Tom Metcalfe is an interdisciplinary designer and researcher whose work begins with social purpose, and evolves through the creation of meticulously considered forms, intuitive yet surprising interaction design, and an open, conversational quality which invites human and more-than-human connection.

He works across multiple mediums and materials creating Performative Artefacts which often utilise technology in subtle ways to enhance the texture, capacity and magical animism of object-based interaction.

Metcalfe’s practice is situated in Dundee and Fife, Scotland. He founded his own studio in 2014.

His current major work is an exploration into the connections and opportunities in place, design and human-computer interaction – particularly tangibles and connected objects. Place is the foundation of regenerative design, and our understanding of place identity, attachment and affordances will play a crucial role in creating a more ethical, equitable and sustainable future.

Metcalfe is also an Honorary Associate Professor in Design at the University of Bristol; Consultant Design Director at Strange Thoughts, London; a resident of Pervasive Media Studio, Bristol; an Associate Chair for DIS, Designing Interactive Systems; a Visiting Lecturer at the Glasgow School of Art; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AdvanceHE).

He lives in northeast Fife with his partner and two children.

Client Highlights
Commonwealth Games 2022; Skoda; Selfridges; British Library; Reach; UNMADE; Senseye (Siemens) and Raucous Theatre. Brand activations for: Currys, YO! Sushi, Ocado, Beavertown, Deliveroo, Unilever and Innis and Gunn. Brand experiences for Adidas, Marriott, Sky, Twitter, and Guardian. Collaborating with agencies like Publicis, Saatchi, W Comms, Here Be Dragons, Manifest and Uniform.

R&D Funders
Research and Development funded by: Google, Unilever, UKRI (incl. Innovate UK, AHRC, EPSRC, ESRC), Arts Council England, Creative England, Creative Scotland, Creative XR, Arts Council Tokyo

Selected Exhibitions, Performances and Events
Edinburgh Fringe, Edinburgh (2023); Coventry UK City of Culture, Herbert Gallery, Coventry (2022); MAYFEST, Bristol Old Vic, Bristol (2022); Materia Gris, CentroCentro, Madrid (2021); Playable City Tokyo, 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo (2018); Google Digital News Initiative, Amsterdam, Netherlands (2018); Victoria and Albert Museum, London (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2024); London Design Festival, Brompton Design District, London (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018).

Selected Talks and Workshops
International Festival of Journalism, Perugia, Italy (2017); Interaction16, Helsinki, Finland (2016); Crafts Council: Make:Shift, London, UK (2014); O’Reilly Solid, San Francisco, USA (2014, 2015); and SXSW, Austin, USA (2012, 2013, 2016).

Selected Academic Conference Contributions and Journal Publications
CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems; TEI, Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interactions; ITS, Interactive Tabletops & Surfaces; CHI Play, Computer-Human Interaction in Play; IDC, Interaction Design and Children; ACI, Conference on Animal-Computer Interaction; International Journal of Human-Computer Studies.

Press
Brand Activations have regularly featured in Daily Newspapers across Print and Digital, national, and international. Other work featured in design magazines like Wallpaper, Blueprint and Creative Review.