BEN MAY

INTERACTUAL FOUNDER & MD

For the last 25 years Ben has been taking risk out of product design development. He has guided design teams in the use of prototyping, testing and production strategies and technologies to achieve faster and more efficient design iteration resulting both in optimal solutions to user need and lower development costs for clients.

In his previous roles both as Production Director at IDC and Head of the Development Centre at PDD, he has been instrumental in achieving ISO 9001 and 13485 accreditation and embedding a culture that recognises that a quality process results in a quality product.

BEN LAWTON

ENGINEERING DESIGNER

Ben is an MEng Aerospace Engineering graduate from Sheffield University. During his degree he took a keen interest in the CAD and design aspects of the course and developed an appreciation for the creative side of engineering.

He has a background in R&D, being involved in numerous projects spanning many industries particularly developing components for new, cutting-edge consumer electronics products. Ben has a passion for tackling new unique challenges head on, both in the office and in his spare time, where he enjoys making and tinkering with modelling and electronics to build exciting things. Alongside this, he also enjoys bouldering and mountain biking.

CONOR FITZPATRICK

PRODUCT DESIGNER

Conor graduated from Loughborough University in 2018 with a BSc in Product Design and started working with Interactual shortly after.

Conor has a rare combination of skills that includes the creative and digital skills to deliver our sketching and CAD requirements, but also an affinity and talent with hand tools and machine tools borne of a childhood spent tinkering in the workshop and underpinned by thorough knowledge of engineering principles. This very much suits the Interactual approach of getting our hands dirty in the workshop as early as possible in the development cycle.

JAMES WREN

PRODUCT DESIGNER & MAKER

James graduated from Bournemouth University in 2021 with a degree in Product Design and joined Interactual shortly after.

Coming from an artistic background, James has an interest in aesthetics and a love for drawing and sketching. This enables him to convey ideas effectively as well as fully visualise designs. He is also very hands on and loves to make physical models and test rigs - essential tools when designing. James also uses physical models to problem solve alongside quickly developing solutions within CAD.

His other interests include bouldering, guitar, and running.

CASPER BOSINIUS 

JUNIOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER

Casper is currently completing a 4 year BSC Honours Product Design Engineering course at Brunel University here in London and has joined the team within his placement year.

Originally from Germany, Casper brings another viewpoint to all his projects through first-hand experience within a different market. Through his time at University he built his software and hands-on modelling skills, being able to offer support at any stage of the design process. Casper’s design interests are furniture design and consumer electronics - learning hands-on in both areas in his spare time. 

Amongst his hobbies are maintaining his vintage Saab, film photography and tennis.

IAN GARRETT

SENIOR PROTOTYPE ENGINEER AND MODEL MAKER

Having previously freelanced for longer than he wishes to remember and now a member of the Interactual team, Ian has years of technical knowledge and expertise in both model and pattern making across a wide variety of market sectors. Ian has that rare combination of skills that enable him to undertake both high end modelmaking and finishing and precision engineering for technical and functional rigs, jigs and fixtures.

His other interests include motorbikes (what a surprise given his photo!) and planes having previously held his private pilots licence.

MARK HESTER

HUMAN-CENTRED DESIGN COACH/CONSULTANT

After training in Industrial Design, Mark spent 15 years as a professional maker within a product design consultancy in London. During this period he also attended the LUMA Institute and was certified as a Human-Centred Design (HCD) practitioner and trainer.

He co-founded The Imagination Factory in 2010 and led many HCD focussed projects in addition to steering the company to become the first UK design consultancy to achieve BCorp certification.

Since leaving The Imagination Factory in 2022, Mark is focussed on bringing value to people and organisations through Human-Centred Design coaching and consultancy.

His roots as a professional maker go deep so he also makes sure he always has some projects on the go that keep him knee deep in sawdust and programming Arduino micro-controllers!

DEAN CARRAN

MD, JNDC

Dean has a degree in Aerospace Engineering, a Masters in Professional Engineering and undertook a PHD in aircraft structures. He established JNDC Ltd in 2007, initially to offer specialist engineering Design for Manufacture (DfM) consultancy to the aerospace industry and has since diversified into a range of sectors from oil and gas to medical and consumer products.

JNDC has developed design concepts right through to production, with the key focus of developing products that are aligned to the customers specification, to quality, to specification, and importantly manufactured to a cost that complements the customers business model.

MATT CANDY

CEO, STEAMOLOGY

After training in Industrial Design, Matt has spent 25 years working as a designer and project manager for a wide range of companies, from start-ups to global brands across many markets including the automotive, aviation, medical and FMCG sectors.

Matt has considerable experience managing large scale projects including the design development and production of the J2000 Virgin Upper Class Seat and running the team that established the current FIA land speed record for a steam powered car.

STEFAN DZISIEWSKI-SMITH

ELECTRONIC DESIGN ENGINEER - DENKI JIN ELECTRONICS

With over 15 years experience working across four continents, Stefan has a breadth of knowledge across a range of electronic disciplines. Beyond core expertise in consumer electronics, IoT sensor platforms, and digital art, Stefan’s design studio, Denki-Jin Electronics has a network of consultants with specific capabilities including RF design, EMC & compliance, and app development as well as manufacturing links in the UK, Europe, the USA, and Asia.

KATIE HICKS

SPECIALIST TECHNICAL SOURCING

Katie focuses on researching and identifying potential suppliers in China and Asia by communicating specifications and requirements, discussing samples and shipping arrangements, and negotiating terms and costs on behalf of companies and individuals in the UK and Europe.

Katie’s experience of dealing with manufacturers comes from her time working at Alibaba, the largest B2B platform in China. She is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Her experience and language skills help connect buyers here with suppliers in Asia.

She enjoys cooking and loves to share food with family and friends.