartfelt of campness.
[Laughs in a nervous ‘is she joking?’ kinda way] So many to choose from, I will go slightly left field with: Touch by Stan Bush
It featured in Transformers the movie (the 80s animated one, not Michael Bay’s recent effort) another childhood favourite.
I’m off to shop for a gold bikini which I was assured is a must for this event. Everyone will be wearing one, right? Right?
You can get your tickets for £10.50pp or you could enter the Hang Gang Competition to win a pair. The event runs from 6pm 4th May-6th May so even if you don’t make the opening party there’s plenty of time to check out the show.