Profiles

Martin Knox has worked with many of the UK's high street retail groups including Boots, the Post Office, Sainsbury's, Dixons and Burton Group.

He came up with the logo that was used by Next for nearly two decades, produced the new retail identity for Poundland and recently created a new multi-channel retail business for Help The Aged.

Next branding designed by Martin

But the Sherwood-based creative has little time for the design industry as he feels it can be pretentious, superficial and patronising. He says he is true to his values and only takes on projects he truly believes in.

"Design is able to affect the way people feel about themselves and the world we live in. I've taken personal responsibility for that in what I do."

One of Martin's recent projects was to develop a charity shop chain for Cancer Research UK, a project that he's very proud of.

"People's perception of design is the look and the smell and the sound of something. What we did for Cancer Research was create a brand-spanking new retail business for them from scratch.

Chain of Cancer Research UK card shops

"Put a business model together, business plan, I named it [Wishes], we created the identity for it, we designed the stores, we advised on product and the merchandising. We worked on everything to do with the launch and initial running of the business."

Martin's been based in Notts for the last 30 years and is passionate about the city's design credentials.

"I'm absolutely amazed at the talent, amazed at the number of people... creatives, musicians, designers, dancers, artists... who are based here but are doing work of global significance."

Bid to be World Design Capital

Nottingham bid to become the World Design Capital in 2012. The city council, the Arts Council and Nottingham Trent University are behind the application to the International Design Alliance (IDA). Martin supported the application along with Nottingham-born designer Paul Smith.

You can hear more 'design heroes' every Tuesday with Frances Finn, 09:00 to 12:00 on BBC Radio Nottingham (95.5 & 103.8FM, DAB and online).