Audio recording of Mark Prestige (b. 1979) and Paul Farrell (b. 1981)

The interview begins with biographical details and how both came to join David Lock Associates. They both went to the same school where Jeanette Lock was a Governor. There is a discussion about starting work at David Lock Associates and being ‘thrown in the fire’, and how from little or no knowledge of the software packages on offer they learnt on the job. They also discuss the unique kind of graphic designer involved in their work and how it differs from more conventional graphic design. They also discuss the work ethic at David Lock Associates, the mutual trust that exists between employer and employee. They discuss whether there is a David Lock Associates house style but conclude that there is a lot of flexibility for individual creativity and they enjoy the friendly rivalry between team members to come up with new ideas that spur them on and how they share new discoveries about the potential of software and how graphic designs fashions change. It’s not so much a David Lock Associates style as an ethos – to mot accept second best and only send out work they are truly proud of and meeting every deadline no matter how much extra work is involved. They mention jobs that they have been proud of – the North Northamptonshire Summit, work for the National Grid the redevelopment of the Station Hill area in Reading, the Spatial Plan done for the Borough of Thurrock. MP talks about the work involved in being the Graphic Design Resource Manager. They discuss words that sum up David Lock Associates – ‘community’ and the family feel to the organisation when they first arrived. They discuss the ‘churning’ process and what makes a David Lock Associates person and what would be the company’s optimum size. They talk about the social events and the training week in France in 2006 and MP talks about being lead singer in the firm’s band The Beaulocks.