Member Article

Award winning product designer Adam Sutcliffe joins British Design Fund

Award winning product designer and serial entrepreneur, Adam Sutcliffe, has joined the team at British Design Fund (BDF) as Lead Mentor.

BDF provides investment and support for early stage, purpose-driven, British product businesses, who are ready to accelerate their growth. The Fund has invested in a diverse portfolio of companies to date, with products ranging from innovative soft prosthetic arms, to standing desks for school pupils, technology that can capture microplastics and shoes designed for people with bunions.

As Lead Mentor, Adam will be working closely with BDF’s portfolio of investee companies, offering support with any aspect of their product development, business growth and strategy. He will also be raising awareness for the Fund amongst entrepreneurs who are seeking funding, such as through partnerships with start-up incubators and universities.

Adam joins BDF having championed ‘design thinking’ for more than 25 years. To date, he has helped over 200 businesses to navigate the design, production and operational challenges associated with developing ideas and bringing products or services to market.

He has taught design for the past 15 years as a visiting tutor at the Royal College of Art (RCA), Imperial College and Cambridge University, as well as being Co-Director of the Design programme at Queen Mary University. He is also an Industry Fellow at the RCA’s business incubator, a mentor for the Terra Carta Design Lab and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Falmouth University.

Orbel, a wearable hand sanitiser device, was designed by Adam, a Dyson Fellow, in 2006 whilst he was doing his Master’s at the RCA. Demand remains high and the Covid-19 pandemic saw the company producing more than 1 million devices in 2020.

Commenting on his appointment, Adam said: “I’ve always been passionate about product design and from playing with Lego as a child, I knew I wanted to be an inventor. From those early days of inventing products, I’ve now moved on to inventing businesses!”

He continued: “It’s a pleasure to join BDF, who share my vision to help improve the world by supporting people who have the ideas and ambition to make a difference. Equally, I love that the Fund is focused on innovative British product start-up businesses and values the importance of human centred design. I look forward to the breadth and variety of challenges I may be working on with investees.”

Damon Bonser, CEO, British Design Fund: “I have known Adam for some time and with his outstanding skills, experience and passion for design, he makes a high calibre addition to the team. I’m delighted he has joined us and know he will provide valuable insights and support for existing and future investees.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by British Design Fund .