Our story
Optimistic Futures is a young studio with a pedigree of experience. In 2014, David Kester, a former CEO of the UK Design Council, set up a new type of design agency. DK&A sought to put design to work on purpose-led client challenges and pass on innovation skills through a Design Thinkers Academy. Three years in, Craig Fallowfield-Tomkins, a transport designer with a Masters in Service Design, joined the team.
Over seven years David and Craig worked as a duo across sectors, geographies and topics, tackling knotty problems, developing innovative products, brands and services, and coaching company teams. In 2024, after a decade of projects with inspiring clients and a talented team, DK&A, like many small consulting firms in that period, closed its doors.
It might have been the end of the story. It proved to be a new beginning. Encouraged by clients, David and Craig went back to the drawing board, refreshed their vision for a new agile tech-enabled era with rapidly changing user needs and demographics. The Optimistic Futures Partnership was born. And so, in 2025, a new chapter opened.
The team
Mini para on the set-up with Associates and Partners
David Kester
Founding Partner, Strategy
David Kester leads & advises on complex projects, pioneering ways to turn social challenges into innovation & enterprise for companies & organisations. David also maintains a portfolio of leadership & advisory roles. Formerly, David was CEO of the UK Design Council. In his role there, he was advisor and contributor to three UK governments, developing and supporting innovation and design policy.
Craig Fallowfield-Tomkins
Founding Partner, Design
A design-led, user-focused, player-manager, with a t-shaped skillset rooted in a decade of practicing Service Design on agency-side, informed by a background in Industrial Design. Craig is experienced in delivering impact for top global companies at Board level across a range of sectors (financial services, healthcare, infrastructure, luxury retail, public sector, software, transport) and project types (brand, business strategy, product development, service & experience, technology).
