“We weren’t going to prove durability with a spreadsheet — we needed to drive a lorry over it and watch what happened.”

In this final episode of Series 2, I sit down with Nick Ford, founder of PipSqueak 3D and Patent Ferret, to explore how a nontraditional path — from sweeping workshop floors to designing urban furniture used across London — shaped his approach to design, business, and innovation.

Nick shares the full story behind one of his most iconic projects, the Westminster Tulip Bollard, including the now-famous moment when they drove a lorry over the prototype to prove its durability. Along the way, we unpack lessons from 20+ years of running PipSqueak, why small teams often outperform larger ones, and how Nick’s latest venture, Patent Ferret, is helping manufacturers uncover hidden value in their intellectual property.

This conversation is full of practical insights, real-world anecdotes, and a refreshing take on what resilience really looks like in design.

Key Takeaways:

🔹 Why small, nimble teams can solve complex problems more effectively than bigger consultancies

🔹 How the Westminster Tulip Bollard project became a case study in resilience and real-world testing

🔹 What happens when you stress-test your designs by literally driving a lorry over them

🔹 Lessons learned from business insolvency, perseverance, and building a consultancy for the long haul

🔹 Why intellectual property (IP) matters for SMEs, not just big players

🔹 How to unlock value in overlooked ideas, patents, and product concepts

🔹 The importance of building pathways for young people through STEM work experience

📌 Memorable Quotes:

💬 “We weren’t going to prove durability with a spreadsheet — we needed to drive a lorry over it and watch what happened.”

💬 “Failure isn’t the right word — it’s part of the process. We need better language for it.”

💬 “If you don’t understand IP, you don’t understand business.”

💬 “We only work for people we like or respect. That’s been a core principle from the start.”

💬 “Small inventors can change the world, but they need to go in with their eyes open.”

Resources & Links:

🌍 Connect with Nick Ford on LinkedIn

🏢 Learn more about PipSqueak 3D

🔍 Explore Patent Ferret

👥 Join the Why Design community: events, huddles, and workshops → teamkodu.com/events

🔗 Follow Chris Whyte on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/mrchriswhyte

🎧 Listen to Why Design on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Amazon Music.

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