Object in Focus (Part 1): Exploring Innovation in an Empty V&A
During the height of the pandemic, I had the rare experience of filming inside a completely empty V&A Museum, producing a series called Object in Focus for the museum’s Innovate and Design Lab Nation education programmes. With classrooms and galleries closed, the goal was to create a set of short, engaging films that would connect students with key objects from the Design 1900–Now gallery, told through the voices of curators and, in some cases, the designers themselves.
This post is the first of two, highlighting a selection of the seven films we made as part of the project.
Adidas × Parley Ultraboost Trainers
This film spotlights a striking example of sustainable innovation in product design by Alexander Taylor. The Adidas × Parley Ultraboost Trainers are made in part from ocean plastic waste, reimagining high-performance footwear through the lens of environmental responsibility. The film explores how this collaboration between a global sportswear brand and an environmental non-profit made recycled materials aspirational, not just practical.
MwangaBora Light
In contrast to the global scale of the Adidas piece, the MwangaBora Light tells a hyper-local story of need and impact. Designed by Evans Wadongo to bring safe, solar-powered light to homes in off-grid East African communities, this object embodies thoughtful, context-driven design. The film focuses on how something simple, a light, can transform education, safety, and daily life.
Flax Chair
From lighting to seating, the Flax Chair offers another take on sustainable innovation. Designed by artist and product designer Christien Meindertsma, this fully biodegradable chair is made from flax fibres and a biodegradable resin. What sets it apart is its circular lifecycle: when no longer needed, it can be shredded and re-pressed into a new form. For this piece, I handled the V&A side of the filming, while the interview with Meindertsma was captured by another camera operator working remotely from my brief in the Netherlands. A reminder that even in collaborative, multi-operator projects, the story remains the anchor point.
Filming During Lockdown
Alongside Liam Allen, Chris Atkins, and Oliver Bloor, I co-shot these films under tight restrictions, navigating limited access as the V&A was completely closed to the public, which brought both challenges and opportunities.
Without ambient noise or foot traffic, every sound and shadow counted. We worked quickly but carefully, using clean, minimal camera setups and precise lighting to let the objects take centre stage.
Design Education at a Distance
Produced by Kate Kennedy and Holly Burton, the series was designed as a remote teaching tool for secondary school students. Each film needed to be visually rich, educationally clear, and short enough to be used in class or as homework support. We weren’t just showcasing objects, we were helping teachers and students decode design: its materials, purpose, cultural relevance, and future impact.
A Series with Lasting Value
This series stands out as a thoughtful use of constraint, making engaging content during a time when collaboration, travel, and public life were all off-limits. It also reminded me how stories of innovation often come from necessity, whether that’s a recycled shoe or a solar light in a remote home.
Look out for Part 2, which will explore the other films in the series including objects that speak to domestic design, personal identity, and mass manufacturing.
