Hoi, I'm Chris
I'm currently Director of Product Design at Bloom & Wild Group, having previously led design at Treatwell and worked as a product design consultant for brands and services including Lyst, BBC, Boots, Sunspel, Clarks Shoes, John Smedley, Speedo, and Cox & Cox.
I started my career in brand-led agencies specialising in eCommerce as a designer-developer. Now, at director level, I use this foundation to foster alignment between brand, product, and tech—setting direction that ensures brands deliver on their customer promise through their digital experience and across all customer-facing touchpoints.
Design is never far away. I'm fascinated by the design of urban environments—including the well-intentioned missteps of trying to improve our lived spaces (I'm looking at you, Le Corbusier)—architecture, and garden design.
Outside of work, you'll often find me exploring Amsterdam by bike with my camera around my neck, indulging my new hobby of learning to throw pottery on a wheel; or patrolling the middle of the football pitch, receiving the ball on the half-turn and turning defense into attack. Or failing that, just hanging out with my cat and listening to NTS Radio.
Why "Evelyn"?
I'm the son of a Butcher — in fact, a long line of butchers. In 1928, my great grandfather, Evelyn, founded the family business with his father, Samuel. Since then, S. Allwood & Son have remained a core part of my family, where my father continues to serve his community.
While I have taken a different path in life, I've always remained proud of my families heritage — both as craftsmen, and in founding their own businesses.
In the craft and mastery my dad exhibits, I see the same in my pursuit of design. As a result, when I became self employed in 2015 and later formed my own studio, I named it in honour of my great granded, and I continue to operate under the moniker "Evelyn" to date.