Tom Morris

Tom Morris is a London-based design author, editor and consultant. He writes for The FT Weekend, CNN Style and AD and is contributing editor at Monocle, where he was previously design editor for many years. He has just published his third book, New Wave Clay, which looks at a new generation of designers jumpstarting an age-old art. The book is published by Frame and covers everything from ceramic furniture to murals, vessels to 3D printing and sculpture to small-scale buildings. In 2018 Tom is serving on the jury of the Interieur Awards in Belgium and next year will judge on the Open To Art ceramics prize for Officine Saffi in Milan

Website: http://tom-morris.com

Instagram: @tom___morris

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Saturday morning.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I spend more than an ample amount on ceramics. I now operate a one-in, one-out policy.

What is your current state of mind?

Perseverance.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Abstinence.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Sure.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Maths.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I'd like to think I've not achieved it yet, however it's been great to have had the opportunity to enlarge the platform of all the very talented designers and artists in New Wave Clay.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

When I was young and people asked me this, I always replied with 'Cheetah'.

Where would you most like to live?

I'm rather happy in the Barbican. It's one of the most brilliant and successful examples of post-war high-density building and so much cosier and friendlier than it looks from the outside.

What is your most treasured possession?

Home.

What is your favorite occupation?

This one is quite good.

What do you most value in your friends?

Understanding.

Who are your favorite writers?

Bruce Chatwin, Emile Zola, Linda Grant, Alan Hollinghurst, Alice Rawsthorn.

Who is your hero of fiction?

Nick Guest.

What is it that you most dislike?

Superficiality.

What is your motto?

"This too shall pass" - sadly for better and for worse.