From Design Talks to Real Connections: A Birmingham Design Festival 2026 Debrief (Bonus)
Is networking really about making connections, or can it sometimes feel transactional? Are design festivals built for extroverts? In this bonus episode, I'm joined once again by graphic designer Bhavini to reflect on our experiences at Birmingham Design Festival 2026.
We share honest reflections on attending events as designers, overcoming networking anxiety, finding confidence in creative spaces, the hidden costs of attending festivals, and why it's important to choose events that work for you.
Connect
Pitch Heather: info@creativelyeccentric.com
Apply to be a guest - Waitlist
Instagram
YouTube Playlist
Buy a Ko-Fi
Guest Info
Ep21 From Almost Quitting to Finding Joy Again
Mentions
Birmingham Design Festival - https://birminghamdesignfestival.com
Sisterland Festival - https://sisterlandfestival.com
All Flows Milton Keynes - https://allflows.co.uk
Cannes Lions - https://www.canneslions.com
The House of Oddities - https://hoodares.com/
Ellmer Stefan - https://www.instagram.com/ellmer.stefan/
Key Takeaways
- Networking as introverts and creatives
- Building genuine creative communities
- Accessibility, affordability and inclusivity at creative events
- Tips for attending design festivals for the first time
- Why it's okay to leave events that don't feel right for you
Chapters
00:00 Exploring the Birmingham Design Festival
12:48 Networking Experiences and Insights
17:56 Navigating Networking Events
22:27 Accessibility and Inclusivity in Design Festivals
27:26 Financial Barriers to Participation
31:53 Diversity in Speakers and Opportunities
35:25 Final Thoughts on Event Participation
Creatively Eccentric™️