WHY DESIGN?

“We Kissed a Lot of Frogs” – What I Learned About Securing Funding Fundraising is often romanticised: a slick pitch, a polished deck, and eager investors ready to write cheques. The reality? It’s a long, unpredictable grind—one that tests your resilience, sharpens your strategy, and forces you to rethink everything you thought you knew about your company. Claire Trant PhD FRSA, co-founder and CEO of Untap Health, knows this all too well. ????????? ??????’?? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ????????????. When Claire’s team started raising, they had a clear idea of their ideal investors—deep-tech enthusiasts aligned with their vision. But some of those ‘perfect fit’ investors didn’t bite. Others, who seemed like long shots, asked the smartest, toughest, most game-changing questions. ?????????????????????? ??????’?? ???????? ?????????? ???????????????? ??????????????—????’?? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????. “Having people who ask the right questions is so important,” Claire shares. “Those are the people I want investing in us.” ??????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????. Untap kicked off fundraising in December, expecting a tough but manageable process. What they hadn’t fully factored in? December is a dead zone for investors. Momentum stalled. It wasn’t until January that things picked up. “Last year was about testing the waters—are we raising the right amount? Is our narrative correct?” Claire explains. “It all just takes longer than you think.” ????????????????????????? ???????????? ??????????????. Claire describes fundraising as brutal but valuable. Beyond securing capital, it forces you to?????????????????-???????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????.?Investors don’t just want a polished pitch—they want to poke holes in your strategy. That means answering tough questions about: ? Your mission and vision ? Your pricing and revenue model ? Your go-to-market strategy ? The urgency of the problem you’re solving This constant questioning helped Untap refine their approach and emerge stronger. ?? ??????????????’?? ??????????????????????: ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? For founders in the trenches, Claire’s journey is a reminder that fundraising never goes exactly to plan. ?? It takes longer than you expect. ?? The investors you think will back you… might not. ?? But the process will make your company sharper. Claire shares her full story on tomorrow’s?WHY DESIGN? If you’re raising capital—or curious about scaling a hardware startup—this is one to tune into. ????????’?? ???????? ????????? ?? What lessons have you learned from fundraising? ?? What’s the best (or worst) advice you’ve received? Let’s discuss below! ????:?Claire is running a marathon to raise money for Sarcoma UK in memory of her sister. ?? I’ll share a donation link in the comments—please support if you can.

Why Every Design Leader Should Be Sharing Their Story I love hearing success stories from my podcast guests—but this one stands out. Since appearing on my show, Tom Parsons has landed three new projects—all from people who heard his episode and reached out. One even emailed him saying: "?? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ??????????????, ???????? ???????? ????? ?????????? ?????? ??????… ??’?? ?????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ??????. ??????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????" That’s exactly the kind of result I want for my guests. Tom’s story proves a simple truth:????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ????????????, ?????????? ????????.?Whether you're hiring, looking for work, or scaling a business, the right people need to know what you do. If you’re a founder or leader with a story worth telling, let’s chat. You never know who’s listening. ??? Drop me a message if you’d like to be a guest! PS – Know someone with an awesome story? Tag them, and I’ll reach out. :)

Are NDAs Limiting the Potential of Your Portfolio? They Don’t Need To. Designers often struggle to showcase their best work because of?????????. But does that mean your portfolio has to suffer???????? ???? ??????. In this episode of?WHY DESIGN?, I sit down with?Nick Chubb, ???????????? ???????????????? ???? IDC (Industrial Design Consultancy), to discuss: ???????? ???? ?????????? ?? ???????????? ??????????????????—???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ? Why a master’s degree isn’t a requirement for success in industrial design ? The reality of short job stints early in your career (and why they’re often misunderstood) ? What hiring managers?really?look for in a standout portfolio ? The challenges and rewards of working in a design consultancy Whether you’re a?????????????????, ???????????? ??????????????, ???? ???????????? ??????????????, this episode will change how you think about????????????????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????????????. ????????????????? 6 ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????!?Listen on your favourite podcast platform. ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????????Share your thoughts in the comments! ??

Imagine being fresh out of uni and flown into a live war zone to fix your design. That was Tom Parsons’ reality. Not every designer finds themselves in a war zone early in their career. But for Tom, that was just the start. In this week’s episode of?WHY DESIGN?, we dive into Tom’s wild career journey—from designing high-end surveillance systems for superyachts to navigating the chaos of a live conflict zone, then shifting gears to mass production at Dyson, and finally, founding his own consultancy, AETHA? Product Design. We talk about: ? What designing for extreme environments teaches you about staying calm under pressure ? Why moving from bespoke, high-value tech to mass-market products was a game-changer ? The reality of running a design consultancy—balancing creativity, business, and client trust ? Why?"people buy from people"?is the best business philosophy he’s learned ? How launching his own Kickstarter helped him understand his clients’ struggles firsthand Tom’s story is full of career-defining moments, real talk on design and business, and lessons that apply far beyond the world of product development. So... how does your design origin story compare? Ever been thrown in at the deep end (or a warzone)? Let us know in the comments! ???Episode 4 of Series 2 is out now!?Listen on?Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and Amazon Music. ????:?Don’t an episode—hit subscribe so you’re always in the loop!

How do you launch a mission-driven hardware startup in today’s market? Taking an idea from concept to market is one thing. Doing it in hardware? That’s a whole new level. In tomorrow's episode of the?WHY DESIGN??podcast, I interview Andrew Carr, founder of Bebello —a mission-driven startup creating sustainable solutions for new parents. Andrew shared his journey of building Bebello from scratch, and the lessons were incredibly insightful: ????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????, ????????????: Bebello’s flagship product—the washer for bottles and pumps—was designed around a simple yet often overlooked user pain point: time. By addressing this, Bebello delivers real value for parents. ??????????????????????? ?????? ???????????????????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ????????: Andrew spoke candidly about the challenges of building a sustainable business. He highlighted how existing systems are designed for traditional product sales, not for circular business models like refurbishment or rental. ????????????????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ????????????: Andrew explained how launching a sustainable hardware product often requires 50–100% more effort to find solutions that make the business work. It’s not just about the idea but turning it into reality within a system that isn’t yet optimised for sustainable practices. Launching a mission-driven hardware startup isn’t for the faint of heart. But when it works, the impact can be transformative—for users, businesses, and the planet. If you found this post useful, tag someone who’s launching their own product! PS: Make sure to listen to the full episode tomorrow, Wednesday 29th January, at 8am GMT!

?? Skarper is hiring a Mechanical or Design Engineering Intern! Want to join this awesome team in Camden, London, and help us push the boundaries of product design. As TechRadar put it: "First of its kind, I truly felt like I was experiencing something special; I wonder if that’s how the first users of the Apple iPhone or the Brompton bike felt." ?? What we’re looking for: ? Passionate students of product or mechanical design ? UK-based (ideally near London already) ? Ready to start in early March (4–12 month placements available) ? Bonus: A love of cycling (not essential!) ?? What you’ll get: ? ￡2,000/month ? The chance to work with top-tier engineers and gain standout CV experience ?? Interested? Send your CV and a brief note on why you'd be a great fit to [email protected] (Recruiters, no need to get in touch – we’ve got this one covered!) PS – Be a legend and share this post to help it reach the right person. Thanks! Skarper www.skarper.com

How a Design Consultancy Founder uses Storytelling and Personal Branding to Build Trust in Design Season 2 of?WHY DESIGN??kicks off with me chatting with Benn Klewpatinond, founder of Inond? and creator of the FloatRower fitness machine. Benn has built his consultancy by weaving together technical skills, storytelling, and personal branding—skills that have helped him stand out in a competitive market. Here’s what we explore in this episode: ? How storytelling fosters trust with clients and stakeholders. ? Lessons from launching a groundbreaking product like the FloatRower. ? Why personal branding is as crucial as technical expertise in design. ? The intersection of creativity, entrepreneurship, and engineering. Whether you're looking to strengthen client relationships or incorporate storytelling into your practice, this conversation is packed with insights. ?? Episode 1 of Season 2 is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. ?? How do you approach storytelling in your work? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments! #WhyDesign #Storytelling #PersonalBranding #Engineering #DesignThinking #Consultancy