Top Influencers: 22 UK Design Director's To Follow in 2022

Co-Founder & Design Director play a crucial role in any startup. It takes an extraordinary person to fulfil the Co-Founder & Design Director role. We have selected these Co-Founder & Design Director’s for this list as they are inspiring for a variety of reasons – whether that’s pushing boundaries, creating groundbreaking products, or doing their bit to save the world.

Our analysts did their best to select be best, and most innovative Co-Founder & Design Director’s. The list is in no particular order!

Maria Iontseva

Co-Founder & Design Director @ Lobster

Follow Maria Iontseva on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=]Usability addict at Lobster. Lovingly creates this company’s designs, interfaces, investor pitches and social media campaigns. Designed PC Mag awarded consumer IT products (in previous life). Londoner, photographer, sailor, jazz guitar. Learn more about Maria Iontseva on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Lobster is a platform which enables brands, agencies and the media to licence visual content directly from social media users. Read more about Lobster on Crunchbase…

David Jones

Design Director and Co-Founder @ Bulkhead Interactive

Follow David Jones on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[custom-twitter-feeds screenname=”davetriad”]

[su_spoiler title=]David Jones is Design Director and co-founder of Bulkhead Interactive where he worked on The Turing Test and Battalion 1944. His games industry career began releasing independent games in 2013. David has been part of the team growing Bulkhead Interactive from a small 4 person independent developer to a 30 person studio creating ambitious multiplayer FPS games. Learn more about David Jones on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Bulkhead Interactive is a game development studios. Read more about Bulkhead Interactive on Crunchbase…

Suraj Natarajan

Design Director @ Arora Design Consultancy

Follow Suraj Natarajan on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=] Learn more about Suraj Natarajan on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Graeme Blackwood

UX / Design Director @ Argent

Follow Graeme Blackwood on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=]Graeme Blackwood is a UX design director at Argent. Learn more about Graeme Blackwood on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Argent is the most simple and secure smart wallet for crypto. Read more about Argent on Crunchbase…

Matt Cooper-Wright

Design Director @ IDEO

Follow Matt Cooper-Wright on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[custom-twitter-feeds screenname=”matt_speaks”]

[su_spoiler title=] Learn more about Matt Cooper-Wright on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

James Willard

Design Director, Front-end Developer @ Tubular

Follow James Willard on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=] Learn more about James Willard on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

A sales tracking, collaboration, and workflow platform for sales teams. Read more about Tubular on Crunchbase…

Richard Fenn

Design Director @ The Engine Group

Follow Richard Fenn on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[custom-twitter-feeds screenname=”rfenn”]

[su_spoiler title=]Although being a country boy from the depths of Herefordshire, Richard Fenn knew pursuing the family tradition of farming was not for him. Like most teenagers Richard Fenn loved playing computer games and was fascinated by cool tech. This inspired him to study Interactive Multimedia at University, a course offering various modules, from programming to graphic design. Richard Fenn quickly knew where his passions and strengths lay. Returning from a gap year Richard Fenn got a job as a Flash Designer. A few years down the road, it was obvious flash was dying a death and that’s when Richard Fenn traversed to full design. Many years and three companies later Richard Fenn is now a freelance Art Director and currently working at Google. Learn more about Richard Fenn on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

A creative community that provides clients with best-in-class communications expertise under one roof. Read more about The Engine Group on Crunchbase…

Barry Waddilove

Design Director, Sustainability @ Electrolux

Follow Barry Waddilove on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=] Learn more about Barry Waddilove on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Gareth Hague

Design Director @ AnOther Magazine

Follow Gareth Hague on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=]Gareth Hague is Design Director @ AnOther Magazine. Learn more about Gareth Hague on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

A thought-provoking blend of high fashion, art and culture brought to you by the creators of AnOther Magazine and Another Man. Read more about AnOther Magazine on Crunchbase…

Ben Pawle

Design Director @ Nord Projects

Follow Ben Pawle on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[custom-twitter-feeds screenname=”benpawle”]

[su_spoiler title=] Learn more about Ben Pawle on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Nord Projects is a consultancy for design and technology taht helps to solve business problems. Read more about Nord Projects on Crunchbase…

Mark Jenkins

Experience Design Director @ 72andSunny

Follow Mark Jenkins on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[custom-twitter-feeds screenname=”markjenkins”]

[su_spoiler title=]Mark is Experience Design Director at 72andSunny in Amsterdam. He believes in planning strategically to design across the full lifecycle of the UX process. Designing with informed decisions, Mark understands that a fantastic experience is one where the combination of how things look, read and work end up providing true value for people, where the best design is with intent. Learn more about Mark Jenkins on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Helen Fuchs

Design Director @ ustwo

Follow Helen Fuchs on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=]Helen Fuchs is the Design Director at ustwo. Learn more about Helen Fuchs on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Ustwo is a digital design studio that delivers interaction and user interface design services. Read more about ustwo on Crunchbase…

Laura Newton

Design Director @ Allen International

Follow Laura Newton on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=]With over 15 years design experience, Laura joined Allen International in 2006 assuming responsibility for projects including: Mauritius Commercial Bank, Banorte (Mexico), TDB Bank (Mongolia), AmBank (Malaysia), Bac A Bank (Vietnam) and TBC Bank (Georgia). Laura has an MA and BA (Hons) in Interior Architecture and Design from the Institute of Art & Design, Surrey. Learn more about Laura Newton on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Allen International is a strategic design consultancy. Read more about Allen International on Crunchbase…

Oscar Mead

Co-Founder & Design Director @ TeamO Marine Safety Products

Follow Oscar Mead on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=] Learn more about Oscar Mead on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

TeamO Marine designs safety products for sailors. Read more about TeamO Marine Safety Products on Crunchbase…

Marek Reichman

Design Director @ Aston Martin

Follow Marek Reichman on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[custom-twitter-feeds screenname=”design_dr”]

[su_spoiler title=]Marek joined Aston Martin in 2005 as Director of Design from Ford North America where he held the position of Director of Design for Product, Interior Design Strategy and Process. Since then, he has been strengthening Aston Martin’s iconic styling. Learn more about Marek Reichman on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings manufacture luxury sports cars and grand tourers independently. Read more about Aston Martin on Crunchbase…

David Hession

Associate Design Director @ W12 Studios

Follow David Hession on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=] Learn more about David Hession on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

W12 Studios are specialists in the design of digital products, from brand strategy to the product and interaction experience. Read more about W12 Studios on Crunchbase…

Gary Bridge

Design director @ Axminster Carpets

Follow Gary Bridge on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=] Learn more about Gary Bridge on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Axminster Carpets has been synonymous with carpet luxury and craftsmanship for over 250 years. Read more about Axminster Carpets on Crunchbase…

Dilesh Lalloo

Design Director @ Discoverables

Follow Dilesh Lalloo on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=]Dil manages the design and development of the site. He brings his years of online retail design experience to bear on the site build, making it engaging so it holds on to users. He also translates the diagnostic and educational elements of the site into an attractive and clean interface. Learn more about Dilesh Lalloo on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Discoverables is a website offering users an interactive and fun way to create their own personal showcase. Read more about Discoverables on Crunchbase…

James White

Design Director @ Allen International

Follow James White on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[su_spoiler title=]James is an experienced member of the allen international team who has worked with clients all over the world, from Brazil all the way to Kazakhstan. James loves the challenge of delivering innovative solutions that simplify the complex and deliver tangible results. Learn more about James White on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

Allen International is a strategic design consultancy. Read more about Allen International on Crunchbase…

Alex Huntly

Design Director @ Lunar Works

Follow Alex Huntly on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

[custom-twitter-feeds screenname=”alexhuntly_”]

[su_spoiler title=]Design Director at Lunar Works. Bespoke Progressive Web App and Website Designer creating Tech For Good. Learn more about Alex Huntly on Crunchbase…[/su_spoiler]

A specialist digital design & development agency based in Kent, UK. High performance websites, apps and PWAs for businesses & startups. Read more about Lunar Works on Crunchbase…