Lynda Relph-Knight

Podge has been responsible for so many things in design - one life partnership and a load of business liaisons have somehow surfaced above the customary alcohol fumes. For most of us it's a load of fun, leaving a collective hangover that provides a talking point for weeks to come. Where would we be without it!

Erik Spiekermann

Is it the Design Industry? Business? Trade? To me, it's a bunch of colleagues who share the same problems, issues, loves and hates. I consider other designers competitors last, friends first (and I've even been know to even fancy some of them). Every year at Podge I get a chance to reconnect with my friends in the UK and I wouldn't miss it, ever. On my calendar Podge is a Jour Fixe, as we Germans say.

Rodney Fitch MBE

Podge, Podge? What is it, where does it come from? Does it have Latin or Greek origins? Or is it some tricky acronym, Parliament or Design Gourmet Enterprise might do, or Mr. Jones will give you some boring sound source. But I like to think that it's origins are as follows: Podge - the collective noun for a small herd of commonly talented and cheery designers, intent on having a good time by attending what is simply the best event in the design calendar.

  • Rodney Fitch MBE
  • Chairman
  • Fitch
Jill Marshall

I was a Podge virgin until 2006 and had honestly thought that Podge was just a bunch of old design-industry farts getting pissed. Well imagine my surprise! Seriously, Podge represents all the things that made me fall in love with our industry almost 20 years ago: great people who are passionate about what they do and, despite the odd ruffling of feathers, respect and like each other. It's a brilliant initiative and Phil Jones is a hero.

  • Jill Marshall
  • Managing Director
  • Bloom
David Kester

The Italians invented the Slow Food movement to stand up to the damaging effects of fast food and fast life. It is a serious movement with 80,000 members and a charitable trust investing in research into sustainability and local production. I would like to say that the Podge Movement has these high ideals, but unfortunately I can't. No, the Podge lunch is an entirely trivial pursuit, without any higher purpose. It is not inclusive. Far from it. You can only come if you are invited, and frankly the means of selection is completely obscure and known only to one man - darkly referred to as Mr. Jones.

They say that once you have joined you may never leave. It is a rather sinister cabal of design and if you have not been invited you can take comfort that your health, reputation and waistband will remain intact. If you have been invited, then I look forward to seeing you there - I never miss 'em.

Michael Peters OBE

While the professional annual get together is D&AD and the Design Week Awards, the social highlight of the Design year is the Annual Podge lunch. This is where real Design Industry Genius's meet - this is where the real Design Gossip is bantered and most important where the professional and competitive cudgels are downed, the Egos left at the front door and the Design Business unites into one big family.

  • Michael Peters OBE
  • Partners
  • Michael Peters
The annual lunch for creative directors and MD's from the design community. The aim? Meet old and new friends, exchange stories and have fun.