Can you describe what you do and what Commission Studio is? Who do you work for and with?
I run Commission Studio with my business partner David. Commission is a graphic design studio specializing in branding. We work with all kinds of businesses, but we particularly enjoy collaborating with fashion brands. David and I continue to design and work directly on projects, while also leading the team's creative process. There are nine of us in total working at Commission.
We work a lot with the LVMH group and some of their brands, including RIMOWA, Fenty, and, historically, DKNY. Beyond that, we also do a lot of identity work for smaller companies whose products we're directly interested in.
You're creative, it's your daily job, but above all, you're a "bon vivant": from natural wine and good food to furniture, you pay particular attention to everything you do or own. What place does running have in this epicurean approach or way of life?
A "bon vivant," ha! No one has called me that before, but I like it. I like running because it's one of the few times I can put my brain on pause. A lot of the things I worry about are, to be honest, nonsense. Most of it isn't crucial to the cosmic order—we often worry about trivial things.
Plus, I have a job that requires very little physical activity, and I'm really passionate about wine and food! So running is the least I can do to stay active. It's also very easy to fit into my life: I like to do it early in the morning, between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. I ran a 5K this morning at 5:45 a.m.
My run passes my favorite pub, The Hare and Billet. It reminds me why I need to exercise!
A little reminder to run more: I drink too much natural wine.
Part of my regular route passes by the church where the London Marathon starts.
When did you start running, and what led you to do it more regularly? Did you have a goal at the beginning?
I've been running (off and on, I should add) for ten years. I started because it was the most convenient way to exercise—it's not tied to a schedule, the weather, or the terrain. And it's free. I didn't have a goal; I just started.
What is your favorite gear? What shoes do you run in?
I'm a huge sportswear fanatic, so of course I've tried Gyakusou and S/Lab. But honestly, my favorite outfit is still the one made up of Nike basics. Clothes I've worn over and over again—it always works.
Sometimes with the most experimental pieces, it's not always conclusive, and that's fine. But with Nike's main line, you know everything has been tested to the millimeter. They don't make mistakes there.
I'm a clothing freak, so of course I've been diving into experimental running gear. They've all been more or less good, but I've come back to Nike's standard range, which remains my favorite. This jacket is incredible, full of details and never fails: lining with thumbholes, waist gripper, chest pocket, side sub-pockets for stability, adjustable hood... It's the perfect jacket for running here in the UK.
Shoe-wise, I've owned Brooks, Nikes, and Sauconys over the years, but I've settled on Hoka One Ones for the last couple of years. I'm quite tall, and they offer good stability with exceptional comfort. I loved the Speedgoats and the Mafates—the latter are probably my favorites.
I'd like to try the Topo Athletic soon. I've been told they're very similar to Alden's Modified Last (dress shoes I love, sold at Anatomica in Paris): stable heel, high arch, and wide forefoot. Much more ergonomic.
My favorite pair of running shoes: the Hoka One One Mafate.
What is the sporting challenge you are most proud of?
After ten years of running without a goal, I finally decided to do a half marathon last year and really enjoyed the preparation. I trained well, increased my distances, and stayed injury-free all year.
I didn't love running the marathon (too many people—I always run alone), but the feeling at the finish line is unique. What I'm most proud of is the training itself: following the plan and reaching the goal.
I also hiked the National Three Peaks between workouts—walking the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales, all in 24 hours. Hiking is great, but driving is a pain in the legs!
Do you think running boosts your creativity?
As a creative, your mind is always running, even during mundane moments. It's sometimes difficult to watch a movie without being distracted by an idea.
Instead, I find that running allows me to take a creative break. I don't think about anything when I run—only running. My mind is blank. Someone once said they liked pornography because it was the only time they could turn their mind off completely—well, running does the same thing to me. It creates a void… a space.
You, along with David McFarline and the entire Commission Studio team, designed our new visual identity. Can you tell us how you went about it and what your inspirations were?
We wanted DISTANCE to be a little more unique than other running stores. Emerging running brands are often too polished, and we definitely didn't want that for DISTANCE. We wanted to give it an attitude, a freedom, an energy.
The design is inspired by an artist/curator we love: Micah Lexier. He takes mundane diagrams, computer graphics, and doodles and blows them up to fill a wall. We loved the idea of transforming something spontaneous and immediate into a precious symbol.
The squiggle represents movement, a path. The logo, on the other hand, has a more industrial and robust look—a perfect balance between spontaneity and structure.
Can you explain the meaning of the equal sign on the DST logo?
It's a little hidden wink! The formula for calculating distance is:
Distance = Speed × Time.
Hence the name DST, which is also the abbreviation for DISTANCE.
Your favorite place in London to run?
I love my neighborhood, Blackheath. There's a huge expanse of nature in southeast London, and it's very close to Royal Greenwich Park, where there are deer, a rose garden, a pond, and the Royal Observatory (crossed by the Greenwich Meridian, home of GMT).
When I do a 10k, I run all around the moor and the park — it's beautiful.
The road through Greenwich Park around 6am leads to one of the most beautiful views in London!
Are there any other running enthusiasts you'd like to see in these interviews?
I wonder if Ramdane Touhami is a runner?
Alexandre Arnault — he loves to run.
Or Ian Rogers of LVMH.