Top designer's no-show costs NZ organiser thousands

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Top designer's no-show costs NZ organiser thousands

3News NZ

David Carson failed to turn up for two speaking engagements

David Carson failed to turn up for two speaking engagements

By Tony Reid

One of the world's top graphic designers has left an Auckland event organiser tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket, after he failed to turn up for two speaking engagements.

David Carson, whose work has featured in over 180 magazines and newspapers worldwide, was due to deliver seminars in Wellington and Auckland on the subject of graphic design after print. However the design guru failed to show.

Mr Carson was to be flown business class from Los Angeles, put up in hotels and paid $10,000 for two days work.

One hundred members of New Zealand's design community forked out $300 a pop, and are waiting for refunds.

The event's organiser, Gary Hewlett, has given MrCarson until next week to pay the $35,000 he owes him for his New Zealand no show. If he doesn't, Mr Hewlett says he has lawyers in the US who are ready to act.

The last high-profile figure to snub New Zealand was Gordon Ramsay, who postponed once and then cancelled altogether.

Mr Carson postponed in February, then again in March, claiming he had lost his passport. However, Mr Hewlett doesn't believe him.

"He was judging a set of awards in northern Spain over the weekend he was supposed to be in New Zealand," Mr Hewlett says. "So how that happened I don't know."

3 News tried to contact Mr Carson, however he didn't respond. However the man with the cunning turn of phrase may need to produce his best work yet, if he's to win back his New Zealand fans.

3 News

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Comments

11/11/2011 1:53:05 a.m.

Denise Carson wrote:

I can tell you exactly where he is today, 11-10-2011. He is in his house in Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, BVI, apparently hiding out... Unfortunately he is my brother-in-law, and is running from not paying child support in the US. He is a loser, why anyone would pay money to hear him lecture is beyond my husband and I. He is a dead beat dad on top of being a loser. Look up the definition of Sociopath disorder, it describes him to a "T". Reading the blogs above I am happy to see that many of you see him as he truly is, a no talented has been. Should anyone care to locate him I would be very happy to give you the specifics..

18/06/2011 8:15:06 a.m.

RObert wrote:

…no show in Miami too

20/05/2011 2:59:26 p.m.

Anais wrote:

He's coming to Australia in October to give a series of lectures and launch his new book. Any takers?

30/04/2011 10:15:18 a.m.

jason wrote:

Sounds familiar. He flaked on an appearance in Salt Lake City a couple of years ago. No matter, I could never take his acclaimed talent too serious back in the day. He hasn't progressed at all. A definite has-been.

30/04/2011 7:29:38 a.m.

Andrew wrote:

Zach said it best. I still love his work. The only reason everybody was in love with him was because he was a "well known" graphic designer. Much like this industry everything is based on what is "in". Almost all of the people in the design community do not have an opinion of their own, sad but true. This is why i am not apart of any organization (Especially AIGA). I agree what he has done now and in the past is unprofessional but like Zach said he can careless about how he is viewed look at his previous work and interviews. If you ask me we need more designers like him to stir up this prestigious industry.

Good luck to everyone in the design community; It's rutheless out there :x

30/04/2011 3:27:51 a.m.

Dustin wrote:

Carson is famous for being a no show, I wnt to see him speak in Vancouver British Columbia Canada and he blew it off twice. When he finally flew out he was drunk the whole show and had nothing of value to say. Carson's work was so bad I started laughing, I feel bad for the guy, he still thinks that he is top dog. Carson should learn a thing or tow about graphic design, it flew in the 90's but now it is just sad.

29/04/2011 2:10:59 p.m.

CarsonHater wrote:

He did a no-show on the AIGA here in St. Louis, Missouri several years back. My company sponsored him and he cost us several thousand dollars. He's an ass. Stop booking this has-been.

29/04/2011 8:47:23 a.m.

Mark wrote:

A one-trick pony from the 90's - frankly, who needs him. And if Print is indeed dead, as he predicted way back, why is he launching another magazine? Personally, I hope his magazine bombs...

29/04/2011 7:49:53 a.m.

Joe wrote:

He was also booked to speak at the Kwantlen GDMA grad show speaker series in two weeks, but they eventually had to cancel him, halt ticket sales and lose the venue because he stopped returning all communication. They even got him on the phone once somewhere in Europe and while he "checked his calendar" he got "disconnected" and they still haven't heard back.

29/04/2011 4:33:01 a.m.

erika wrote:

Ha! Same thing, Columbia College Chicago in about 2002. We were pissed.