Episode 15 of The Design Journeys Podcast hosted by Chris Whyte. New episodes every other Wednesday!

In this episode, Chris Whyte chats with Tim Maclean, founder of Cognate, a design consultancy based in Bath. Tim's journey spans decades of experience in the design and engineering field, from Avon Rubber to Herman Miller and Dyson.

He shares insights on his varied career, the challenges of switching between permanent roles and contracting, and the eventual decision to start his own consultancy. With a passion for blending engineering with design, Tim opens up about the balance between the two disciplines and the reality of running your own business.

Key highlights include Tim’s transition from consultancy to in-house roles, his work on high-profile products like the US Joint Services face mask, and the lessons he’s learned from managing redundancies and building client relationships. Tim also dives into the process of scaling a design consultancy and what it takes to maintain work-life balance in an industry where hours can easily blur together.

1. Balance Between Engineering and Design: Tim’s early career was shaped by his desire to bridge the gap between technical engineering and creative design, a focus that has remained throughout his career.
2. Transitioning from Permanent Roles to Contracting: Tim discusses the trade-offs of contract work, including the freedom and flexibility it offers, but also the lack of ownership over projects.
3. Starting a Design Consultancy: Tim highlights the challenges of starting Cognate, including the decision to leave behind a stable career, and how building client relationships has been critical to success.
4. The Importance of Networking: Tim emphasizes the value of networking and reaching out to old contacts when starting a business or looking for work, particularly in industries like design and engineering.
5. Work-Life Balance: Tim shares his strategy for maintaining separation between work and home life by renting an office space, while also balancing the demands of running a consultancy.
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Connect with Tim Maclean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-maclean-32115a156/

Connect with Chris Whyte on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrchriswhyte/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about Kodu Recruitment: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teamkodu.com/⁠

Episode 14 of The Design Journeys Podcast hosted by Chris Whyte. New episodes every other Wednesday!

In this episode of The Design Journeys Podcast, host Chris Whyte speaks with Mark Joynson-Bickerstaffe, founder of Mark & May and former design leader at Dyson and Kohler.

The conversation explores Mark's career journey, starting from his early influences, his time at Dyson during its startup phase, and his leadership role at Kohler. Mark shares insights on the evolving role of designers, the importance of innovation culture, and his belief in creating sustainable, meaningful products. They also discuss the challenges of scaling design leadership in large organizations and the importance of intuition, financial understanding, and communication for success. Mark highlights the ethos behind Mark & May, a consultancy that focuses on conscious design, pushing clients towards more sustainable and impactful product development.

Here are some of the key takeaways from this episode:

• How to foster a culture of innovation in fast-growing businesses.
• Why intuition and financial understanding are crucial for design leaders.
• The evolving role of designers in creating sustainable and impactful products.
• Mark’s approach to leadership and scaling teams, balancing creativity with business strategy.

Connect with Mark Joynson-Bickerstaffe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-joynson-bickerstaffe-a219b52/

Connect with Chris Whyte on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrchriswhyte/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about Kodu Recruitment: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teamkodu.com/⁠

Episode 13 of The Design Journeys Podcast hosted by Chris Whyte. New episodes every other Wednesday!

In this episode of the Design Journeys podcast, host Chris Whyte interviews Dale Backus, founder and CEO of Ohsnap, a company known for its innovative phone grip.

Dale shares his journey from a marketing background to product design, detailing his experiences with Small HD, the challenges of transitioning from an agency to a product business, and the lessons learned from selling Small HD.

He discusses the launch of Ohsnap, the importance of retail expansion, and the critical areas of product, marketing, and operations for business success.

Dale emphasizes the significance of curiosity and competence in potential employees and offers insights into navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship.

Takeaways

• Dale Backus founded Ohsnap, known for its innovative phone grip.
• Transitioning from marketing to product design can be challenging but rewarding.
• Small HD's journey involved overcoming numerous challenges and learning curves.
• Retail expansion requires careful planning and execution.
• Curiosity and competence are essential traits for success in any role.
• Building a strong brand is crucial in a competitive market.
• The importance of product quality cannot be overstated.
• Navigating the sale of a business can be complex and requires negotiation skills.
• Understanding the market timing can significantly impact business success.
• Continuous innovation is key to staying relevant in the industry.

Connect with Dale Backus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalebackus/

Connect with Chris Whyte on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrchriswhyte/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about Kodu Recruitment: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teamkodu.com/⁠