Idealog TV: Voicing your design

Idealog TV @ Semi-Permanent 09: Pentagram’s Harry Pearce discusses his passion for mixing his creative work with human rights project Witness. Then there’s the conversation he had with Te Radar involving Spike Milligan and gravestones.

Harry Pearce

Harry Pearce studied Graphic Design at Canterbury College of Art and moved to London in 1982. In 1990, after eight years in the industry working for clients such as Porsche, Holsten, BAA and Royal Mail, he co-founded Lippa Pearce Design, one of the UK's most respected design agencies. He joined Pentagram's London office as a partner in 2006.

Harry's work touches many disciplines, from spatial design and identity to print, packaging and posters. He has worked with a diverse range of public and private sector clients, including The Co-operative, Halfords, Phaidon Press, Kangol, the London Science Museum, Shakespeare's Globe, the British Film Institute, the National Railway Museum and Boots the chemist, a client with whom he has a 23-year relationship.

He is dedicated to supporting Human Rights and has produced pro-bono work for charities such as Christian Aid and the Lawyers Committee for Human rights. Over the last twelve years he has developed a unique relationship with Witness, a New York-based charity founded by the songwriter and activist Peter Gabriel. Harry's partnership with Witness has produced some of his most acclaimed pieces of work, including the award winning "Infantry" and "Burma" posters. He is also a member of the charity's advisory board.

Harry has won numerous national and international design awards including two D&AD Silver awards. His work has been included in every edition of the D&AD annual since the inception of Lippa Pearce. His work has featured in many touring exhibitions and is included in the permanent collection of the Bibliotheque Nationale de France in Paris.

A frequent speaker and contributor to design discourse, Harry has given a number of lectures at international design conferences such as Kyoorius Design Yatra in India, as well as for colleges, Museums and design organisations such as the British Museum, D&AD and the Typographic Circle in the UK.

Harry attended a royal celebration of British design at Buckingham Palace in 2004. In 2005 he was elected a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) and had his work exhibited as part of the prestigious organisation's 50th anniversary celebrations.

• Interview courtesy of Idealog TV.