Great Creators Podcast is a series sharing the diverse stories of design and entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland.
We’ll feature start-ups, community-led projects, and established businesses which together make up the rich innovation ecosystem.
This podcast is a project by The Graduate School at Queen’s University in partnership with Belfast Design Week.
Listen now via Soundcloud & Spotify
We want to highlight that opportunity is all around, if you know where to look for it and to delve deeper into understanding how a product or service comes about from those “in the know” – the designers and entrepreneurs themselves!
The podcast will share different business models and approaches, the challenges and pivots of entrepreneurial journeys, and contain useful and easy-to-implement advice and resources.
EPISODE 1 – PRODUCT INNOVATION
The first episode is on product innovation and features Dr. Peter Barrett The Buchas Dog and Azhar Murtuza Born Maverick
Dr. Peter Barrett
Dr. Peter Barrett is a scientist who has recently set up the first kombucha company in Northern Ireland – The Bucha’s Dog. Starting as a passion project in Peter’s kitchen for his own enjoyment and for family and friends, The Bucha’s Dog has grown organically to become a business and Peter’s kombucha can now be found in many cafes, delis, bars, and restaurants in Belfast and beyond. The Covid-19 lockdown has hit the hospitality sector hard but Peter has used this period to continue developing The Bucha’s Dog through rebranding, designing a new facility to make kombucha, coming up with new recipes and planning future workshops to teach people how to make their own home brews.
Instagram – www.instagram.com/thebuchasdog/
Facebook – facebook.com/thebuchasdog
Website – www.thebuchas.dog
Azhar Murtaza
Azhar Murtuza is an entrepreneur who initially came to study at The Graduate School at Queen’s University in Belfast from Mangalore in India and decided to stay and set up an ethical food business, Born Maverick. He believes strongly that “change is up to us” and brings this philosophy to all aspects of his “flexitarian” food products and it is also his advice to entrepreneurs and “want’repreneurs. Azhar believes that Northern Ireland is an excellent place to set up a business and that opportunities are there all around us waiting to be found and made use of. Entering competitions and pitching has given Azhar the confidence to boldly forge forward with new products including coconut milk popsicles, vegan eggs, vegan prawns and coffee alternatives. As well as being an entrepreneur, Azhar is a keen writer and photographer taking in the beautiful landscapes of Northern Ireland.
Twitter – twitter.com/bebornmaverick
Instagram – www.instagram.com/born_maverick/
Website – www.wearepur.com
RESOURCES
The Graduate School at Queen’s University – www.qub.ac.uk/graduate-school/
QUB Enterprise SU – qubsu.org/EnterpriseSU/
Belfast Design Week – belfastdesignweek.com
Invest NI – www.investni.com
Invest NI Business Information Centre – www.investni.com/support-for-busi…tors-and-markets
Catalyst Inc. – wearecatalyst.org
Invent Awards – wearecatalyst.org/programmes/invent/
If you are interested in workspace, virtual services, room hire or coming to any of our events or any general enquiries get in touch.
Get in TouchThe Story of Blick... so far!
2007
BY CREATIVES FOR CREATIVES
Blick was set up by a group of creative entrepreneurs struggling to ...
Apr 25
We have one dedicated desk available at our Malone Studios starting from June 2022!
The desk comes fully furnished at £150 per month (no ...
Apr 21
We are delighted to feature @rhea_hanlon_art's artwork in our Malone Road studios atrium where it takes pride of place in this sunny breakout ...
Apr 14
Hill streets lovely breakout areas, where you can sit and have some lunch or a coffee away from your desk
#hillstreetbelfast #sharedstudios ...
Mar 31
Congratulations to our resident Dani McFerran, founder of award winning Graphic Design studio @doneanddusteddesign, as she was recently celebrated for...
Mar 28
Our lovely main room in our Malone studios is available for hire and we now have a special reduced rates for anyone wanting to make an ongoing ...
Mar 24
Our Malone Road studios illustrated by resident and team member @jenny_eva_design 🌿
Offering private and shared studio space, 51 Malone ...
Mar 21
We are delighted to host the Rosie McGurran 'Corners of Time' solo exhibition by resident Francesca Biondi of @gallery545online.
...
Mar 17
We have 2 desks coming available in our Cotton Court studios from the start of April. £100 per desk per month all inclusive. Cotton Court is a lovely...
Mar 15
A warm welcome to Holly @holly.e.m who has recently joined Blick as a resident in Cotton Court.
Holly is a theatre graduate and has recently ...
Mar 10
Our second studio space in the Cathedral Quarter; Cotton Court, illustrated by resident and team member @jenny_eva_design ✨
Find it on ...
Mar 7
What a gorgeous weekend. Hope everyone got to enjoy the good weather.
Did you know that as well as providing physical workspace for creatives we ...
Mar 6
Hill St soaking up all the sunlight today ☀️
Our shared studio space on the top floor of this lovely building is the perfect base for a ...
Feb 21
Blick's Social Impact 2019-20 🌿
Here's a quick snapshot of our social impact for this year:
👉 Over our three sites ...
Feb 17
✨ Private studio available ✨
We have a lovely private studio available at our Cotton Court studios in the Cathedral Quarter, just across ...
Feb 14
Our lovely Hill Street studios by resident and team member @jenny_eva_design✨
Check out more of her work at jennyevadesign.com!
...
Feb 10
We said a fond farewell to Hill St residents @thatcleverghost recently as they move out of Blick and into private studio space.
Paul and ...
Feb 7
New black walls 🖤 in our Malone atrium. We have lots of studio updates planned for all our studios over the coming months, while covid makes it ...
Jan 26
Beautiful sun filled views from our Hill St. studios this morning ☀️
#blicksharedstudios #belfastcathedralquarter #studiospace ...
Jan 24
We got the chance to chat with Documentary fillmmaker Gillian Callan, one of our newest residents at Cotton Court. Gillian shared her top tips as a ...
Jan 20
We have three desks available in Hill St!
Come and work in this beautiful light and airy space.
All desks come fully furnished at ...
Jan 13
Belated Happy New year, we are easing ourselves into 2022, looking forward to a new year and fresh beginnings. Finishing off a few bits and pieces, ...
Jan 11
Merry Christmas from everyone here at Blick Studios!
We are winding down for the festive period and will be back in the New Year with fresh ...
Dec 16
A warm welcome to Liza Thompson, one of our newest residents to join us at Malone.
Liza is a book editor working remotely for Bloomsbury ...
Dec 9
Here at Blick we aim to support and promote local creatives in Northern Ireland.
A number of our fantastic residents are crafting, painting ...
Dec 6
Check out our resident @wee.nuls amazing new collection release! ✨
Available via @wee.nuls' link in bio 🔗
Photos by ...
Nov 29
Meet Ray Walsh, our newest resident in 46 Hill Street!
Ray is a Graphic Designer working remotely for a design studio based in Birmingham. He...
Nov 25
If you're heading to Belfasts Christmas Market, stop by our resident @dannisimpsonart's amazing stall and #supportlocalartists!
...
Nov 22