Thinking brands at DI2011

Leading brand thinker Michael Wolff believes that good design brings value to people and the world we live in.

Michael Wolff trained as an architect and worked as a product, interior and graphic designer before joining forces with Wally Olins in 1965 to establish Wolff Olins, which went on to become one of the most successful branding companies in the world.

In 1983 Wolff left Wolff Olins and joined Addison design company, doing work for the London underground, Jaguar, Shell, BP and the Barcelona Olympic Games. During the 1980s and 1990s Wolff worked on the controversial British Airways identity, created the Labour Party’s identity and worked with the Citigroup to create the Citi brand.

Today Wolff runs Michael Wolff & Company in London, who counts Mothercare and the University of Oxford in the UK, Intel in the US, and a new bank in Russia among their clients.

Wolff’s criteria for good design is not limited to one specific view: “My personal goals have always been the same: To help organisations to express themselves, in their own particular way, for the benefit of anyone with whom they’re involved. And do this in a way that brings value to everyone and to the world that we all share.”

In addition to his formal work, Wolff:

  • Is a patron of the Inclusive Design Challenge with the Helen Hamlyn Centre at the Royal College of Art.
  • Helps choose the UK’s stamps for the Royal Mail.
  • Is a member of the Home Office’s Design and Technology Alliance.
  • Serves as chairman of the Legible London initiative.
  • Is a former president of both the D&AD and Chartered Society of Designers.
  • Was recently appointed as the UK Government’s Inclusive Design Champion.


Michael Wolff will be speaking at the 2011 Design Indaba Conference from 23 to 25 February
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Watch the Talk with Michael Wolff