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@ Podlink Subscribe & Listen Apply to be a guest - Waitlist Instagram YouTube Playlist Buy a Ko-Fi Guest Info Ep21 From Almost Quitting to Finding Joy Again B81 Designs Instagram Mentions Birmingham Design Festival - Sisterland Festival - All Flows Milton Keynes - Cannes Lions - The House of Oddities - 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™️