Sean Rodwell
About Sean
'Creativity kicked in early for Sean, a childhood of spotting colour combinations, obscure logo’s and a thirst for design. Cleethorpes born and bred, the seaside, the docks and the surrounding countryside gave a wealth of visual cues that still resonate with him today.
Little surprise then that after leaving school in 1987 he opted to hit the ground running and dive straight into the creative industry rather than studying design at university. He enrolled on a YTS scheme and learnt his trade in local design studios with the old cut and paste boys that carried a wealth of knowledge on layout, typography and processes that were rapidly drawing to a close with the dawn of the digital era. By the mid 90’s, Sean decided to take the leap of faith and branch out on his own, again opting for self learning and discovery where he would spend long hours teaching himself the principles and processes of digital design.
The year 2000 saw him take another leap and relocate to London where he landed his dream position of Senior Designer for Me Company, a graphic design agency he had long admired where he worked on large projects for the likes of Apple, Kenzo, Bjork and Garbage.
The pull of home and a more sedate pace signalled his return in 2004. Invigorated and inspired he put his knowledge and contacts from his time in London to work and went on to create his own client list, producing graphic design and illustration for Volvo, Nike, FIFA, Vanity Fair, BMW and The FIA.
Being back in the sea air and wide open spaces had great effect and as time progressed Sean’s visual style became more pared down to the bare minimum as though reflecting his surroundings and he now works mainly with simple shapes and vibrant pops of colours to convey his designs. Drawing inspiration from maritime communication and modular systems his designs have become rich in narrative and form that perfectly echo the simplicity and joy of coastal life.
Never content with sitting still and coupled with the desire to push into new arena’s Sean has recently started translating his style into physical objects such as sculpture, ceramics and art. Baring the familiar hallmarks of his graphic design, he projects his minimal designs onto new forms that don’t carry the constraints of page and screen.
In Sean’s words these ‘collisions of everything that has visually inspired me over the years’ sees him bring together his passion for architecture, sci-fi, skateboarding, nature, graffiti, communication systems and of course graphic design to create contemporary art that crosses the boundaries and blurs the lines.
Still a Cleethorpes resident and proud Meggie, Sean continues to run his multi disciplinary studio from the home he shares with his wife Sam and son Hunter'.
