From the Newsdesk

The IPO Designs Team Visit Robert Welch Designs

Anti Copying in Design (ACID) Ambassador Rupert Welch, MD of Robert Welch Designs and his design team welcomed eight members of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Designs Team to their UK headquarters in Chipping Campden last week to introduce them to all the elements of the design and manufacturing journey from seed of a design idea to marketplace, The Robert Welch brand is one of the most iconic names within homewares nationally and internationally.

Together with Dids Macdonald and Nick Kounoupias of ACID, the IPO team were given a rare insight into the incredible thought that goes into each and every design by the talented husband and wife Design Directors, Paul and Kit de Bretton Gordon. From initial sketches, CAD, drawings to 3D printing, prototype iterations, the manufacturing process and the incalculable “sweat equity” that goes into every single designed product, each element was demonstrated in detail. Robert Welch Designs’ raison d’etre is to bring beauty, quality, and functionality into homes around the world with timeless products which are built to last forever.

Founded in 1955 by Robert Welch MBE, a pioneer in the use of stainless steel, their family-run company has a rich history of award-winning British design.

No stranger to significant copying by some well-known retail names in the UK, as well as international manufacturers, Rupert Welch and Juliet Loudon, (IP and Legal Counsel) shared the consistent challenges they face and highlighted the significant cost and time it takes from business building and growth to fight copyists and also the potential threats to livelihoods through lost business. They also touched upon the complexity of design law which is often difficult to navigate. They have a proactive IP strategy and register all their IP globally but, despite this, they lead, others copy.

Dids Macdonald OBE., ACID Chair and Co-founder said, “I am a strong advocate that policy-making gains depth and clarity when rooted in the realities of those it serves. Visiting a successful designer-manufacturer, we hope, offered our friends from the IPO a firsthand glimpse into the challenges, opportunities, and impacts of their decisions on real-world innovation and production. Such interactions have the potential to bridge the gap between abstract legislation and tangible outcomes, highlighting how policy influences workforce dynamics, creativity, and economic growth.

Nick Kounoupias ACID Chief Counsel said,When policymakers step into the shoes of end-users, they witness the ripple effects of streamlined regulations, access to resources, or conversely, the hurdles posed by bureaucracy. Meetings like this can foster empathy, inform smarter decisions, and can inspire policies that empower industries rather than constrain them. By engaging with grassroots success stories, policymakers don’t just shape better frameworks—they champion growth, innovation, and sustainability from a position of informed understanding. The most effective policies aren’t crafted in isolation but emerge from conversations at the intersection of vision and lived experience.”

Rupert Welch, MD of Robert Welch Designs added, “For us as designer-manufacturers, learning more about the policymaking process creates opportunities to align our needs with legislative frameworks. Understanding how policies are shaped enables us to anticipate changes, adapt to regulations, and harness available support. We were delighted to share our expertise and challenges with the team from the IPO, and we hope it fostered a productive dialogue that benefits both parties”.

Commenting on the visit, Jeff Lloyd, Deputy Director of Trade Marks & Designs Policy said, The team and I found the visit fascinating and insightful. It was wonderful to hear the stories and see the hard work behind some of the iconic Robert Welch designs and to hear from the team about the challenges they have faced around the copying of their work. The Designs Review consultations will bring forward options to streamline and simplify the UK designs system and we look forward to hearing the views of ACID members”.

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