Design Swansea #86 - Carl Dixon and Ben Ballantyne
Similar events
View all →About This Event
Design Swansea #86 features presentations from Carl Dixon and Ben Ballantyne, focusing on professional insights within the creative industry. The event provides an opportunity for local designers and business professionals to engage in knowledge sharing and expand their professional networks. Attendees can connect with the Swansea creative community in a relaxed setting at HQ Urban Kitchen.
This month we are joined by Carl Dixon and Ben Ballantyne talking about using design to push through crises of confidence and connecting the dots.
Come join us at Urban HQ for inspiring talks and connect with our incredible creative community in Swansea with a few drinks and a slice of pizza.
Carl Dixon
Pixel-pushing through crises of confidence.
Carl is a freelance graphic designer specialising in brand, packaging, and editorial design. Like most creatives, he is no stranger to a crisis of confidence. After recently relocating from New Zealand to Wales, Carl found himself navigating a totally new industry landscape and was forced to design his way out of his biggest crisis yet.
Ben Ballantyne
Connecting the Dots.
Ben is an Australian multidisciplinary designer and creative strategist based in Swansea, South Wales. Since graduating from UWTSD in 2020, he has accumulated over six years of experience working across the creative industry, collaborating with brands and artists including Roosevelt, Swansea City Council, Marston’s Pubs, and Character.com. He was also featured in the 2020 Student Showcase by Everglow (formerly Blue Stag).
His work focuses on how design feels, functions, and connects, approaching each project with a concept-first, detail-driven process that balances restraint and creative freedom.
Outside of freelancing, Ben is a guitarist in the Bristol-based alt-indie rock band Belle Dame. The band has toured extensively across the UK, performing at venues such as O2 Brixton Academy and Dingwalls Camden, as well as festivals in Portugal, supporting artists including NAPA, Only The Poets, and Same.
Our Venue
Urban HQ
The event will be held at Urban HQ on 37 Orchard Street, Swansea, SA1 5AJ. It's next to the UWTSD ALEX Building and opposite the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery.
Design Swansea is supported by...
MeeCreative
tcols.design
Waters Creative
Swansea College of Art
Gower College
Swansea University
Urban HQ
4theRegion
Visit our website
designswansea.uk
Description supplied by the event organiser.
Upcoming Events in Swansea
View all →
£25TBK Talks - The Property Playbook
Thu, 26 Nov 2026
Morfa Lounge- Swansea City Stadium
From £10One good habit is enough - Green Ways Tournee
Sun, 20 Sept 2026
Delta Hotels Swansea
Wild Church
Sun, 20 Sept 2026
Holy Trinity Church
£27.80Flynn's Favourite Things! Autumn '26 Edition
Sat, 3 Oct 2026
Flynn's Delicatessen
£20Vale Talks / Sgwrs yn Y Fro
Sat, 10 Oct 2026
Ogmore-by-Sea
Free EntryThe foundations of the future athlete U12 - U16 (Ospreys @ St Helens - CPD)
Mon, 19 Oct 2026
Swansea Rugby Football Club
More at HQ Urban Kitchen
View all →
Design Swansea #86 - Carl Dixon and Ben Ballantyne
Sorry, you are too late! This event has been and gone.
This event finished on Thursday, 3 September 2026. But don't worry — check out these upcoming events you might like ↓
Editorial Summary
Design Swansea #86 features presentations from Carl Dixon and Ben Ballantyne, focusing on professional insights within the creative industry. The event provides an opportunity for local designers and business professionals to engage in knowledge sharing and expand their professional networks. Attendees can connect with the Swansea creative community in a relaxed setting at HQ Urban Kitchen.
This summary was automatically generated from event data sourced from official ticketing providers.
Organiser’s full description
This month we are joined by Carl Dixon and Ben Ballantyne talking about using design to push through crises of confidence and connecting the dots.
Come join us at Urban HQ for inspiring talks and connect with our incredible creative community in Swansea with a few drinks and a slice of pizza.
Carl Dixon
Pixel-pushing through crises of confidence.
Carl is a freelance graphic designer specialising in brand, packaging, and editorial design. Like most creatives, he is no stranger to a crisis of confidence. After recently relocating from New Zealand to Wales, Carl found himself navigating a totally new industry landscape and was forced to design his way out of his biggest crisis yet.
Ben Ballantyne
Connecting the Dots.
Ben is an Australian multidisciplinary designer and creative strategist based in Swansea, South Wales. Since graduating from UWTSD in 2020, he has accumulated over six years of experience working across the creative industry, collaborating with brands and artists including Roosevelt, Swansea City Council, Marston’s Pubs, and Character.com. He was also featured in the 2020 Student Showcase by Everglow (formerly Blue Stag).
His work focuses on how design feels, functions, and connects, approaching each project with a concept-first, detail-driven process that balances restraint and creative freedom.
Outside of freelancing, Ben is a guitarist in the Bristol-based alt-indie rock band Belle Dame. The band has toured extensively across the UK, performing at venues such as O2 Brixton Academy and Dingwalls Camden, as well as festivals in Portugal, supporting artists including NAPA, Only The Poets, and Same.
Our Venue
Urban HQ
The event will be held at Urban HQ on 37 Orchard Street, Swansea, SA1 5AJ. It's next to the UWTSD ALEX Building and opposite the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery.
Design Swansea is supported by...
MeeCreative
tcols.design
Waters Creative
Swansea College of Art
Gower College
Swansea University
Urban HQ
4theRegion
Visit our website
designswansea.uk
Description supplied by the event organiser.
Price
Check website
Date
Until Thursday, 3 September 2026
Time
⏰ This event has ended
Ended on Thursday, 3 September 2026
EventsList curates 163,000+ events across the UK. Tickets purchased via the venue or authorised sellers only.
More Events at HQ Urban Kitchen
View all →
Upcoming Events You Might Like
This event has ended — discover what's coming up next in Swansea
TBK Talks - The Property Playbook
📍 Morfa Lounge- Swansea City Stadium
£25.00
One good habit is enough - Green Ways Tournee
📍 Delta Hotels Swansea
£10.00 - £30.00
Wild Church
📍 Holy Trinity Church
Flynn's Favourite Things! Autumn '26 Edition
📍 Flynn's Delicatessen
£27.80
Vale Talks / Sgwrs yn Y Fro
📍 Ogmore-by-Sea
£20.00
FREEThe foundations of the future athlete U12 - U16 (Ospreys @ St Helens - CPD)
📍 Swansea Rugby Football Club
More things to do in Swansea
- Local History Talk – Kelvin’s Bits and Bobs!· Tuesday, 6 October 2026
- TEDxSwansea 26 "Ripples of Change"· Saturday, 24 October 2026
- RockShox x Cycle CPD Technical Training (2 Day)· Tuesday, 10 November 2026
- Overdose Awareness· Wednesday, 27 January 2027
- Creative Materials as Powerful Tools for Learning – Pete Moorhouse· Tuesday, 2 February 2027
- Cancer in the Workplace - Swansea 2026· Wednesday, 18 March 2026
- Vegan Banquet· Friday, 20 March 2026
- Climate Leaders Training Programme· Tuesday, 19 May 2026
- Vegan Night Market· Friday, 22 May 2026
- *FINAL CALL* - Climate Leaders Training Programme - *LAST REMAINING PLACES*· Tuesday, 16 June 2026
- Mr Traumatik tour 2026· Saturday, 27 June 2026
- 15000ft Ultimate Tandem Skydive — Swansea· Thursday, 30 July 2026