Murray Bell’s CV pulls a few surprises. Considering the success of Design Is Kinky and Semi-Permanent, the projects he co-runs with Business Partner Andrew Johnstone, you’d think Bell was an over-achieving design prodigy. In reality homeboy failed most of the creative courses he enrolled in, opting instead for a life of surf and travel. We’re not sure what that teaches us about success but as his CV reveals, Spain is a good place to conceive big ideas and if Bell is cooking steaks – you best keep an eye on the chef.
WORK EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION
DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS. 1997
Twelve months of education by clueless teachers. Had more fun on the skate from Sydenham train station to Enmore TAFE. Failed the course after missing all exams and not submitting final assignments to chase waves on Philip Island, VIC.
SLIDING. 1998 – 1999
Professional Bodyboarder. Travelled to Bali, Sumatra, Hawaii, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York & Spain.
BUILDERS LABORER / STEAK HOUSE COOK. 2000
Didn’t take either very serious. Purely there for cash reasons. Breathed in way too much dust while ripping down roof tiles at the Taxi’s Combines offices. And spent Thu, Fri & Sat nights behind a damn hot grill cooking steaks and ribs. Admittedly I did drop food and then serve, of course after a quick dip in the deep fryer.
SCHOOL OF AUDIO ENGINEERING. 2001
Why did I sign up to do design at an audio school? Worked really hard, staying back late teaching myself everything I could, and as a result was hired as the night watchman. Used to take a monitor and G4 home with me every Friday night so I could work on side projects before Monday morning. Failed once again after spending my tuition fee on airfares overseas.
NO PARKING ON CLARENCE ST. 2002
Was hired on first interview out of my failed college experience at Artichoke Design. Great boss (Michael Signal), and met Andrew Johnstone who had recently started the website Design is Kinky.
RISE OF THE CREDIT CARD. 2003
Left Artichoke after talking at the OFFF festival in Spain when we conceived the idea for Semi-Permanent while in a Barcelona hotel room.
ARDEN STREET. 2003
Andrew and I launch Semi-Permanent from his bedroom. I drive from Cronulla every day, and make my desk my knees and my chair the steel-wool-like carpet for 12 months. Still doing Semi-Permanent to this day.
WE THE PEOPLE. 2005
Launch Movement magazine and work on Stab mag.
CONFUSED. 2007
Art direct Dazed & Confused and YEN magazines on the side. Why? To keep busy I guess.
THE ARCTIC CIRCLE. 2008
After tracking down the lead singer’s phone number, I end up in Sweden filming the Dukes Of Windsor music video, Its A War. Have some very half hearted attempts at other music videos in the year.
PRESENT. 2009
Semi-Permanent. Design Is Kinky. Movement magazine. Live. Planet Love Sound.
THE INTERVIEW
How did you get into the industry that you’re into now? It’s hard for me to single out one particular industry that I sit within. I guess for Semi-Permanent, it falls under event management. Andrew Johnstone and I started SP soon after speaking at an event in Spain, the OFFF. While we were there talking on behalf of Design Is Kinky, we had the opportunity to meet some of the head creatives and decision makers at Diesel clothing. After we caught up with them over lunch followed by a few emails and phone calls, they asked us to come up with an idea how we can work together, and we felt that Australia was lacking the experience of having world class designers come out to speak in person, so we threw that at them, and we were all on.
As for Graphic design, well, after failing two courses at different colleges (one to pursue waves in VIC and the other because I felt my fees would be better spend on airlines tickets), and after the confidence of starting SP, I started a publication with two good mates (Ben Player & Jethro Lyons), which has lead to the other print projects.
What’s been your highlight of your career so far? Pulling off the first Semi-Permanent event was a great experience. Andrew and I had a lot on the line, financially and mentally, and to have over 2,000 people come to the conference and 1,500 to the exhibition was a great feeling. And recently, I have started a new film/TV project with a great mate (Lucas Jenner), and although its not up and running yet, its a great feeling having it all come together, with a lot of potential.
Have their been any surreal or really crazy moments? Not sure if glamorous is the best way of describing it, but I’ve have a brilliant past 8-9 (working) years. If I really needed to make myself sound like a complete wanker I could mention that I have ‘glamorously’ stayed in the penthouse of the Plaza hotel in NYC, a suite at the Chateau Marmont in LA and in the presidential room at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
What advice would you give to people looking for a career similar to yours? Give anything a shot. If you fail, that’s not a bad thing at all. On plenty of occasions I’ve lost money and time on projects, but you grow from every experience, so explore every idea.
Did you always know you wanted to work in your industry? No. We developed the whole idea of SP 2 days after we thought of it, and that was 8 years ago. We just ran with it. And from there, we have met people together or individually and we have started new projects (in print, film, live events etc).
Was there ever a certain person or defining moment that influenced you as a person? It wasn’t all that profound, but Mike Mills and caught up a few years back in LA and that opened my eyes to things. He’s a brilliant guy, and obviously super talented, but I like the way he does the things he wants to at his own pace.
What are the highs and lows of your job? Lows, stress. I get stressed pretty often, especially around Semi-Permanent. We really do our best to make sure that all our speakers and attendees have a great experience, and the little things mean a lot to us. High’s, there is just too many. Life, travel, friends, opportunity, spare time, surfing etc.
If you weren’t doing what you’re doing, what’s another career path you might have taken? Lately, and specifically after seeing Pheonix play at the Mandalay Bay, I wish I was a kick ass drummer like Thomas.
What are you working on at the moment? I’m trying to work my way through the book Shantaram… No, at the moment were getting SP Sydney ready and a film/TV project.
What do you hope to be doing 5-10 years down the track? I honestly don’t look that far in advance. I’m happy with everything we are doing now, and I’m sure whatever I had in my head now would change within the year.
If you could trade places with one person for a day who would it be? Terry Richardson of course.
What or who has been inspirational to you throughout your career or life in general? Creatively, even thought its such a cliché word, Spike Jonze.
www.semipermanent.com
www.designiskinky.com
www.movementmag.com
www.murraybell.com
