Where next?

A few weeks back, industrial designers arrived by boat and Brompton to attend the inaugural Design Truth event over in Eastcheap, London.

It was wet, a tube strike was in full flow, but it did not distract from an incredible turnout – and a venue fitting for lift-off.

Our intention has always been to create an element of community within UK industrial design. The siloed mentality of yesteryear is not fitting with the time.

A feeling of being part of something a little bigger than those you work with. A chance to see old colleagues, say hello to that face that always pops up on your Instagram feed, seek mentorship or guidance and most importantly provide the backdrop for an industry to come together.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and although on a personal note I did not get around to (properly) speaking to all those that attended, I just wanted to thank everyone that decided to come along and spend an evening with us... particularly those that travelled at great lengths or through great difficulty.

Hopefully the conversation spilled over into the studio the following day. With talks on sustainability from Jo Barnard (Morrama) and Michael Webster (1HQ), this was an opportunity to shine light on some hard-hitting topics – a theme that will continue as Design Truth travels across the country.

Although a little disappointing for those that were unable to make it, we decided not to record any of the evening. There is something quite unnatural about turning everything into content or a podcast recording.

That said, if you want to find out a little more on Jo’s industry-wide sustainability pledge (Designers Declare), you can have a flick through the slides below – I hope you agree that it is a fantastic step forward on the topic, with the need for a collective industry voice on this.

Those that do listen to Design Truth or have spent time on our interactive design directory will be aware that industrial design is not exclusive to a Shoreditch postcode.?

Our aspiration is for an opportunity to get together nationwide for Industrial Designers. I look at the UX community with great admiration, and there is nothing to stop industrial design sharing similar values.

As a small business, it is a constant balance of managing budgets with that aspiration. Not everything is about a return of investment – our first event was free to attend, and we do not plan to change that anytime soon.

So with the excitement from Eastcheap fresh in the mind, it is time for Design Truth to head down to Bristol.

More details will be released over the coming weeks, but I just wanted to thank the design and leadership team at Elvie for such continued passion on this who have been incredibly supportive. Hopefully the sun will also be out by May / June.

Bristol is a growing hub for industrial design, hosting incredible talent. It is a great spot to keep the momentum going.

Look forward to sharing more…. soon.

In the meantime, if a Design Truth event is of interest to you (whether that is attending, an event closer to home, sponsoring or wanting to speak) then drop a message to [email protected]

Thank you.