Thomas.Matthews ’s Post

Am I all talk and no👖? Sometimes it feels like it, especially when I have a full month of keynotes and presentations. Thankfully though, I am grounded by going back to working, creating, innovating and campaigning at Useful Simple Trust and etsaW. People ask me to talk mainly about #circulardesign and I do - to designers, politicians, business owners, fund managers, resource managers (and anyone else who listens!). This time I wanted to demonstrate what goes through my head when I think about designing for a circular system. It can be difficult to put into words - the complexity and rush of questions and thoughts about impacts, challenges, issues and how to tackle things. So, I made a film. About my brain. And I showed it. I think people got the message 🤯 that #circularity is a complex concept and even more complicated as a reality but somehow we need to start shifting to it. Design Week called it an 'eloquent kick up the arse'. I will take that! Starting with #designforplanet with Design Council for a great 2 days in The Manchester Metropolitan University (you can watch the inside of my brain and all the other interesting talks here: https://lnkd.in/eQmh246R) Then onto the inaugural Sustainability in Design Conference for the Ministry of Culture and the formidable Sumayah Al-Solaiman in Riyadh. Finally, spent a day workshopping with Tara Hanrahan with the inspiring Design Declares family with Jo Barnard Alexie Sommer and Sandrine Herbert Razafinjato, and debating with Afreen Saulat and Tobias Revell. A great conversation. (As I said, when we formed Thomas.Matthews in 1997 we had no support network on sustainability and had to forge noisily ahead alone really. Design Declares is the movement we needed then and need now. If you design then join up right away.) This month has been a whirlwind of events - all so enjoyable with kindred people and intelligent debate. Big thanks to all that came and listened (and watched) and all those that have reached out since. I am looking forward to the Design Revolution ✊ (Also, a wonderful thank you to Katie Walsh from The Re-Pete-Project who gave me the most gorgeous (and highly practical) anorak from her circular collection. I have yet to take it off!)