As Head of Strategy and Research at COMUZI a design invention studio Akil works with global brands to develop new digital products, services and experiences. In his work he has produced work for BBC, B+A, Samsung, ustwo, adidas and Mozilla.
Akil is also the Director of M&C Saatchi Saturday School, where he leads a development initiative helping underrepresented communities start businesses around the world. As of June 2020, the school taught its 300th business.
Organiser of a programme to mentor 300 Black business, from a recent crowdfunding campaign, Akil is determined to progress a community of strong small businesses.
With a background in Biology and a deep interest in people, Akil works to develop products and services and experience which benefit the community.
AK Experiments
Akil will talk through his work at COMUZI and how their values of radical and purposeful design bleed into his experiments as he looks to develop business skills within the early stage small business community. Talking through two experimental projects M&C Saatchi Saturday School and Mentor Black Businesses, Akil has asked himself what it looks like to deliver his commercial skills at scale to an audience who can't afford them. What does the impact look like? Do people care to leave their house on Saturdays? Who pays? What does value look like for all stakeholders? What does delivering services look like sustainably at scale? This is an AK experiment, these are my experiments where I push service design to my limits, these are experiments where we show what's possible.
Q&A with Sarah Drummond and Akil Benjamin
Andy will take your questions for Sarah and Akil.
No Coffee Line
Avoid the queues and just bring your own refreshment of choice.