We’re still experimenting with the format, but we’ve based the event on some firm principles. At Made by Many we believe in the process and story of making something is just as important as the product or service itself. We believe in continuous improvement, whatever you make can always be better. The idea behind Small Talks is to bring together people who believe in just that, and want to talk about the stories behind the things they’ve created. The lessons they’ve learned, their successes, failures and the people who have helped them shape the things they make, to help foster discussions around how we can become better at what we love doing.

The first event was a lot of fun and we’re hoping to do it again soon. But for those who couldn’t make the last one we’ve uploaded the talks online. Rather than video, we opted to record just the audio, partly to reduce the amount of things that could go wrong, but also because I’ve been inspired recently by podcasts. Radiolab and 99% Invisible both tell compelling stories through speech alone and I am hoping that Small Talks can be on a path doing something similar. We now have a Soundcloud page of our own and I think the talks hold up really well with no visuals. We’re aiming to have them on iTunes soon too.

If you want to know more about future Small Talks events head to smalltalks.madebymany.com and submit your email, or follow us on Twitter.

A massive thanks to our speakers Jessi Baker, Ben Barker and Peter Bilak, who all shared inspiring and honest stories about the struggles and lessons of making something. I can’t wait for the next one.

Peter Bilak works in the field of editorial, graphic, and type design, and teaches at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. He started Typotheque, a type foundry and design studio in 1999, Dot Dot Dot magazine in 2000, Indian Type Foundry in 2009 and Works That Work magazine in 2012.

Peter Bilak talks about the roots of current publishing practices and reconnecting with readers. He also discusses his recent project, Works That Work magazine, which sets out to rethink publishing paradigms, starting with its financing, distribution and production.

Ben Barker is a designer and founder of London based Pan Studio. PAN Studio create interactive installations and experimental objects designed to find new ways of enriching everyday living. Their work explores the significance of experience when used as the key element in the creation of new objects, systems or services.

Their recent projects include Design of the Year shortlisted Hello Lamp Post, a city-wide platform for play and Run an Empire, a territory control strategy game that you play in the space around you. Ben talks about why Pan made Hello Lamp Post, what they learned on the way and the studio’s approach to design.

Jessi Baker is a creative UX designer and technologist with a business strategy and product engineering background. Her main expertise is in designing and prototyping technology products, systems and experiences and has worked with many global brands including Adidas, Intel and American Apparel.

Jessi shares Provenance with us. Provenance is a network and a set of digital tools for sharing the stories that make great products, powering conscious shopping. Jessi Baker discusses her motivations behind co-creating the site’s design with the makers that have championed Provenance.

(Special thanks to Zofia. Shouts to Alex for the photography, Beth for the illustration and everyone at Made by Many who helped set up the event)