Rise and Design: Design as a Driver of Change

Design can be about the little things, like fonts, buttons and widgets. But it can also be about tackling the really big issues - climate change, global food shortages, ocean plastic. And all designers love to be changing the world in some way.

We heard from designers and innovators who are doing just that, and learning about what motivates them, how they motivate others, and some of their many successes.

 

Speakers included -

Angela MacOscar, Northumbrian Water Group

Following an almost 20 career as an R&D scientist for Procter & Gamble, Angela has for the last three years been Head of Innovation at Northumbrian Water, and one of the key people behind their annual Innovation Festival, which brings people together from around the world to tackle global challenges.

Angela and her team have a real focus on the innovation culture within and around the business, and a passion for ensuring that everyone is included in this, not the 'the designers'.

Angela shared some of this passion, and the lessons she's learned along the way.

 

Richard Hall, pd-m

Richard has been a designer for over thirty years , as well as being a tutor and mentor for the Design Council, Royal College of Arts, Leeds Universities and the NHS. As well as designing amazing products for a wide range of clients, he's a genuine design leader, both within his company and in the wider design community.

Richard shared some of the challenges and highlights of managing the organisational structure, culture, internal and external dynamics.

 

Paul Howell, biild

biild is a new product design agency launched by the team at the AME Group in Sheffield. Customers are demanding innovative products that respond to the social, environmental and economic challenges we all face, and biild work with those companies that are seeking to respond to this, to create products that enable responsible and sustainable growth.

Paul told us more about what led them down this road, and how they are approaching this new challenge.