The Biggest Mistake keeping Designers Underpaid | James Wood, Studio Wood

What does it actually cost to get into design if you don't come from money?

In this episode of Why Design, James Wood shares the belief that sits at the heart of Studio Wood: that good design should reach a million homes, not one art gallery, and that the studio building it should be just as accessible.

Rather than chase investment or fast growth, James chose to grow Studio Wood slowly, freelancing for six years before making his first hire. That decision led to a seven-person studio behind the Chilly's Series 2 bottle and the Joseph Joseph Draw Store, run on his own terms.

This conversation isn't about a design portfolio.

It's about who gets to build one in the first place.

Don't just listen. Go beyond the podcast.

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What You'll Learn

→ 🎓 Why Studio Wood lists a university degree as "nice to have," not essential, on every job ad.

→ 📵 Why the studio doesn't have a phone, and what that protects.

→ ✉️ Why every one of 350 applicants for one junior role got a personal reply, good news or bad.

→ 💷 Why James believes a plumbing apprentice can out-earn a design graduate carrying £50,000 to £60,000 of debt.