Phase Two is a design agency developing the next generation of products and user experiences. No two projects are the same, each bringing it’s own unique requirements and challenges. Phase two is continuing to build a talented team of creative champions, fuelled by curiosity to deliver only the at the highest level. Our latest recruit is Marcus Dyson, who joined the industrial design team in September 2024 (I know, not so new, but we’ve been busy being creative!). We believe it’s crucial to invest in emerging and talented Industrial designers, creating an environment that allows them to bring fresh thinking and challenge assumptions.
What does Marcus bring to the team?
Marcus brings a rare ability to deeply explore the intricacies of a product concept—a skill that sets him apart from many designers. His sharp attention to detail enables us to tackle technically demanding projects with confidence, moving beyond surface-level design to uncover opportunities for true technical innovation. This approach not only enhances product functionality and performance but also improves the user experience. Additionally, it often leads to more efficient material use, contributing to greater sustainability and reduced production costs.
Building on his university success, where he earned a First-Class Degree in Product Design and received awards at the New Designers Graduate Show, Marcus now brings his positive, motivated attitude into the commercial design world. He hit the ground running at Phase Two, joining during a particularly busy period. Undeterred, he quickly immersed himself in projects and became an integral part of the team. Commitment and hard work are easy to claim on a CV, but Marcus consistently proves it through his actions. This experience, fused with a strong set of design skills of increases Phase Two capacity and strengthens our ability to deliver a diverse range of design and engineering projects.
More about Marcus
Marcus, tell us a bit about you and what led you into a field of Industrial design and product development!
What and where did you study and how was the university experience?
I studied Product Design at Bournemouth University. It was an incredible experience and one I look back on with fond memories. I met so many talented people there and it was a privilege to be around others who share the same passion. Being close to the beach was good fun too. In the summer months we’d all go down to the beach for a BBQ and kick a ball around.
Getting involved in the Festival of Design & Engineering committee was also an amazing experience. I helped organise the Industry Review Night and the FoDE show. These were two key design shows held at the campus during the year, which I also got to exhibit my work at.
I was delighted to be selected to showcase my work at New Designers at the end of my final year, and was grateful to be nominated for an award by Anglepoise. I enjoyed sharing the experience alongside my course mates, and it was great to chat to so many people from the industry. This was definitely the biggest highlight for me.
Did you always want to be an Industrial designer?
I gravitated towards art and design throughout school and sixth form, so I was fairly certain I wanted to pursue this route further. It wasn’t until I started applying for universities, however, that I first discovered Industrial Design. Until then, I didn’t know it was a career path. But once I started looking into it, I realised it combined many of the things I was interested in: building prototypes, CAD modelling, creating graphics on Illustrator and solving real-world problems.
What would be your dream design project?
I would love to develop a bicycle-related product. Cycling is a big part of my life, so combining this with design would be a dream. It would be great to find a way of improving the safety of cyclists and enhancing the sport.
Who or what inspires your design?
Looking at pages like Pinterest, Behance, and Lemanoosh are a great way to whet my design appetite. It’s always useful to see what the current design trends are. However, to get ideas that are truly unique I think you have to look elsewhere. I often get inspired by just travelling around. It could be sitting at a café in a town I’ve never been to before, or visiting museums. I visited Frankfurt in Germany for a weekend during uni and I remember being completely captivated by the change of culture and surroundings. I returned home from that trip full of fresh ideas that I wouldn’t have had if I’d stayed at home.
Outside of design what are your other passions?
I’ve always been a big fan of cycling and keeping fit. I’ve recently bought a gravel bike, so I am keen to try some bike packing adventures. I also enjoy playing golf when I can. I first started playing when I was a junior and, after a long hiatus, I have recently gotten back into it thanks to my friends. It’s a nice way to unwind at the weekend.
I am also a big foodie and on occasion I like to try my hand at making Neapolitan style pizza. It was one of those lockdown hobbies that stuck. It’s amazing how much there is to learn about the process. At some point, I would like to build my own outdoor pizza oven.
And a bonus question to win a luxury holiday, what have been your highlights of working at Phase Two so far?
Right from day one I was getting stuck into the live projects. I joined at a very busy and exciting time. We had a large-scale social entertainment project underway where we delivered a tech-infused 12 hole mini golf course on a newly built 3500 passenger cruise ship in Italy, as part of the on deck entertainment space. There was a large team of designers, model makers and installers involved with the build, so there was a great buzz in the studio.
It’s been great meeting clients and getting feedback on the work. I’ve had the opportunity to work for a range of clients, from small startups all the way to renowned global companies. It’s helped me grow quickly and understand the impact of what we do.
Being in a small team, I feel like I have a lot of responsibility at times. But I feel like I am trusted, which has been really motivating. Plus, the team here is incredibly welcoming and easy to talk to. I’ve learned a lot already and feel excited about what’s ahead.
