Reclaim Magazine Column, Simion Hawtin-Smith

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that I now have a monthly column in the wonderful Reclaim magazine. It’s funny, I was once the interviewee. Now I am the interviewer! This change has certainly tested my interrogation and writing skills!

Luckily, my column acts as an opportunity to provide a unique insight into my design process, and sources of inspiration. I’ll also be shining a light on some fascinating and talented people who I’ve met through my work.

Interviewees

So far I’ve interviewed my good friend, Bruce Kenneth Designs. Bruce is a talented furniture maker from New Jersey who swapped the States for a workshop in Scissett, West Yorkshire. I’ve also spoken to EJ Osborne, founder of Hatchet and Bear, maker of handcrafted wooden utensils, and co-presenter on BBC One’s Money for Nothing (good news, the new series starts on Monday 11th March at 4 pm). Both are captivating characters. It was a real pleasure to tell their stories. My conversation with EJ ran for over 90 minutes and provided plenty of material for my column.

Future Issues

There is a skill to writing these columns. They must be interesting and fun to read. They also have to be to the point. Rather like excess fabric when reupholstering a chair, the words have to fit right. I’m super-excited about the ideas I have coming up: an interview about something close to my heart, plus a journal about a planned trip to Berlin.

But enough about that for now. You’ll have to check out the work in print. Reclaim Magazine makes for a satisfying read. It’s available to buy in WH Smiths, Sainsbury’s and selected M&S stores. Or download a copy at Select magazines.