RDInsights

By Royal Designers for Industry

RDInsights is a biweekly podcast series where Mike Dempsey RDI interviews, both current and archived recordings, with distinguished Royal Designers for Industry. Through these conversations, we can

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FAQs about RDInsights:

How many episodes does RDInsights have?

The podcast currently has 43 episodes available.

RDInsights episodes:

November 06, 2025 Sebastian Cox
Mike Dempsey RDI is in conversation with furniture designer, maker and environmentalist, Sebastian Cox. He is renowned for his nature-first approach to making, his championing of British woodlands, and his ability to weave centuries-old traditions into contemporary design. His studio in Margate, Kent, is not just a workshop, but a statement: of zero-waste, carbon-awareness, and regeneration. We follow Sebastian’s path from growing up in the Kent countryside to shaping a design philosophy that looks to nature as the ultimate collaborator.
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57min
September 09, 2025 David Gentleman
This is an RDInsights Archive recording from 2010, when I spoke at length with the distinguished illustrator and graphic designer David Gentleman RDI, then celebrating his 80th year. It remains a rich and in-depth conversation, full of insight into his remarkable career and outlook. Now, fifteen years on, and with David at the age of 95, I caught up with him once again. This time our conversation was briefer, but no less engaging, as I asked what he had been up to in the intervening years. That new recording has now been added directly after the original 2010 interview, creating a fascinating pairing across time.
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1h 3min
July 15, 2025 Dinah Casson
This RDInsights interview with Dinah Casson RDI was recorded in 2015 by Mike Dempsey RDI. In it, Dinah reflects on her childhood and her creative journey to becoming one of the UK’s leading interior and exhibition designers. Mike recently caught up with Dinah again to hear what she’s been doing over the past decade; an update of this conversation has been added to the end of this archive recording.
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1h 44min
May 27, 2025 Ian Cartlidge
Graphic designer Ian Cartlidge, co-founder of Cartlidge Levene, one of the UK’s most admired graphic design studios. Ian began his career at Conran Associates before moving on to work on the Habitat catalogue, a formative time that laid the groundwork for what came next. 1987, he teamed up with Adam Levene to establish their own practice. Cartlidge Levene has since built a reputation for thoughtful, award-winning wayfinding and signage, working with clients such as Tate Modern, The Design Museum, the Barbican, V&A Dundee, the Royal College of Art, Selfridges, and The Guardian.
Their work in the cultural sector has helped shape how millions of visitors navigate and experience some of the most iconic institutions in the world.
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1h 26min
March 18, 2025 Ben Kelly
This is an RDInsights archive catch-up recording from 2015 with Interior designer Ben Kelly RDI, best known for his innovative and often industrial approach to interior spaces. His most iconic work is the design of the legendary Hacienda nightclub in Manchester, which opened in 1982. Ben's design approach often incorporates elements of postmodernism and brutalism, with a strong emphasis on raw materials, geometric forms, and striking colour contrasts. His work frequently bridges the gap between art, architecture, and design, and he has collaborated with various artists, musicians, and cultural institutions. His clients have ranged from Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood to the Science and V&A Museums.
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1h 27min
February 04, 2025 Shona Heath
Mike Dempsey RDI is in conversation with the Oscar and BAFTA award-winning production designer Shona Heath RDI. She is well known for her visionary approach and has spent nearly three decades crafting a distinctive world of visual storytelling. Her work is a magical fusion of art, fashion, and film, blending the fantastical and tangible to create immersive, otherworldly experiences. Shona has become a trailblazer in her field, from collaborating with leading fashion designers and photographers to shaping iconic set designs for global campaigns and now the world of feature films. Join Mike to delve into Shona's life, inspirations, challenges, and moments defining her extraordinary career.
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53min
January 21, 2025 Malcolm Garrett
This is an updated RDInsights 2007 archive recording by the new media and graphic designer Malcolm Garrett RDI MBE, made by Mike Dempsey. It covers Malcolm’s early life and career working with many of the notable emerging punk groups in Manchester in the 1970s and 1980s, alongside his passion for digital technology and being the first all-digital graphic studio in the UK. At the end of the 2007 recording, Mike hooked up with Malcolm in 2025 to discover what he had been up to in the ensuing years.
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1h 17min
January 07, 2025 Stuart Craig
This is an RDInsights Archive recording from 2011 featuring the much-acclaimed film production designer Stuart Craig RDI.
Over the past 13 years, Stuart has made significant contributions to the film industry, working on a total of five major films:
Gambit, The Legend of Tarzan, and J.K. Rowling's three Fantastic Beasts movies. Stuart’s influence extends beyond the silver screen.
He has been a key figure in the creation of Harry Potter experience venues and theme parks, where his intricate production design
has brought the magic of the films to life for millions of fans worldwide.
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42min
December 03, 2024 Michael Bierut
In this RDInsights recording, Mike Dempsey RDI is in conversation with the multi-award-winning American graphic designer and Pentagram partner Michael Bierut HonRDI, known for his exacting approach to the projects he takes on. Over his 44 years in the field, Michael spent a formative decade working with the legendary designer and Hon RDI, Massimo Vignelli. In 1990, he joined Pentagram’s New York office as a partner, where he continues to make his mark on the design world today.

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1h 20min
October 29, 2024 Johanna Gibbons
Join Mike as he chats with landscape architect Johanna Gibbons RDI, whose nearly 40-year practice is dedicated to reconnecting urban spaces with nature at a time when our planet needs it most. Johanna’s designs foster resilience, support ecological and human health, and unite communities, offering a hopeful vision for a more sustainable future. Johanna’s passion is palpable, especially for her love of trees.
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1h 18min

FAQs about RDInsights:

How many episodes does RDInsights have?

The podcast currently has 43 episodes available.

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