From Behind closed doors

Here in Winchester, we are fortunate to work in a city rich with creative talent. Product designers, architects, fashion makers, digital innovators – the breadth of what is produced here is remarkable. And while each discipline has its own thriving scene, moments to bring them all into the same room have been harder to come by.

We founded From Behind Closed Doors to change that. This April, Winchester’s first festival  for the creative industries brought the community together for a weekend of celebration, discovery and genuine connection. 

Whether you were there or missed it, here is a look back…

The opening night at Winchester School of Art set the tone, bringing us all together in one space before the weekend unfolded across studios throughout the city.  

Over 150 people came through the evening; the room was full, the conversations were flowing, and the energy was exactly what we had hoped for. 

Eleven agencies brought their work together under one roof, spanning industrial design, architecture, brand, motion and production, fashion and textiles and beyond. Seeing it all in one space was a reminder of just how much creative firepower there is in our city.

Saturday’s Open Studios extended that sense of openness across Winchester. People who had worked nearby for years found themselves properly introduced, sharing perspectives and beginning new relationships. 

At Rodd, nearly 60 visitors came through the studio over the course of the day, from local residents to students taking their first steps into the industry. 

Across the city, studios saw a steady flow of engaged visitors and conversations that carried genuine potential.

Central to the weekend was connecting design students with the city’s creative industries. 

Our 24-hour Design Challenge brought together a team of Winchester School of Art students and Rodd designers to tackle an inclusive design brief in a fast paced sprint. 

Working on the issue of homelessness in Winchester, they were guided through insights capture, ideation and into concept refinement to produce a communications and service design piece called  Signs of Support – a simple idea – to make existing support more visible and accessible across the city to improve the lived experience of the homeless community.

We have always believed that Winchester’s creative community is something worth celebrating. This weekend showed just how much appetite there is to come together and build on that.

Thank you to every partner who helped bring it to life.

This is just the beginning. We are already thinking about what From Behind Closed Doors becomes next, and we would love to hear your ideas.