Today i’d like to introduce you to a wonderful ‘space’ that is all about creativity and is often on my radar when in shoreditch.
It’s not a shop per se but a space, a creative hub, a community for designers. Instead of me trying to ‘awkwardly’ explain this creative venture, i thought i’ll rope in the lovely jennie, who as the shop and library manager is far more equipped to tell the tale. Handing you right over:
Can you explain a little about YCN and the shop/library? YCN’s space at 72 Rivington Street is a shop, library, exhibition and events space all rolled into one. It’s a hive of activity upstairs too, with the YCN talent agency, design studio and the YCN awards all operating out of the top two floors. YCN is a company very keen on meeting people and having actual conversations, as opposed to email contact in an enclosed office, so it’s great to have an opportunity to do just that with the shop space on the ground floor. We have a series of talks, workshops, exhibitions and the YCN summer school that all takes place in the shop. You can see more here.
I love your current window display of hot air balloons and golden mountains. How long is it on for? YCN’s current window display of hot air balloons and golden mountains is by the makerie studio. They’re a paper craft duo based across london and milan, aka joyanne horscroft and julie wilkinson. They’re represented by the YCN talent agency that I mentioned earlier. The window display will be up until May and at the moment I’m working with the artists to create a ‘Make Your Own Balloon Kit’. I’m the guinea pig for the instructions! They should be available through YCN by the end of the month.
These city map below is in the latest ideas illustrated issue. What’s the artist called? The artist behind the map series is owen gatley, also on the talent agency. There are four in the series; london, paris, new york and copenhagen.
Everyone loves a herb lester map, right? The herb lester maps are a very popular item in the shop.
How do you decide what to stock for the shop? Everything in the YCN shop should be interesting and inspiring, it is important to us that our products have a story. As YCN is a member-based creative organisation, we curate the shop with a selection of products made by our members, like our slingshots by christopher jarratt or pocket squares by joe cruz. In addition to this we stock a few magazine titles that we find especially inspiring, like the gourmand and the plant journal. I want every nook and cranny filled with exciting, colourful and design-led items to surprise and delight!
Which issues came before ‘the luck issue’? I believe i also have ‘the money issue’ The current issue is number five – ‘the luck issue’. Previously we’ve had ‘the money issue’, ‘the relocated issue’, ‘the happiness issue’ and the first self-titled issue. They’ve all been successful and a great way for YCN to showcase and support all our artists and collaborators.
And it’s all supported by our ideas illustrated blog, which involves sharing great ideas and creating images to match.
How does membership and lending from the library work? This year YCN has been getting back to its roots and embracing the idea of membership, which is an idea we put at the heart of YCN when it launched in 2001. At the new main YCN.org website anyone can now become a member of YCN for free. Members can keep in closer contact with YCN, access lots of great creative programmes, content and resources online and get the chance to come to YCN events in the real world if nearby.
The YCN library is what I like to call ‘small but perfectly formed’. Though it only takes up a little corner of the Shop; it is filled with a wide selection of books on subjects ranging from art, design and typography to travel, home-brewing and cats! We invite suggested reading lists from inspirational folks like john hegarty, quentin blake and sir paul smith and we’re always adding to the list of titles. It’s free to join and all you have to do is come into YCN and fill out an application form.
Glad i’m a member then… anything new in the pipeline? We’re soon to be launching a new program of YOU CAN NOW talks, a series designed to inspire and empower creative talent, so keep checking the website!
Jennie, thank you so much. See you soon. Oh, yes, need to return the book i borrowed to your library:-)
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I’ll be enjoying the meettheblogger event! See you monday.