How I Work: FOOD founder Richard Turley
Richard Turley’s workspace is as fun and cool as he is. Image: c/o Richard Turley.
Richard Turley needs no introduction, but we’ll give him one anyways. Whether it’s working as the Creative Director of Bloomberg Businessweek, the Editorial Director of Interview or now founding his own creative agency, FOOD, Turley brings excitement, energy and the right dose of irreverence to projects. (To wit, “FOOD is a creative studio that has fun exploring the opportunities and challenges of the modern world. Or something.”) From operating at high speed to waking up to a wired brain at 3 am., here are 10 insights into how he works.
Rise and Shine
Early bird. I'm usually awake before 7 and up shortly after. I make coffee, empty the dishwasher and begin the long process of getting my 16-year-old out of bed and out the door.
I can walk to work, so as long as it’s not horizontal rain or freezing wind I like to do that. It's about a mile and a half, takes 30 minutes or so, and it’s usually one of my favorite times of the day. I don’t have a set route, just bump around ‘til I get where I'm going. Think a combination of caffeine, walking, the air, the hum of the city, the music on my headphones all help me let go and work through stuff somewhere in the back of my brain.
Work Uniform
Trying to wear shirts more. Trying. Trying to dress my age, look smart. Not going great. But usually T-shirts, baggy jeans, battered sweatshirt with holes all over or a soft jumper.
How I Structure My Day
I don’t really. It will get naturally structured around meetings and so forth, but other than those (and a lunchtime walk) that’s it's. Oh and a cup of tea around four p.m. Leave around 6 to 7 p.m. and walk home. I'm in five days a week though, all day, every day. I like the structure of having a working day, going somewhere to work. I like working. Making things. I'm lucky.
Playlist Favorites
Oh good grief. I listen to music all the time and what I listen to changes all the time. I need music, loud music. Music that you can disappear into. But there is no one favorite. Though if you want a specific piece of music, when I need to get into the detail on something, Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians" (I like the 1978 ECM recording, 😉) usually gets an airing somewhere along the way.
Tools of the Trade
Decent speakers. Good light, good lights. Incense sticks. Laptop. Multiple printers. Scanner. Books and books and books and books and books. Many, many, many old magazines. Pencils, pens and stuff.
Dream Studio
Place where you can come in and play. Enough tools to be self sufficient. Not fussy. Everyone with their own space, none of that hot desking sh*t. Really comfy chairs. Has to smell really good. I like incense, woody smells. Plants everywhere. Cork boards on every wall covered with pictures, print outs, scraps, mistakes. Bunch of your friends nearby enough to drop in and have a chat.
One Unique Thing About My Work Process
Speed maybe? I hate dawdling, over-thinking. Very very rarely seen anything good come from procrastination. Follow your instinct over all else. Quickly.
Mantra
I always liked ‘The more I practise the luckier I get’.
My Bright Idea that Never Saw the Light of Day
I've been pretty lucky that most of what I do has found a home. But if I had to think..... I guess... it would be the Koko branding I did before getting elbow'd off that project. They ended up using the basis of the work I did, but the idea I had was way cooler AND USED COMIC SANS. I get why I got shunted, but what they ended up with was pretty gutless and tepid in my humble (and not at all bitter lol) opinion.
To-Do List Item That Keeps Me Up At Night
We're about to launch a weekly newspaper, after that a fashion magazine, alongside any number of other projects. Getting into events too. It's an exciting time. So honestly a lot is keeping me up at night.
I get to sleep ok, but if I wake up at 3 a.m. then I’m f*cked. My brain is like OK HERE WE GO.
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