Being born Colin Fulcher in Middlesex, halfway through the Second World War, was a rather inauspicious start for one of the most progressive and impressive graphic designers of the 20^th century. Perhaps that’s why he changed his name to Barney Bubbles.

Trained as a retail display designer in the art school of Twickenham College of Technology, Colin began his professional career at Michael Tucker Associates, which he described as ‘very Swiss; very hard; unjustified; very grey’. It wasn’t an insult because he also asserted that it was here he learned ‘everything about typography’. But he had to wait until 1965 for his big leap forward – a position as senior graphic designer at The Conran Group. It’s amusing to note that Colin – who became so associated with the counter culture and new wave – actually created items for the utterly middle class Habitat store and a logo for Strongbow cider, while in this role.

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