Buttercrumble was delighted to visit Hong Kong during BODW CityProg. This was a citywide programme that engaged the creative community and businesses across the region.

As the UK was the 2019 partner nation, we had the chance to showcase our work which was an opportunity we seized with both hands! We took part in the COLLATE exhibition at 7 Mallory Street, curated by Marmalade on Toast (now Thursday Design Studio).

We are living in a digital world with 60% of consumers shopping on their smartphones (WGSN, 2019). Society feels busy and anxious. Children are growing up with this experience as the “norm”, so it’s important brands leverage social channels in a positive and empowering way to communicate their messages. We wanted to scout out which retailers are achieving this well for our newest generation.

Our communications studio: Buttercrumble is representing British design on a global platform during Hong Kong’s Business of Design Week (BoDW). Buttercrumble, based in Leeds, was formed by twin sisters (Chloe and Abigail Baldwin). As a studio, we create playful graphic design, branding, and illustration with an ethos of making others smile. Although in the youth of the business, we’ve already gained John Lewis, Chester Zoo and the Royal Armouries as partners on our client roster.

Graphic Design. Illustration. Intrinsically-linked or mutually-exclusive? At Buttercrumble, we like to think of graphic design as the umbrella and illustration as typical British raindrops — both together and separate! They are, at times, part of the same.

Both have become creatively intertwined and embedded into commercialism, but what exactly is the difference between the two?

In a social and political climate overpowered by challenges, complexities, and controversies, the ability to find common ground, communicate, and create, is more pressing than ever. As part of the design community and the creative sector, Buttercrumble believes it is our duty to explore and innovate new ways of solving our current problems. And we have. There was green design, holistic design — now we have co-design.

Mothers mean business! 70% of employed mums are working full-time, despite having children under three-years-old according to WGSN's 2019 report on Progressive Motherhood.

Here in the UK, Our expensive childcare system is a challenge. In turn, British mums are turning freelance. The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) spotted a 70% increase of freelancing mums between 2006 and 2015. That's 15% of all freelancers! It's no wonder we're partnering with so many "mumpreneurs". At Buttercrumble, we design for children-focussed organisations. We must respond to the needs of mothers, through inclusivity and warmth. Let's help new mums strike a balance with being a mother and achieving their career dreams.