Five Takeaways from Dom’s Talk with Design for Change Students

We believe that knowledge empowers individuals and strengthens communities. At Formally Known as Haeckels, our commitment to education drives innovation, fosters collaboration, and creates meaningful impact. Wherever we go, we love learning, sharing, and engaging in inspiring conversations.

This month, we opened our first pop-up Community Hub in Edinburgh in collaboration with Gemma Cairney. As part of this, we invited students from the Design for Change MA program at Edinburgh College of Art to speak with our founder, Dom. Number 22 was created as a foundation for the local community, previously hosting events, workshops, and pop-ups that benefit the area and provide a sanctuary for visitors. We wanted to carry this spirit forward, using the space to foster collaboration, learning, and meaningful conversations.

Here are five key takeaways from this inspiring exchange:

1. Rooted in place 

Formally Known as Haeckels was born on the beaches of Margate. Dom was moved to action by the desire to clean up the coastline, preserve its natural beauty, and undo some of the harm caused by consumerism. This connection to place remains at the heart of everything we do. 

2. Creative currency

Ideas are our most valuable currency. Our business thrives on exploring innovative solutions to long-standing problems. The agility of our structure gives us the freedom to experiment and, when necessary, the luxury to fail. This approach keeps us forward-thinking in an industry that often resists change.

3. The waterless vision

We're committed to reducing water usage throughout our formulations. There's simply no logic in shipping water around the country and beyond. Our team is actively developing waterless alternatives wherever possible, challenging the conventional formulation models that have dominated the industry for decades.

4. Vulnerability

Vulnerability is essential to growth. By openly sharing our concerns, challenges, and feelings, we create space for authentic evolution. Our business is built on community—both within and beyond our walls—and by reaching out to one another, we continuously develop and improve our practices and products.

5. Uncertainty

Perhaps most surprisingly to some, we don't have a rigid roadmap for the future—and we're comfortable with that uncertainty. In a rapidly changing world, we're adopting a more fluid approach to business development. We're building resilient systems that can weather storms and embrace sunshine, adapting to whatever the future may bring.

We're grateful for the opportunity to engage with these future changemakers and extend special thanks to Emily Ford-Halliday, Lecturer in Design for Change, for facilitating this connection.

We look forward to more opportunities to share our journey and learn alongside as we continue to grow and evolve.