I spent my early career working in advertising, which was very creative, very funny and a long way from reality. Age, friends, expectations, marriage, children, divorce, depression, laziness, love, release, understanding, maturity, ramblings or reality, judgmental or scathing, mixed up or experienced, when Jon turned up and offered me the opportunity to design a book, I had no idea of just what a difference the work would make to my life. I just wanted a nice design job and went with the flow. Then I read the manuscript, not all the way through – there weren’t enough pictures! I produced some initial designs, and as Jon liked my style the next 12 months became dedicated to Your Plant Needs You. The process of designing took up all of my free time, working until 2 and 3 in the morning nearly every night, I was exhausted yet exhilarated, and I found the avenue I needed and the freedom of choice to give power to my creativity.

Working on the book has changed me, I’ve stopped consuming, I’ve stepped out of the cycle, it’s liberating and empowering, I have the freedom to make choices based on my own idea of merit, not that of someone else. I realise that whilst we all have the demands of life to meet - work, family, obligations, we still need to shop and drive to work, I’m a normal Dad to two beautiful children and realise its about finding a balance, if I can change then anyone can, we have the choice of how to meet those demands - as part of the consumer culture, accepting the bombardment of what to eat, wear, watch, and do; or as an individual, applying consideration to the choices you make. Family life is being eroded away as the pressure of conformity takes precedent over true needs and long term vision. People are working harder and longer with seemingly the only reward being bigger and better stuff, costing more time and money than they realistically have access to, Britain it seems has the highest debt per head of population than any other European nation, it also loses more working days through stress. I believe that the cloak of materialism doesn’t bring freedom, it brings restriction and confinement.
As the person responsible for the design of the book my aim became to show where this relentless development of society has led us to, and IMPORTANTLY how we can begin to change it.
This is not a return to the ‘good old days’, but a new start where thought is given to our actions and the impact they will have on not only our lives, but the lives of those around us. Every time we go shopping, drive a car, switch off a light, reuse a carrier bag, an impact is being made. The joy is in making that impact a positive one. Do we really need access to 24/7 shopping to make us happy, whatever happened to weekends off?
Whats happened to nice quiet Sundays spent with the family? When do our children actually play without it involving the purchase of games, equipment, or outfits? When do we truly relax and let go without that involving a bigger television, better car, more impressive holiday. “Oh we just got a cheap flight” – at what expense - Global warming! True freedom and contentment can come from within; our lives don’t have to be reliant on the choices that others make for us. I urge people to read the book and start making a difference.”  http://www.yourplanetneedsyou.org