Inspiring Makers 2026: Crafting the future of British design

Building on past success and now entering its fifth year, Inspiring Makers will be held at Bath’s historic Guildhall on Wednesday 13 May 2026. The day-long event offers a unique platform to connect and inspire emerging designers and makers with leading brands and influential industry voices. Its aim is to champion traditional hand skills, preserve British craft, and encourage, train and sustain the dedicated masters of the future.

The not-for-profit conference is co-organised by Artichoke, the Somerset-based interiors studio specialising in world-class design and the making of heritage joinery, and the Furniture Makers’ Company – the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry. Previous events have explored topics including sustainability, gender, diversity, education and AI. This year’s thought-provoking line-up of speakers includes:

Bill Amberg, Founder, Bill Amberg Studio

With sustainability and innovation at the heart of his practice, Bill Amberg is one of today’s most respected designers and craft makers working in contemporary British furniture and interiors. His lifelong dedication to exploring leather’s aesthetic and architectural potential has led to commissions for Harrods, the Royal Academy of Arts and Westminster Abbey’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, as well as private residences, yachts, luxury hotels and commercial interiors. His work is also held in the collections of the V&A and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Caroline Till, Founder, FranklinTill

Founded in 2010, FranklinTill is a design futures consultancy activating design, colour and material innovation for positive social and environmental change. Its work helps future-proof some of the world’s largest brands, supporting them to remain connected, inspired and relevant by joining the dots between sociocultural shifts, technological innovation and environmental change. Past clients include Samsung, Adidas, Google, Pantone and the V&A.

Caroline previously founded and directed the Material Futures postgraduate course at Central Saint Martins, with expertise rooted in sustainable design practices and design innovation. She is co-author of Radical Matter: Rethinking Materials for a Sustainable Future (Thames & Hudson) and guest curator of Our Time on Earth, which opened at the Barbican in 2022 and continues to tour until 2027.

Belinda Joslin, Founder, Women in Boatbuilding

Belinda grew up sailing on the rivers of the East Coast, watching sailing barges in awe but never feeling they were a place for her. Through the Bread and Roses barge project, she hopes to create meaningful skills opportunities for women at all levels: learning practical skills, developing boatbuilding careers, becoming experienced shipwrights and helping to build a more diverse and welcoming maritime industry.

There are clear parallels with the furniture and furnishings industry, where women remain in the minority and often face particular workplace challenges. Belinda will explore how change can be accelerated to achieve a better gender balance that ultimately benefits everyone.

Fred Baier, Furniture Maker and Designer

Fred Baier is an avant-garde British furniture designer and maker who has been practising since the 1970s, following his graduation from the Royal College of Art. Early work drew on industrial imagery and featured brightly coloured stained woods. Over the decades, Fred has incorporated convergent technologies – including computers, mathematics and theories of proportion – into his designs.

His work has been commissioned and exhibited by institutions including the Victoria & Albert Museum, Carnegie Museum of Art, the Crafts Council and the Library of the House of Lords, alongside numerous public installation pieces.

Freddie Armstrong and Joseph De Ferranti, Founders, Slow Ways

Graduates of the University of Edinburgh and trained makers themselves, Freddie and Joseph have set out to document Britain’s heritage crafts by walking the length of the country. Their project, Slow Ways, explores the values of working slowly and how craft can help re-establish our fading connection to the land and its seasonal rhythms.

In the summer of 2025, the duo visited artisans along their 1,200-mile journey, including furniture makers, tanners, printers, silversmiths and artists. The expedition supported QEST (The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) and Heritage Crafts, raising awareness of both charities and the cultural significance of the UK’s artisanal practices. They will share further insights during London Craft Week 2026 at Hoxton’s art’otel.

Artichoke

Artichoke is a luxury interiors studio and pre-eminent designer and maker of fine heritage joinery for the world’s most exclusive homes, creating entirely bespoke rooms as well as whole-house interior design projects. Its fifty-strong team is based in Somerset, with a thriving design studio and state-of-the-art workshops. Over thirty years, Artichoke has built a global reputation for uncompromising quality and craftsmanship, with projects spanning the UK, Europe and the United States.

Neil Fox, COO of Artichoke, comments: “Making at this level is both a responsibility and a privilege. We are committed to keeping traditional skills alive while setting the gold standard for quality and artistry, and inspiring future generations.

In the UK, retraining as a highly skilled craftsperson requires significant investment, which has become increasingly exclusive. That is why our focus is on grassroots initiatives for young people. Inspiring Makers, alongside our educational outreach programmes such as apprenticeships, is a vital part of our business, ensuring we continue to meet demand while supporting British industry.”

David Dewing, Chairman, Furniture Makers’ Company (South West Region), comments: “This conference is aimed at anyone with a passion for design, craft and making within furniture, furnishings and interiors. Innovation, high-quality skills and exceptional creativity are key to success in this sector.

Our speakers will share their journeys, what motivates them and how they have navigated change while keeping their work dynamic and relevant. With an audience of around 150 people – from those at the start of their careers to established professionals – this is a valuable opportunity to make connections, exchange advice and open doors. Our aim is simple: to inspire. Come and be inspired.”

Tickets are priced at £15 for students and £25 for general admission, including lunch and refreshments. Places are limited and can be purchased via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspiring-makers-2026-tickets-1980642489002?aff=oddtdtcreator

Inspiring Makers takes place from 9am-5pm on Wednesday 13 May 2026 at Guildhall, Bath. The event is generously supported by Artichoke, the Furniture Makers’ Company, Sykes Timber, Castelan, Wolf Components, Halstock and Ergochair.

For further information on The Furniture Makers' Company, see www.furnituremakers.org.uk