David Crow obituary | Graphic design
My buddy David Crow, who has died elderly 60 from a lung an infection, was once a fashion designer who labored on report quilt designs for artists corresponding to Sure, Salif Keita and the Rolling Stones. Later he moved into instructing graphic design after which senior administrative roles at establishments together with Manchester Metropolitan College and College of Arts London.
David was once born in Galashiels, within the Scottish Borders, to George, a builder, and Rachel (nee Dodds), a nurse. After training at Galashiels academy he took a point in conversation media design at Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan College). We met in 1983 when David turned into a pupil intern at Various iMaGes in London, a graphic design corporate I had arrange in 1977.
David’s outstanding skill supposed he was once the one pupil we ever presented a task sooner than commencement, and upon getting his stage he joined us full-time in 1985 as a junior fashion designer. In that function he helped to design report covers for Sure and the Duran Duran offshoot band Arcadia, amongst others.
He left Various iMaGes in 1989 to turn into artwork director at Island Information, the place he designed report sleeves for Aswad, Jah Shaka and Salif Keita. After just a yr in that place he arrange his personal freelance graphic design studio with a fellow ex-Various iMaGes fashion designer. Garry Mouat, and in combination they produced the sleeve for the Rolling Stones Flashpoint LP in 1991.
With a long lasting interest for encouraging skill in others, David then became to instructing, and in 1993 closed his studio to turn into a lecturer, first on the College of Salford after which, in 1995, at Liverpool John Moores College, the place he was once head of the dept of graphic arts.
In 2004 he headed again to his alma mater, Manchester Metropolitan. It was once there that his quietly assured, softly spoken method truly made a mark, and he rose unexpectedly – nearly reluctantly every now and then – from lecturer to dean (in 2010) after which pro-vice-chancellor.
One in every of his lasting legacies there was once the advent of the Benzie development. Opened in 2013, with David taking care to contain group of workers and scholars in its design, this is a visionary house for interdisciplinary and collaborative finding out.
In 2016 David moved to London to turn into pro-vice chancellor and head of Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon Faculties of Artwork, which can be a part of College of the Arts London, and set about reshaping them. Previous this yr he turned into professional vice-chancellor for UAL’s new programme of on-line finding out.
David was once a beneficiant and influential particular person, a person of theory who was once cherished and revered via everybody whose lifestyles he touched.
He’s survived via his spouse, Karen Ingram, and 4 youngsters – Drew, from his first marriage, to Sarah Fanthorpe, which resulted in divorce, and George, Alisa and Martha, from his marriage to Wendy Pennington, from whom he had separated – and via his mom and his siblings, Janette and George.