Home is always a few minutes walk away

Mar 22 2007 by Debbie Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

Debbie Johnson meets a man whose Hope Place house also provides a showcase for his work

"I'm not much of a gardener," says Jon, "but rose gardens are actually quite easy to maintain if you have a little bit of knowledge about what to prune and where to put your tea and such things."

Jon is the co-director of Nonconform, a design agency which specialises in corporate identity and branding, advertising and marketing design, illustration, photography, copywriting, and pretty much everything to do with the way an organisation, business or individual presents itself.

Clients include the Liverpool Phil, the Royal Northern College of Music, the Bluecoat, and the Manchester Cornerhouse.

A recent major project has been collaborating with Musgrave Design on the networking website for the creative industry community, www.kin2kin.co.uk, which has been particularly close to Jon's heart: "I think the use of the internet for community development is really significant, and sites like these don't cost a fortune any more.

“This one is especially important to us as we are members of that creative community ourselves and were pleased to do something to strengthen it through our work. I not only have my work offices up the road, but a work room at home for my non-commercial art as well."

Jon's creative side is clearly visible throughout his home.

Photographs, artwork and drawings hang throughout the property, including everything from Jon's own creations to dramatic Chinese kites swooping from on high.

The art is to be found throughout, shown off to good effect by largely neutral colours used in the decorating.

Jon says: "We are very visual, so we have tended to keep the walls plain to show off the energy of the pieces hanging on them."