The man who can see air …

At 4am GMT yesterday, all five red lights on the starting grid went out, and the first Formula 1 race of the year roared into life.

The season kicked off in Melbourne in the early hours, and F1 fans are undoubtedly smacking their lips at the prospect of another fast-paced, high-octane thriller of a season.

Fastest of the bunch in recent years has been the Red Bull car driven by the marmite figure of Max Verstappen.

But while the driver is undoubtedly key, the backroom team play a pivotal role in the car’s performance.

Top of the list would have been Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing’s then Chief Technical Officer.

While that austere title covered many responsibilities, he really was the car’s designer.

And it was a job he did brilliantly.

Those in the know said he could see air.

His unique ability lies in seeing a set of regulations and almost immediately creating a vivid picture in his mind about how the car would be built.

A skill not possessed by anyone else in his field.

In our world, graphic designers do a similar job.

They see all the facets of the task in hand and bring them to life to create compelling and eye-catching visuals that command attention and get you noticed.

They’re the creatives who capture the essence of the message you want to communicate and compel your audience to take action.

Like F1’s Chief Technical Officers, however, not all graphic designers are equal.

Something you’ll have realised when viewing ransom notes masquerading as marketing collateral.

If you’ve got a print project you want to bring to life, we’re here to help.

Until next week!

Alec