In support of Mental Health Awareness Week, Anti Copying In Design (ACID) would like to introduce our new partner, Designs in Mind. In a world where creativity can sometimes  intersect with adversity, Designs in Mind emerges as a beacon of hope and innovation. This crafting studio provides a nurturing space for individuals navigating mental health challenges, offering them a platform to express themselves artistically. Now, as a new partner of ACID, Designs in Mind embarks on a journey to not only foster creativity but also protect the unique designs born from these personal journeys. Join us as we explore the power of creativity, resilience, and community together.

Designs in Mind’s fantastic work provides a safe and supportive environment for creativity to thrive, described here.

Designs in Mind is a creative design studio, tucked away in rural North Shropshire. Our mission is to improve mental health through creating high quality, purposeful art and design. We produce beautiful design collaborations, art for public spaces, and exquisite textiles, jewellery and home wares that we sell in our online and retail shop.

We work with adults with severe and enduring mental health challenges, such as long-term depression, psychosis, PTSD, OCD, anxiety, and eating disorders. Our Members are referred to us from local Mental Health services, GPs, Social Prescribers and other mental health pathways. All our Members join us through our ‘New Referrals’ programme, where individuals are introduced to a range of techniques and processes by which art and design is produced and developed. These include screen printing, ceramics, textiles, lino, block printing, and various drawing techniques. Our warm and engaging workshops ensure everyone is included, no matter their level of creative experience or the mental health challenges that they face. Time and time again, we see new Members grow in confidence as they become a valued part of our design community. We encourage our Members to take the lead on product development, such as in our popular jewellery range which sold out in-store last Christmas.

In 2023, we collaborated with Habitat to create a range of ‘dopamine inducing’ homewares. We also collaborated with Scion on a range of fabrics, that can be seen on bedlinens, pyjamas and slippers stocked in retailers including Next. In 2024, we have designed and installed large scale bespoke wall coverings and are currently working on a site-specific sculpture for an Orthopedic hospital.

Our beautiful retail and online shop features products collaboratively made or designed in our studio, by our Members. We are a not-for-profit organisation, so everything that we work on goes to support the development of the studio, and thus supports the Members. We believe that purposeful art and design creates a little bit of ‘ordinary magic,’ and that it has the power to transform lives and smash mental health stigma.

Dids Macdonald OBE., Co Founder and CEO of ACID said, “To provide an understanding environment which nurtures the mental well-being of those who face mental health challenges and encouraging them to express themselves creatively, is laudable. Through the physicality of making and crafting, new horizons can be opened, providing that all-important feeling of achievement through innovation.  We are delighted to be working with Designs in Mind and cannot commend their work highly enough”.

Designs in Mind