Building A Design Agency Without Borders w/ Jo Barnard {Design WIP}
Join Jo Barnard for a candid conversation on building a design agency, working with clients from all around the world, and lessons drawn from her experience as a studio founder.
This talk shares the journey of building Morrama from a one-woman startup into an internationally recognised product design and innovation agency, working with clients from Delhi to San Francisco. Jo reflects on founding the studio as a young female graduate, navigating the realities of starting a business in a competitive industry, and steadily building a values-driven team with global impact.
Jo will unpack the practical lessons behind carving out a distinct point of view, earning trust from ambitious brands, and delivering products that scale. The session will also explore why Morrama has developed a particular affinity for Indian startups, highlighting the energy, ambition and long-term thinking that make them such compelling partners to work with.
This event is hosted by Young Designers India as part of our ongoing mission to connect the next generation of designers with leading creative voices.
More about Jo
Jo is a trained industrial designer and the founder of Morrama, a product design and innovation agency she launched in 2015 at the age of 24. Since then, she has grown the studio into a multi-award-winning team, designing and manufacturing products for brands that have raised over $20 million in investment and sold tens of millions of units globally.
Alongside Morrama, she has built and exited a grooming brand and now serves as Director of Kibu, a circular kids-tech company, and Eco-Flo Innovations, a plastic-free diagnostics business. In 2025, she published From People to Planet; Lessons from a Design Agency, following earlier titles including the Sustainable Design Handbook and Startup Guide: Taking a Product to Market.
A vocal advocate for sustainability in an industry driven by production and consumption, Jo co-founded the not-for-profit Design Declares in 2022, mobilising more than 800 designers and businesses worldwide to commit to climate action, with chapters now established in Ireland, Brazil and Australia.
She is an Associate Lecturer at the Royal College of Art, a professional mentor, and a regular speaker on sustainability, storytelling and the future of design. Her work and leadership have been featured in BBC CEO Secrets, WIRED and TechRound, and she has been named one of the top 10 women to watch in tech and STEM.
Who are we?
YDI is the largest support network of Indian designers living and working across the world (16,000+ members to be precise). Read more about us here and become a member here.
Topic: Building a Design Agency Without Borders
Format: 30 mins talk, 30 mins Audience Questions
RSVP: (98 Seats FCFS)