In 2024, Luke and I made the exciting move, with the backing of the group owners, to branch out from the other entities to focus exclusively on design consultancy. Affect is now dedicated to supporting other businesses, inventors, and researchers with the design and development of physical products.

As a founding member of Affect, I was part of a small team that launched two additional businesses, developed two brands, and introduced five innovative products to market in just three years. My responsibilities included R&D, production implementation, supply chain management, and distribution. I also oversaw quality control, ensured regulatory compliance, and implemented an ISO13485 accredited QMS. Additionally, I contributed to sales, marketing, and overall business strategy to drive rapid growth across our portfolio.

Throughout my career, I have worked independently on a number of projects across various sectors, serving clients from small startups to established market leaders. This work has ranged from designing innovative consumer products distributed by leading retailers globally, to crafting brand assets and collateral for businesses and organisations with international visibility.

Having had a key role in developing a number of successful products, I progressed to the role of Project Design Lead. In this senior position, I was responsible for overseeing the entire design process, from concept to production, including the management of resources, budgets, and schedules. While leading projects, my role maintained a strong emphasis for hands-on design. I continued to focus on creativity and user-centered solutions, collaborating closely with engineering, marketing, and production teams to ensure our design vision was consistently carried through to product launch.

At Leckey, a global leader in the design and manufacture of innovative products for children with special needs, I had the opportunity to develop solutions that truly make a difference. In my role, I was responsible for working closely with clinicians to design truly unique products that addressed the needs of our end users, as well as refining and enhancing existing solutions to adapt to evolving market demands and manufacturing advancements. This experience allowed me to merge creativity with technical understanding, ensuring that our products not only met the highest standards of functionality and safety, but also delivered a meaningful impact on the lives of children and their families.

At NCR, I was part of the Consumer Experience team, where I contributed to a variety of projects, both independently and collaboratively. This role not only honed my practical design skills, but also provided me with valuable insights into the dynamics of design within a large organisation. I gained firsthand experience working in diverse, cross-functional teams, and had the opportunity to present to multinational clientele. This experience was pivotal in shaping my understanding of user-centered design and the importance of aligning creative solutions with business objectives.