• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Snapchat
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

MsMarmiteLover

  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Vegetarian
    • Vegan
  • Travel
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • UK
  • Wine
  • Gardens
  • Supperclubs/Events
  • About
    • Published Articles
    • Books
  • Shop
    • Cart

Judging Marmite

October 16, 2011 4 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized

There are some perks in having the blogger ‘nom de pixel’ MsMarmitelover: last week I was invited to join a panel at the Royal College of Art to judge designs for the next range of Marmite merchandise.
We were looking for something to replace the current line, based on Andy Warhol’s style, and we sat all afternoon while a dozen or so talented students showed us their ideas. The winner would see their design produced on mugs, plates, etc.
Here is the brief:

Marmite brief

The panel consisted of:

·         Rupert Pick, creative and planning director, Hot Pickle
·         Nicola Hattersley, John Lewis senior cookshop buyer
·         Roxana Parvizi, Brand Manager of Marmite
·         Donna Wilson, designer of the year 2010
·         Corinne Julius, journalist and broadcaster who writes on fashion, design and craft for Radio 4 and Evening Standard
·         Clare Johnston, head of the textiles department at the RCA
·         Mark Prescott, director at Spark

The Marmite brand lady talked about Marmite: it only has a shocking 9% ‘penetration’ (the percentage of shoppers that buy it). Few ‘pre-families’ buy it. What/who are ‘pre-families’? People who haven’t settled down and had kids yet. People have Marmite in the family home, but when they leave to go to university, they don’t continue to buy it. But they start buying it again when they have kids. We need to encourage our young people to buy Marmite!
It was difficult to pick a winner. Every student was stunningly gifted but we had to consider if the designs would translate to mugs, tea towels, plates, oven gloves. We also had to think whether the designs would have longevity; the range is planned to come out at the end of 2012.
For instance, I love the shabby chic retro look, but part of the appeal may be based on the fact that we are living in times of economic uncertainty. We are not looking to the future, but the past. Assuming we will be buried in double dip austerity during 2012, will we be desperate for a bright cheery futurist vision by then?
  “What did people buy after the last Great Depression?” I asked finally.
“Well we went straight into World War II”grimaced Corinne “but after that it was the New Look and the fifties”. Ah yes, the kodachrome colour palette of the nuclear pop star Elvis….
It’ll be interesting to see what happens next in the zeitgeist as reflected in design.

Jessica Meek came up with an Orla Kiely influenced fabric design. We liked her boxer shorts. Much of Marmite merchandise is for ‘gifting’ rather than ‘self-purchasing’ (retail lingo for buying it for yourself) and Marmite boxer shorts would be a great Christmas gift. (And men are always so hard to buy for). I would have liked to have seen Marmite bra and knickers. There is something naughty, even S & M about Marmite don’t you think?

 Amy Ellis’ drawings, nicely done but perhaps too reminiscent of drinks packaging?

 Amelia Mullins accurately pinpointed the humour in the Marmite brand. She did photographic research of ‘haters’ and ‘lovers’, their expressions. This is her grandad loving it.

She cam up with a ‘happy families’ concept of different characters loving or hating Marmite. I really liked this, it also had retro advertising appeal.
I loved the originality of Ruth Holt’s Marmite weaving, using the colours and cleverly playing with proportions. (Reminded me also of travelling in Bolivia, where each village has a weaving style for their ‘mantas’)
Charlotte Brown harked back to the 1902 beginnings of the Marmite brand with her Victorianesque ‘Marmite Men’. I would probably buy plates ect with these designs as it would go with the look of my kitchen. But there weren’t any ‘Marmite Ladies’ and it was a bit too Phileas Fogg in style. 
The John Lewis lady remarked that the most popular selling kitchen colour, apart from neutrals, is red. 

This took weeks to cross-stitch, the student even took it on holiday, but it was left unfinished. I like it that way.

 I really loved this embroidered and quilted marmite designs from Alexandra Palmowski but it was felt that it wouldn’t translate onto ceramic.

 Lily Kamper used her trademark style of graphic lines in her Marmite project. The panel weren’t sure that the lines translated properly….they could look like birthday cake candles. Beautifully drawn though.

Carlo Volpi almost had it with his ornate marmite designs on paper and knitwear but they were a bit too goth, too dark for people’s kitchens. Carlo, an Italian, had never tasted Marmite until he entered this competition!

 Expressionist Marmite from Tiphaine Alston. We loved the paintings but weren’t sure it would work as home ware.

 She even did a mock up of her design on a bus.

 Lichtenstein themed designs from Joanna Burdett in a beautifully presented and executed project. Panellists were a little worried that it was too similar to the Andy Warhol style merchandise.

Interesting Miro influenced work by Ying Wu. Expounding on Marmite’s heritage British qualities she said “And here we have a traditionally British animal, the owl, showing that you can eat Marmite at night or by day”. Huh? Is an owl typically British? Perhaps in Harry Potter. It’s always interesting to see how others see us.
Ying also did a clever Mondrian style depiction of Marmite.
It was a long afternoon’s work and a tough decision to decide the winner. We plumped for Joanna Burdett’s Lichtenstein designs which were also the most popular on Facebook with 100 ‘likes’. She’d worked outside in industry prior to coming to the Royal College and her sheer professionalism and experience was evident in her well thought out presentation. As well as nurturing their design talent, the Royal College of Art teach students how to sell their work to companies, essential skills and it really paid off for Joanna. 

Recent posts

Canapés for Diablo IV launch

June 9, 2023

Queens of Kelp, from the Outer Hebrides

June 4, 2023

midsummer supper club June 17th 2023 Msmarmitelover

My next supper club: midsummer June 17th

May 28, 2023

Previous Post: « White chocolate fondant cake for Trish Deseine
Next Post: The Testicle Tree, stones and stoners »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lou

    October 17, 2011 at 11:49 am

    Cool. Very interesting. Off to make Marmite on Toast.

    I am reminded that I once smeared marmite over a beef joint and slow roasted it. Very yummy.

    Reply
  2. Linda McMullan

    October 17, 2011 at 2:10 pm

    Love this post. All the designs are good, but Joanna and Jessica's were my favorites! Ditsy dots repeated in a design is comforting when faced with double dip recessions… Can't really say why, except it feels retro and familiar.

    Reply
  3. maratanga

    October 17, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    wow – what a fun thing to do! I'm a massive Marmite fan. can't wait to see the new designs come out next year.

    Reply
  4. UK Dining

    October 18, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Astounding that only 9% of people buy it. Who'd have thought it? Can't imagine not having a pot in the cupboard!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

MsMarmiteLover aka Kerstin Rodgers.

Chef, photographer, author, journalist, blogger. Pioneer of the supperclub movement.

This is my food and travel blog, with recipes, reviews and travel stories. I also stray into politics, feminism, gardening.

Subscribe to my mailing list

msmarmitelover

Kerstin Rodgers/MsMarmiteLover
My next supper club 17th June london tickets £50 My next supper club 17th June london tickets £50 BYO book here: https://msmarmitelover.com/product/midsummer-supper-club-tickets-june-17th #london #supperclub #msmarmitelover #midsummer
For tonight’s event I had to push the boundaries For tonight’s event I had to push the boundaries. Here is how to prepare goose neck barnacles or percebes which are a very expensive and rare delicacy, hunted down from cliffs. It’s quite dangerous to forage them. #canapes #eventcatering #satanicfood #percebes #grossfood #seafood #devilsfood
Midsummer supperclub 17th June book tickets here h Midsummer supperclub 17th June book tickets here https://msmarmitelover.com/product/midsummer-supper-club-tickets-june-17th at London’s pioneering supper club. Tickets £50 BYO. Scandinavian inspired summery food. #supperclub #msmarmitelover #midsummer #northwestlondon #londonevents #popups
Tina sweating through a gig at Brixton academy cir Tina sweating through a gig at Brixton academy circa 1987 pic: kerstin Rodgers #rip #tinaturner #rockphotographer #kerstinrodgers #teenagephotographer
Attended an incredible talk with @frenchpete_1 on Attended an incredible talk with @frenchpete_1 on war photography in the Ukraine . Go to the exhibition @thebppa @thebargehouse in SE1 last few days 
Had to stop filming cos I was told off. The photographers would be less forthcoming if they were filmed I was told. 
Anyway @frenchpete_1 should be followed by a camera crew cos he’s a star.
For yesterdays lunch I made a blue cheese puff pas For yesterdays lunch I made a blue cheese puff pastry quiche and a little one with less blue cheese & no salt for my 7 month old granddaughter. She absolutely loved it. I’m enjoying seeing her experience and explore new foods with baby led weaning. Avocado, strawberries, kiwi & buttered crumpets are a hit. Pasta less so. Who is this child? Are we even related? #babyledweaning #quiche #homemadepuffpastry
Nice to be featured as The Great Read in The natio Nice to be featured as The Great Read in The national newspaper again. These are the stories I love to do: I go off on an adventure, take my time, interview people (especially women), photograph them in their environment and create recipes on site. This story cost me a lot more than I made as I had an accident and lost my excess. My own damn fault though! Loved loved loved having a campervan. Thanks for lending me it @camperdays.international and sorry about the hole in the side.  https://www.thenational.scot/news/23505593.foraging-seaweed-western-isles/
My terrace on a sunny May morning. The builders @l My terrace on a sunny May morning. The builders @lk.general.building left yesterday. They’ve been working since January. I had the awning installed, the encaustic Minton tiles removed and put back with green grout. The terrace was causing damp so this had to be done. My calamondin plant is looking lovely. The benches which I repaired with hard wood & I repainted using a mix of 2 colours. The marble table I bought in Suffolk at a car boot. Everything is still dusty & I’m waiting for the window cleaner to arrive.
Last but very heartfelt thankyou to @cideriswine f Last but very heartfelt thankyou to @cideriswine for their contribution of these beautiful dry ciders for the coronation street lunch. Gorgeously illustrated labels. #stcuthbertsrd #kilburn #london #cider #artisanaldrinks
When it comes to vodka I much prefer potato vodka. When it comes to vodka I much prefer potato vodka. It’s smoother. Artisanal distillery @devoncovevodka contributed some bottles to my coronation lunch which gave everyone a feeling of being at a classy party. Thanks so much. And also @rawfoodanddrink for arranging. If you want to read my blog post about how and why I organised this event, copy and paste this link: https://t.co/GWNNW2XKba #coronationstreetparty #biglunch #community #kilburn #london #forthepeoplebythepeople
I’ve been a fan of @luscombedrinks for years now I’ve been a fan of @luscombedrinks for years now. They sent a selection: elderflower bubbly, st. Clements orange 🍊 Sicilian lemonade, @belvoirfarm_uk lemonade, which were all delicious and just the tickets for the fortuitous mini-heatwave that occurred on the Sunday coronation lunch. #thankyou #community #coronation #streetparty #biglunch
Our street party. Double page spread in The Sun! T Our street party. Double page spread in The Sun! Tiny bit in the guardian. Decent pic in the Mail and The Star credit @asproider #coronationlunch #kilburn #stcuthbertsrd #kingscroftrd #fordwychrd #templarhouse
My coronation quiche with Broad beans, tarragon, s My coronation quiche with Broad beans, tarragon, spinach, cheddar. I used crème fraiche and blind baked puff pastry shells. I was up at 11 last night making these for todays street party, which featured in the mail, telegraph, mirror, metro courtesy of photographer Gavin Rodgers @asproider
Seaweed foraging at Spring tides in the Outer Hebr Seaweed foraging at Spring tides in the Outer Hebrides with @outerhebrideanforager Fi bird. She’s cutting sea spaghetti. I drove my campervan @camperdays.international from london to the Hebrides- using my gas stove to cook foraged and local ingredients. A real food safari. With the sea spaghetti I made a sea spag vongole with giant parlourdes picked up from the sand at the same time. Great fun, beautiful weather and, the day of the full moon, a wonderfully low tide. This was on south Uist.
More flavours, the flavour thesaurus is a plant-ba More flavours, the flavour thesaurus is a plant-based version of the original. Beautifully constructed, designed and written by @nikisegnit it’s vegetarian rather than vegan but recommended for both. She widens the sensory vocabulary around plant flavours in this book- encouraging new delicious sounding combinations. Now she includes new categories such as flower & meadow, caramel roasted, zesty roost- just the words make me salivate. #foodbooks #bookstagram #newbooks
Yesterday I attended @marmaladeawards @dalemainman Yesterday I attended @marmaladeawards @dalemainmansion I found out so much about marmalade. I’m going to make it this winter. I found out the worlds best maker is Japanese, in fact I was most impressed by the Japanese marmalades in general. Everyone wore orange. I must have tasted 50 marmalades. I met Paddington’s sister, karen jankel who is michael bond’s daughter, born in the same year as Paddington. She gave a charming talk on Paddington, mentioning how the queen insisted on having real marmalade sandwiches in her @launerlondonofficial handbag during the shoot. The house itself is Tudor and Georgian. I stayed in my campervan from @camperdays.international in the car park, cosy in the rain. Another freewheeling adventure. #yorkshire #marmalade #travel #food #ontheroad #campervan
I had a piece in @thetimes on Sunday about being a I had a piece in @thetimes on Sunday about being a vegetarian rather than a vegan. How I still need butter. And how restaurants & plane meals are now vegan rather than vegetarian. But, there are still more the double amount of vegetarians as vegans in the UK. I’ve written a vegan cookbook V is for vegan (link in bio) and am a big fan of vegan foods. I’ve not eaten meat for over 40 years. This is a sustainable diet, in terms of longevity. Vegans that I knew from the early noughties have reverted to meat eating. #newpuritanism? #vegetarian #vegan #foodwriter
Scrambled croft eggs (bright yellow yolks) with a Scrambled croft eggs (bright yellow yolks) with a seaweed that tastes just like truffle. Just done a little kelp foraging at low tide with @thetempleharris’ Amanda Saurin. Isle of Harris. Turquoise sea, white sand, cloud hovering just above. @camperdays.international @roosterpr
I went to Wembley in north west london to talk to I went to Wembley in north west london to talk to Sophie of @tobia.teff she uses the iron-rich, gluten free teff grain from her homeland Ethiopia. She showed me how to make injera, the Ethiopian flatbread which is fermented. She also talked about the coffee ceremony, 3 cups, which they pair with toasted barley or, currently, popcorn! I’d love to visit Ethiopia and find out more about their ancient food culture, history, 3.5k year old monarchy and religions.
Doing a spring budget recipe cooking demo for @bre Doing a spring budget recipe cooking demo for @brentcouncil Willesden library. I’ve been doing this a few times a year for the last few years. Wouldn’t it be great if they had a kitchen set up permanently. Libraries are community centres and could be used to teach how to cook from scratch.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Archives

Copyright © 2023 msmarmitelover