Meet the Team!

Fabio Salvador - Industrial Designer & Founder of Makers Department

Hannah Coombs - Industrial Designer

Keith Gaskell - Junior Industrial Designer

What is your job role? And what does your job involve?

Fabio:

I am the founder and director but I like to see myself as an Industrial Designer with the ability to look after complex projects with multiple skills and be involved in taking care of client relationships and the overall management of the projects.

Hannah:

My job title is ‘Industrial Designer’, although working at a small company means I get involved in all aspects of the business! As an industrial designer, I come up with ideas, build and test prototypes, create CAD designs, and develop products so they’re ready for manufacture.
Along with designing products and packaging I also do user research, trend insights, Arduino coding, project management and more. I was also responsible for building our new website that was launched last year, and creating brand assets across our website, social media and presentation decks to ensure brand consistency.

Keith:

I recently joined the team as a Junior Industrial Designer. This role includes developing a product along all stages of the design process from initial ideas and sketches through to creating physical, testable prototypes and design engineering. I often use 3D printing for prototypes; so understanding both FDM and SLA printers helps me meet specific requirements for different projects.
I also do product visualisation using software to create an accurate representation of any given product. This could be to help brands 'visualise' their product. Or as end-result images to use in advertising/packaging or displayed on a website.
These are the main roles. However, there are always smaller jobs that keep me learning. This could include casting silicone moulds, repairing/servicing a 3D printer or creating packaging/branding solutions for clients.

What is a challenge you have faced at work and how did you overcome it? What did you learn?

Fabio:

The hardest challenge tends to be with finding the balance between taking work (life) too seriously and not caring enough about work (life). I find the sweet spot to be in finding fun and joy with everyday tasks and always being curious about what others say and do.

Hannah:

Sometimes we have lots of projects and deadlines at once and it can be tricky to manage clients’ expectations and get all the tasks done in a timely manner. I’ve learnt that the best way to avoid deadline stress is to plan out tasks in detail and be honest with the client about your availability and what’s achievable in the timeframe.

Keith:

There are many challenges when working with 3D models for product visualisation - creating realism while maintaining consistency throughout different images can be tricky. Honestly, Youtube can be a saviour when you need a trick to improve the quality of your renders. There are many great content creators to help with this. I highly recommend you check them out!

Have you done any exciting design projects outside of Makers Department?

Fabio:

My partner and I decided to find a more meaningful way of using money on Christmas time, so we donate money to different causes and create gifts for our family and friends. Most recently we made ‘Save the Ocean’ gifts including soap and bamboo toothbrushes.

Hannah:

I run my own small business and online store called Hello Recovery, selling products I design to help people look after their mental health. I stamp metal spoons with positive messages on to help people with eating disorders and also designed a well-being journal that I get printed professionally and sell on my website. This is definitely a passion project for me and is something I’ve done since I was 15, and is something I intend to keep doing!
I also worked at Mondelez for a year prior to joining Makers Department, and designed the Premier League chocolate bar that was sold in Tesco!

Keith:

I am passionate about lighting design and created a product that combines a standard lamp with a lantern. I also installed a lighting sculpture in Bangkok which was pretty exciting considering it was about 60 stories high with floor to ceiling glass!

What are your hobbies outside of work?

Fabio:

I love to learn and explore human movement (martial arts and parkour). I am a keen scuba diver and I love wildlife. I have climbed some of the highest mountains in the world too.

Hannah:

I’m a keen climber and like to spend my time climbing indoors a few times a week, and going on outdoor climbing trips when I can. I love exploring the outdoors, travelling and generally doing anything adventurous and a bit dangerous!
I also volunteer for Beat (UK’s leading eating disorder charity) once a week and take part in events to raise awareness and support those struggling with eating disorders and their family/ friends.
Lastly, I love to read! I’ve read 10 books so far this year and mainly read thrillers, sci-fi or fantasy.

Keith:

I love cooking / eating. Food is definitely my second biggest passion. Italian and Middle Eastern Cuisines are my favourite. Music, Fashion, Architecture and Art. I like boxing, tennis, skateboarding, snooker and wild swimming - I've clearly never been much for team activities.