Meet the Designer: Paul McNeil
For our next ‘Meet the creative’, we speak to typographic designer, Paul McNeil. Paul runs the design practice MuirMcNeil with Hamish Muir. Founded in 2010, MuirMcNeil’s activities are focussed on exploring parametric design systems to generate appropriate solutions to visual communication problems. We talk to Paul about his A Stool and A Table.
What is your profession?
I’m a graphic designer and lecturer in typography. I’m currently course leader of the MA Contemporary Typographic Media at the London College of Communication and I also run my own collaborative design practice, MuirMcNeil.
Why did you buy the A Stool and A Table?
I bought both the A stool and the A table for specific purposes in different rooms — the table is in my wife’s consultation room (she’s a counsellor) discreetly offering tissues and water, and the stool sits prettily in the living room with all the books. In truth, I bought them just because I love the design so much and because (I’m told), I’m a completist with an obsession about things in sets. I really like the way the A stool and table look together. If ByALEX made a bigger one, I’d have to have it too.
What is your favourite design feature of the Stool?
Immediately, that it’s based on the A from Norm’s Replica typeface. But I also like its functionality. It’s very stable and elegant and its materials are beautiful without being extravagant. Also, it’s surviving the knocks of family life very well as the emergency stool at Christmas and similar gatherings.
Other thoughts
I’m really into good everyday design which isn’t ridiculously expensive (since cost in itself is a design feature). The A Range fits that bill perfectly.
