Matt Hocking

Making Design Circular with Katie Treggiden

[Trigger Warning: Matt mentions female genital mutilation (FMG) in this episode, so listener discretion is advised.]

In this episode, Katie talks with Matt Hocking from Leap.eco, an award-winning design studio who has proven it’s possible to create inspiring work which delivers positive outcomes for people, planet and profit.
He has been passionate about working sustainably since long before it was cool. Every project he’s delivered doesn’t just meet a client’s business goals, it helps make the planet a better place – either directly or by changing the way a business thinks and works.

And he’s not kept that knowledge a secret, priding himself on sharing what he’s learnt with the industry – helping define and develop a model for sustainable design and working with creatives across the world to ensure design remains at the forefront of change.

He is committed to building a better future: one that is progressive, collaborative and thoughtful.

We discuss:

• Matt’s development of the Giving Budget, a model where, when you feel called to be generous, and to give something away, you can put certain boundaries around that to make sure that it's a good thing.
• Why it’s important for Matt to not just run a design agency
• The fascinating role creatives can play in asking the difficult questions
• How creativity is one of the three pillars of the change we need in in the world for a better outcome
• The clients he has supported with the Giving Budget and the surprises along the way

Here are some highlights:

Designing for Change

“…using my design skills to sort of make a living making a difference, kind of working with social and environmental issues, challenging projects to amplify what they're saying and what they're changing, the world they're trying to sort of manifest.”

Reframing the transaction of Kindness

“.. we all do free stuff, there's always somebody asking a creative can you do this or friend that saying, help me do this. You know, and a lot of people don't actually value how long that creativity takes or how much industry knowledge and training, I wouldn't want my creativity and a fee to be a barrier to get something great done that would support society to the planet…how do I reframe that while still giving back to say thank you for the creative journey that I'm on, so became our giving budget.”

Be Valued

“Look at what's sustainable for you, everything comes from you and if you break you, then the rest of the change you want to make in the world won't happen. Do you, look after yourself first, be valued, and be really thorough. A lot of people are takers and leeches in business, just really be careful about how this happens, this transaction, this agreement between you both, and do it in a way that works for you.”

Books, Podcasts & Ted Talks we mentioned:

• The Path of the Doer
• The Four Agreements
• Outrage & Optimism
• John Richardson & The Futurenauts
• How to Start a Movement or ‘the lone dancer’

Other interesting things we talked about:

• Leap’s Impact Report:
• Love Languages

You can find out more about Leap here, and connect with Matt on LinkedIn

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About Katie:
Katie Treggiden is a purpose-driven journalist, author, podcaster and keynote speaker championing a circular approach to design – because Planet Earth needs better stories. With 20 years' experience in the creative industries, she regularly contributes to publications such as The Guardian, Crafts Magazine, Design Milk and Monocle24. She is currently exploring the question ‘can craft save the world?’ through an emerging body of work that includes her fifth book, Wasted: When Trash Becomes Treasure (Ludion, 2020), and this podcast.

About our partners:

Inhabit hotels, located in the Bayswater area of London, offer restorative environmentally and socially conscious places to stay in the city. Wellness and well-being also play a major part in the brand's ethos Mindfully designed for the modern traveller, everything at this new hotel has been considered with a genuine commitment to environmental initiatives and meaningful community partnerships. To find out more please check out our Instagram @inhabit_hotels.

Surfers Against Sewage is a grassroots environmental charity that campaigns to protect the ocean and everything that the ocean makes possible. They campaign against everything that threatens the ocean; plastic pollution, the climate emergency, industrial exploitation, and water quality, by taking action on the ground, that triggers change from the top. If like me, you'd like to support surfers against sewage, head over to https://www.sas.org.uk/

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