Our Roots
Every action has a root. Ours lie in the values, life stories, and connections that shape who we are. This page is where we share our beginnings, our team, and the threads that brought us together – not just our skills and capabilities, but the deeper reasons why this work matters to each of us. I am a London-based designer and environmental advocate. I am the City Transitions Co-Lead at Dark Matter Labs.
Previously, I worked as the Head of Strategic Partnerships at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose and as a Lead Advisor and the interim Head of Social Innovation at Design Council. I also did a PhD in Innovation Design Engineering, School of Design at the Royal College of Art in London (focusing on design and climate change).
I am an action-oriented innovator, researcher and policy advisor working across multiple sectors to untangle challenges that intersect (urban) politics, climate change, and community empowerment.
I currently work at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the UCL Institute of Innovation and Public Purpose. Through my current and previous roles, I have led a range of projects leveraging my skills spanning: urban policy analysis; action research; stakeholder engagement; innovative qualitative research design; community organizing; project management.
Our Co-Conspirators
Alexandra Bekker
Strategic Design and Public Innovation Lead
With special thanks to Alexandra Bekker for foundational contributions (on strategic and conceptual framing).
I am an independent practitioner working with public sector and social impact organisations to help make sense of complexity and make better decisions. My work is interdisciplinary, bringing together my training as a historian, urban designer and planner in exploratory and creative ways, and I write regularly on place, urban change and complex systems.
I have worked extensively within and for local government: I led Newham Council’s Inclusive Economy strategy and have led major partnerships and transformation programmes. At Design Council, I led strategic advisory services for regeneration and infrastructure projects, and facilitated design-led capacity-building programmes with organisations such as Network Rail. Earlier in my career, at Centre for Cities, I authored research on housing, urban change and devolution, and I founded a community-led housing initiative in East London.
Our Design Team
Anahat Kaur
I am a Digital Designer at Dark Matter Labs. I look at every design solution as storytelling challenge demanding complex narratives and just representation. I hold a Master's degree in Design from The Basel School of Design in Switzerland and have worked for a diverse range of clients and companies across Europe and India. My creative process is non-linear and informed by a cross-pollination of ideas from peers and personal experiences.
Gurden Batra
I am a design technologist at Dark Matter Labs and combines different crafts like systems thinking, rapid prototyping, speculative and critical design, data justice and tech materiality together in his practice. I have a background in Computer Science and New Media Design. I have played multi-disciplinary roles in various industries and different sized companies across US, Europe and India.
Arianna Smaron
I am a Product and Visual designer working through digital and physical materials and perspectives. I have experience working with Private and Public Institutions, Art Museums, and Universities. At the same time, I am the Director of the educative programme of an experimental school called La Scuola Open Source and part of various collective groups of artists and designers between Italy and Switzerland. My design is defined through the combination of collaborative and non-linear methodologies and the definition of alternative visual narratives.
Gabor Papp
I am a Creative Technologist specialising in the convergence of art and technology, with a focus on exploring software's cultural and aesthetic dimensions.
Our Animation
Team
Daniel Huszar
Founder and Director, Animation Studio Krakout Film
Janka Feiner
Animator, Illustrator, and Graphic Designer
Petra Lilla Marjai
Motion Graphics, Art Direction, Illustration
Rozi Mako
Soundscaper