The importance of inclusive design and how passionate people propel mission-led businesses towards their goals with Tom Malloy - Principal Designer and Inclusive Design Lead at Elvie

Episode 2 of the Design Journeys Podcast hosted by Chris Whyte. New episodes every other Wednesday!On this episode we're joined by Tom Malloy.Tom, a principal designer at Elvie, shares his journey in industrial design and his passion for inclusive design. He emphasizes the importance of being passionate about a cause or mission when applying for a job. Tom also discusses the value of cover letters and physical portfolios in standing out from other applicants. He highlights the need for a more modern and relevant design curriculum in schools. Tom concludes by mentioning his involvement with the Design and Technology Association to improve design education. Tom shares his journey from working at Hornby to joining Oxford Product Design (OPD) and eventually Elvie. He emphasizes the importance of design thinking skills and the value of personal connections in career transitions. Tom also discusses his passion for inclusive design and how it has shaped his work at Elvie. He highlights the need for a well-prepared and fair interview process, sharing a story of an interview faux pas.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background01:41 Career Journey and Role at Elvie04:53 Studying Industrial Design at Loughborough University06:12 Facilities and Changes in Design Education07:01 Personal Connections and Networking08:21 Internship at PTC and Education Program10:54 Working on Scalextric for Schools Scheme16:04 Importance of Design Thinking Skills in Education20:46 Meeting Rupert and Joining OBD21:43 Working with EuroPro23:11 Joining Elvie26:04 Inclusive Design29:34 Interviewing at Elvie35:18 Interview Faux Pas40:25 Horror stories in recruitment and interviews40:32 Favorite podcasts and books41:33 Influences on social media44:21 The power of AI tools44:50 The problem with job adverts46:23 Making job adverts more appealing47:43 Standing out in an application48:13 Passion and mission in engineering and design49:28 The importance of a cover letter50:46 Receiving applications in the post52:06 Final thoughts and upcoming eventsTakeawaysPassion for a cause or mission can help designers and engineers stand out in job applications.Including a cover letter and a well-designed physical portfolio can make an application more memorable.There is a need for a more modern and relevant design curriculum in schools.The Design and Technology Association works to improve design education and steer away from outdated notions of design and technology. Design thinking skills are essential for designers, and the process of ideation and problem-solving is just as important as the final product.Personal connections and networking can greatly facilitate career transitions and job opportunities.Inclusive design aims to create products and services that are accessible and beneficial to a wide range of users.The interview process should be well-prepared, fair, and considerate of the candidate's time and expectations.Tom's recommended podcasts:Sliced Bread - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07012sfIn Touch - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qxww/episodes/downloadsConnect with Tom Malloy on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/designbymalloy/⁠Connect with Chris Whyte on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrchriswhyte/⁠Learn more about Kodu Recruitment: ⁠https://teamkodu.com/