Alan Aboud is the Creative Director of Aboud Creative, an agency whose clients have included Zara, H&M and Levi’s. He recently worked with the Design Museum on a major exhibition and book celebrating the work of Paul Smith.

What have been your best moments of 2013?
Reaching fruition with the Paul Smith exhibition and book, which we’ve been working on for nearly a year. That was the highlight in terms of creative achievements. On a purely selfish level I’m also a very big football supporter, so myself and my children took great delight in Manchester United winning the football league.

Your book, Hello, My Name Is Paul Smith: Fashion and Other Stories will be on a lot of Christmas lists this year. What do you think people will take from it?
My agency has worked with Paul for nearly 25 years, so we know his likes and dislikes very well. What we set out to design was a book that was very populist in its approach. It’s not like a Karl Lagerfeld book or a Christian Lacroix book, which you’d imagine would predominantly be bought by fashion people. It’s universal in its appeal and it’s not highbrow. It’s also very light on language, because Paul is a visual person – he’s provoked by images. A doctor, a teacher or a primary-school child could pick it up, and each would find something different that’s interesting to them.

What’s your best tip for Christmas?
There’s an amazing little store in New York called Authentiques Past and Present. It’s on 18th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, and it’s run by a man in his eighties, and they sell vintage Christmas decorations. They have millions of painted glass and ceramic baubles, and it’s just wondrous, like a pick and mix. That would be my big Christmas tip: use original decorations.

Hello, My Name Is Paul Smith is showing at London’s Design Museum until 9 March 2014.