Flux – a much-needed Huddle

Appropriately for the theme, we tried out a new venue. Props to Strange Brew for providing a cool and cosy backdrop to our wide-ranging, and uplifting conversation.

Rather than giving a Q&A play-by-play, this write-up pulls out a selection of nuggets that stuck in the mind as the conversation flowed. 

1. Want better representation? Open up the studio 

Laura encouraged us to throw open our studio doors. To find ways to show as many young people as possible, from as many backgrounds as possible, that this industry can be for them – that it needs them. 

Read more (and get riled up) about class representation in the creative industries in A Class Act from the Sutton Trust.

2. If you have any decision-making power at all, set yourself a rule and follow it

No ​“one-off” event panels that don’t meet the bar for representation. No averaging out over the year and calling that good enough, says Luke. It’s not as easy as just saying yes to people who are keen, but it is possible, and it’s part of the change we need to see.

3. Junior roles are not dead, but the pipeline is uncertain

Ellen feels the power of fresh eyes and newly minted bravery every day in the studio, and wishes she could create more junior roles because they help the agency grow and push their thinking. 

Luke shared that some short-sighted smaller and medium-sized agencies have been axing junior roles and pulling up the ladder. The question for that leadership is: where’s the pipeline?

4. How to give students and juniors confidence

…when they apparently have to be fluent in Figma, Creative Suite, coding, juggling and Spanish just to get an internship. According to our panel:

“Be a mirror. Listen to them and play back all the brilliance you hear. They’ll see it differently coming from you.” – Laura

“Give them your time, give them words of encouragement, give them placements in your studios.” – Luke

5. You are already ready to be a mentor

If you have a few years of experience under your belt, congratulations! You’re ready to mentor someone younger than you, according to Luke (and he would know). It doesn’t have to be a formal thing to be rewarding for you and invaluable for your mentee. 

Here are some learning and mentorship avenues to explore, from our panellists and audience:

• Get in touch with your college or uni. Go back to have a chat, crit some books, meet some students. Guarantee they’d love to have you.
• Sign up to a Noods Levels creative course.
• D&AD Shift
• Arts Emergency (applications open in August 2026, set a reminder!)

6. Competition can be great – just hold the toxicity

All our panellists agree that it’s possible for design leaders to give critique, create competition and push for better work – without playing favourites or belittling anyone. 

We want to soften the vibe but not blunt the edges. We can encourage vulnerability and get people comfy with sharing work before it’s finished, and at the same time, foster the resilience, adaptability and ambition to take critique and run with it.

7. With AI, if you put shit in, you get shit out

A handy reminder from Ellen that we have to challenge ourselves before we challenge AI. It’s a tool, and it can help us make better work if we use it right. 

(Shout out to the Pratt Institute AI Design course, rated by the folks at Taxi.)

7. Shiny new tools do not a designer make – and that’s nothing new

No shade on people who play around with Canva to make their docs look pretty and call it design. But Ellen reminded us we shouldn’t mistake that for what the industry actually does – creative problem solving.

9. Beware gatekeeping

Luke warns against disparaging those who dabble – for some, dabbling is the start of 
a route into the industry (and we need as many of those as possible if we’re going to 
tackle representation). 

Ellen is wary of taste being dictated by a small group at the top. If we’re not careful, 
narrow mindedness about what good looks like could stifle diversity. 

10. Be secure in your experience and expertise

Pretty good advice, that (from Luke).

11. Your hobby can just be your hobby

There can be personal, peer and societal pressure to monetise a crafty hobby. Athena’s advice? Don’t! It’s important to do things simply because we like them – to have some making in our lives that isn’t about making money or being Productive™️.

(Lil hat tip to Athena’s calligraphy workshops – Natty’s still using those skills for the love of it on homemade Christmas cards 10 years later.)

10. Do you want to be an entrepreneur?

This is the question Athena wants you to ask yourself if you think you really do want to turn your hobby into a hustle. 

11. Freedom needn’t mean loneliness

Alec found the sweet spot with Elsewhere, coworking with other creatives to stay connected and stay fresh, while making the most of that freelance autonomy.

12. It’s everyone’s first time on earth

An excellent reminder from Natty that everyone is figuring it out, we’re all in this flux together. 

13. People only share the cream of the crop

And Ellen would love for us to pull back the curtain a bit. Share the messy bits, the struggles as well as the positives. Creatives are all about the work, which is ace, but we could learn so much more from each other by sharing the process as well as the output.

16. The small things we can do to break down big systemic problems

Hold yourself to the standards you want to see in the world – Alec 

Choose one thing where you can do some good, and stick at it. – Athena

Less telling people what’s what, more nurturing the curiosity that’ll help them figure it out – Ellen

Teach students and juniors about employability, clearly, bluntly and directly – Laura

@Men – talk about what you get paid – Luke

17. And finally, things our panellists are looking forward to

Athena’s stoked for her new shop.

Alec is excited to see how greater representation and diversity will keep expanding creative work.

Ellen is ready to see different leadership styles flourishing.

Laura wants even more of these critical conversations.

Luke can’t wait for Birmingham Design Festival to be done for another year (it’s a biggie). 

As for us, we’re busy plotting our next talk on 8 July at Bristol Beacon’s Lantern Hall. Watch this space!

BIG thank you to the brilliant Chloe Mckee for capturing FLUX so brilliantly.