A person working on a woodworking project in a workshop with tools hanging on the wall and a yellow drill press in the foreground.

About AKD

​I am a product designer, passionate about sustainable ways of making things and using my expertise to deliver effective design.

​In short, AKD is an independent design agency with a specialism in product design for digital fabrication technologies—but what I stand for runs much deeper than that.

​As a lean and contemporary London design studio, I am bold in doing things differently, while steadfastly committed to delivering professional and effective design.

​My vision is about an alternative model for design, one that is more open, sustainable, and decentralised, and ultimately empowering for people to be more engaged in making the material things that shape their world. I strive towards this end by making the most of technologies like additive manufacturing, which unlock the potential for distributing global designs for local production. Through my work, in designing parts and products for digital fabrication and researching new futures, I am building capacity in the broader ecosystem for impactful, innovative, and long-term change. In other words, I see an opportunity to lead by example in shaping design, by helping businesses to succeed and people to make.

​AKD started in 2021, emerging out of the intersection between maker culture and professional design. I have worked with visionary and innovative clients with whom I have created work I can be proud of, and I’m looking forward to building on that work into the future..

Vision

A sustainable model of design that will empower people in the making of material things, address important problems and inspire others.

Mission

Design usable products, furniture and artefacts, made using digital fabrication, to mobilise the distributed design ecosystem and demonstrate an alternative and sustainable model of design.

  • Andrew Lamb, Internet of Production

    The work that AKD produced was thoughtful and considered, creative and innovative – and on-time and on-budget. Alex was very easy to work with, professional and really took the time to listen. We gave him a broad scope, so we weren’t sure what we were going to get, but the result is clearly thought out, actionable and of a really high standard. Alex has presented his work for us in a number of international fora and he makes us look so good! Definitely work with him if you can.

  • Katrin Stricker, Materi Concepts

    With the increasing need to design, build, and test parts faster, we are seeing the massive advantage that additive manufacturing has in the manufacturing space, reducing manufacturing lead time. Alex Kimber Design helped us optimize digital fabrication and achieve better workflows and improve design processes.