In this episode, I talk to Tim Rundle, a London-based industrial designer. We cover topics such as the importance of finding the right clients, his failures and lessons learned, advice to young industrial designers, what makes a good contemporary product, and much more.
Biography
Tim Rundle is the founder of Tim Rundle Studio, a London based industrial design consultancy specializing in furniture and lighting design as well as interiors, installations and strategic consultancy. With experience across furniture, lighting, homeware, technology, and transport, the studio's work is driven by context and has grown to focus on the design of products and systems that exist at the intersection between architecture and its inhabitants.
Tim graduated from the School of Architecture and Design at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. He then began working for Auckland based consultancy Formworks Design where, among other projects, he worked on the concept for Air New Zealand’s groundbreaking seating systems ‘skycouch’ and ‘spaceseat.’ In 2008 he relocated to London and was employed by the design consultancy Priestmangoode. He then went on to work for renowned British designer Tom Dixon, where he was head designer of the furniture and lighting design team. Before setting up his own studio in 2015, Tim was the Design Director at Conran and Partners, the multidisciplinary design studio founded by Sir Terence Conran.
Alongside his studio, Tim runs Platform 23 – Design for Manufacture, on the prestigious Design Products Masters program at the Royal College of Art.
Selected Links From the Episode

Tim Rundle Studio's Website
Tim Rundle Studio's Instagram
Design Products Programme, Royal College of Art
Formworks Design
PriestmanGoode
Tom Dixon
Conran and Partners
Hackney Wick
TR Bulb (MENU)

Show Notes

Introduction [00:00]
Episode Introduction [00:52]
Advice to Young Designers [02:14]
Routines of a Professional Industrial Designer [07:31]
Main Challenges of Being an Industrial Designer Today [10:23]
Making a Living As an Industrial Designer [13:51]
The Best Investment [17:14]
Short Episode Break – Support the Podcast [20:12]
Development As a Creative Professional [21:04]
The Importance of Finding the Right Clients [23:13]
How to Make a Good Piece of Product Design Today [26:37]
Mistakes and Lessons Learned [36:01]
Advice for Being a Better Creative Professional [38:04]
Episode Outro [40:31]

Full transcript and more at https://creative.voyage/