It’s not often you get to stand on the same ground that shaped you. And this time, offer something back.
This week, I returned to Northumbria University, where I studied Product Design over two decades ago. I walked through a campus that’s changed physically (the design studios have moved), but still buzzes with the same creative energy I remember. This is the place that helped spark the ideas behind Trunki. That gave me the foundation to chase ideas, fail fast, and try again.
This time, I wasn’t back as a student, but as a Visiting Fellow, speaking during Tyne Design Week, a brilliant new event celebrating creativity, innovation and design across the North East.
Sharing the Real Journey
I gave a talk to students, faculty, and guests about my entrepreneurial journey. The kind of talk I wish someone had given me back then. Not just the headlines and the shiny success moments, but the uncomfortable bits too.
I spoke about building Trunki, hitting £10M revenue, then getting copied. About winning in the press but losing in the courts. And through it all, learning that setbacks, when looked at differently, can become superpowers. That’s been a big theme in my work and speaking recently: reframing failure not as the end, but as the spark of something new.
Collaborating on Sleep Innovation
As part of the week, I also teamed up with Northumbria’s sleep scientists and design experts to run a hands-on workshop on how design can improve sleep in later life.
The topic hit close to home. I’ve launched Zeepy, a science-backed sleep brand helping children (and their parents) get a better night’s rest. That’s led to all kinds of new questions about sleep at every stage of life. The workshop gave us a chance to explore that with fresh minds.
We brought together students, academics and people with lived experience to think differently about ageing and rest. What challenges exist, what design can do to help, and how it all starts with a clear brief.
Why This Matters
There’s something special about universities that look outward and give students access to real industry, real briefs, and real stories from people who’ve been through the wringer. Northumbria’s doing just that, and I’m proud to play a small part.
Returning as a Visiting Fellow felt like a full circle moment. A chance to connect with the next generation of product thinkers and hopefully give them the confidence to lean into the uncomfortable parts. Because that’s often where the good stuff lives.
Big thanks to the teams from the School of Design, the Centre for Sleep Research, and everyone behind Tyne Design Week. Looking forward to what’s next.