Design Events

BDF Gather, Birmingham  11/04/2025

BDF Gather is a biannual design event, and this edition, titled Turn Up For The Books, brought together five diverse voices in design - Sauman Wong, Jamie Ellul, Jim K Davies, Danah Abdulla, and Chris Ashworth. Each speaker shared insights into their creative journey and the process behind designing and producing their own books.

  • Sauman Wong shared some of her favourite book projects from over her career, including one that focused on individual textile materials. It was fascinating to see how she combined striking photography with carefully chosen typography to create a 'textile dictionary'-a book that has since become a go-to reference for textile students.

    Jamie Ellul and Jim K Davies spoke about their journey from starting a blog on band logos to eventually designing and printing a book on the subject. It was refreshing to hear how the process wasn’t straightforward, but through perseverance and the support of a creative community, the book came to life.

    Danah Abdulla featured in a Q&A session, Danah Abdulla discussed themes from her book Design Otherwise, which calls for a rethinking of design education beyond Eurocentric frameworks by centering local voices and cultural contexts. With a focus on the Arab region-particularly Jordan, alongside Lebanon, Egypt, and the UAE-she highlighted the need for a more collaborative, socially grounded approach to design. The talk was eye-opening, and she closed with a powerful reminder: “Not everything is about design, but design is about everything.”

    Chris Ashworth closed the evening by sharing key turning points in his design career and the journey that led to creating his book. His practice centres around analogue techniques-crafting everything by hand and treating the computer as just one of many tools. His stories of finding design in unexpected places, from typography on pavements to decaying type on old boats, were a powerful reminder of the creativity found in everyday surroundings. It was refreshing to hear from a designer who embraces a more hands-on, unconventional approach in an increasingly digital world.

Nicer Tuesdays, London 01/04/2025

I love attending the It’s Nice That ‘Nicer Tuesdays’ event each month. It’s always such a great opportunity to get inspired and learn from a variety of amazing creatives. This month, I had the pleasure of hearing from Studio Nari, Fromm Studio, Hannah Lim, and Ana Flores.

  • Ana Flores shared her beautiful photography, deeply rooted in her Peruvian heritage. One of the most touching aspects of her work is how she features her grandmother in her photo series, the love and admiration she holds for her is truly heartwarming. Ana left us with an encouraging message: to trust our gut and enjoy the process of creating.

    Fromm Studio brought a fun and refreshing energy as they walked us through their journey-learning how to build 3D characters, bring them to life through movement, and continuously explore the intersection between physical and digital outcomes. They use tools like the Polycam app, Blender, Adobe Mixamo, and AI motion capture. Despite being a relatively new studio, they've already worked with major names like Spotify and Selfridges & Co.

    Hannah Lim’s work stood out for its boldness and colour. Drawing inspiration from her Chinese heritage, she creates visually rich and meaningful pieces. One project that particularly caught my attention was her afternoon tea collection-where she designed not only the crockery but also each individual course. It was incredibly imaginative and beautifully executed.

    Studio Nari wrapped up the evening by presenting their latest project, Field Day. From brand direction and motion graphics to visual storytelling, I was in awe. It was especially interesting to hear how they’re embracing AI-using it to generate insects that became part of the visual identity. They ended with a thought that tied back to their studio slogan, “Not always right ideas”-prioritising design that inspires human connection. As they put it, “People don’t remember what they see, they remember how they felt.”