leap magazine co-founders quentin brown & mark patterson
Quentin Brown and Mark Patterson
Leap magazine is another great mag out and about, although it's actually been running for a couple of years. It has just held an exhibition in Melbourne comprising submissions from the past four editions. The magazine was created by Quentin Brown and Mark Patterson, who are behind the agency Canyon. Submissions for the next issue are open until April 30.
Quentin Brown
Which five words best describe you? Serious, witty, smart, studious, fair.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? A group sacking from a Regent Street pub led to the beginning of a career in design with a London-based studio. I returned to Melbourne in 1996 working with a number of studios including Cato and more recently Cornwell. I am not defined by my work, but I enjoy it.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Be niceWhat’s your proudest career achievement? Establishing a genuine and inspirational team, backing ourselves in creating a business where we get things done.
What’s been your best decision? A business partner!
Who inspires you? The kids.
What are you passionate about? Great ideas! We work best when all parts of the business pitch in creatively, you can only do this if the normal guards are down in relation to defined roles. Ideas come from anywhere and anyone: identifying a good idea is the challenge.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Emil Zatopek.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? Consistent Gybing when sailboarding.
What are you reading? The Fermata by Nicholson Baker.
Mark Patterson
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I was working in corporate marketing and was frustrated with the lack of imagination and creativity in evidence so I jumped the fence to the agency side.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Always trust your own judgement.
What’s your proudest career achievement? Producing Leap magazine. Quentin, my business partner and I had this idea to create a vehicle that celebrated the wealth and diversity of Melbourne's creative community. Leap magazine is published bi-annually and the 5th edition is coming out in June this year. We recently held an exhibition where we showcased the work from the first 4 editions. It's been fantastic, so far we've had contributions from musicians, actors, painters, architects, industrial designers, graphic designers, fashion designers, photographers and school kids.
What’s been your best decision? Starting Canyon. I spent too long in big agencies where creativity gets commodotised.
Who inspires you? My wife Caitlin and my children Georgina and Rex.
What are you passionate about? Work and snowboarding. I love working with our clients to deliver creative solutions to commercial problems. Our clients see us as true business partners and in the main we get to work closely with the business owners so we can effect real change. I've been into snowboarding now for 20 years and just love the rush of it. I've gotten the whole family into skiing and boarding and it's a great way to spend a family holiday.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Hunter S Thompson. A true original who showed me that there was a different way of looking at the world.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? In business I'm very fortunate to be living the dream, I love what I do so my life dream is to spend an entire season in a North American ski resort. As well as being able to ride everyday I think it would be fascinating to experience the changing of the seasons.
What are you reading? Life by Keith Richards.
images courtesy of leap