Beyond the Algorithm: Why real space and real makers matter now.

As artificial intelligence reshapes design, imagery and retail at speed, we are surrounded by seamless digital perfection. Algorithms influence taste. Products are generated before they are made. The line between real and rendered continues to blur.

But in this saturation of the virtual, are people beginning to seek something different?

This panel explores whether we are witnessing a return to the tangible, to objects that carry the mark of the hand, to conversations held in real rooms, to work experienced not through a screen but through touch.

If so much can be simulated, what cannot be replicated?

If so much can be rendered, what makes something real?

When perfection is effortless, does imperfection become powerful?

Bringing together independent makers and industry voices, this discussion considers whether physical spaces, human skill and in-person exchange are not nostalgic ideals, but the future strength of craft.

Is this the independent maker’s moment, not despite technology, but because of it?

In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, the value of the real may become not nostalgic, but essential.

Limited places. Booking essential!

What will we explore?

– The impact of AI and algorithm-driven culture on design, retail and perception

– Whether digital saturation is creating a renewed appetite for the tangible

– The difference between simulation and presence

– Why imperfection, process and materiality matter

– The role of physical spaces in building trust, connection and cultural value

– Whether independent makers hold a unique advantage in this moment

– How craft businesses can respond strategically rather than defensively

Who is on the panel?

Chair:

Rachael Taylor is a jewellery editor, author, speaker and consultant with extensive experience across the jewellery, luxury and creative sectors. A respected freelance journalist, she writes for titles including the Financial Times, Marie Claire, Rapaport and Retail Jeweller. Alongside her editorial work, Rachael is an experienced event host and moderator, known for bringing insight, warmth and clarity to live conversations across jewellery, craftsmanship and the wider creative landscape.

Panel Members:

TF Chan is the director of Collect, an international art fair for museum-quality contemporary craft and design, organised by Crafts Council and held annually at Somerset House in London. He is also the author of Louis Poulsen: First House of Light (Phaidon, 2024), a monograph on Denmark’s leading lighting company. A frequent speaker and moderator, TF has appeared on BBC Radio London and Monocle on Design, and participated in talks in London, Milan, New York, Tokyo and Copenhagen. As a journalist, he has contributed to publications including The World of Interiors, Monocle, Ark Journal and Icon. He began his career at Wallpaper*, where he led the print magazine from 2020 to 2023.

Mary Lewis is Head of Craft Sustainability at Heritage Crafts and lead researcher of the Red List of Endangered Crafts, the nationally recognised research project tracking traditional skills at risk across the UK. With a background in craft practice, she has developed training, apprenticeships and sustainability initiatives that support the future of endangered making traditions. Her work brings valuable insight into skills transmission, cultural heritage and what is at stake when craft knowledge is lost.

Rajesh Gogna is a fourth-generation silversmith and goldsmith, contemporary craft practitioner, academic and researcher based in the UK. His work explores traditional techniques through a contemporary aesthetic and has been exhibited internationally, with pieces held in major museum and private collections including the V&A, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the National Museum of Wales. He is Programme Leader/ Senior Lecturer in Design Crafts at De Montfort University and a former Chairman of Contemporary British Silversmiths. Through both his creative practice and academic work, Rajesh contributes to the ongoing development of contemporary silversmithing, design thinking and the future of craft education.

Karin Paynter is an industry leader and advocate for British craftsmanship. She has directed major initiatives to develop and champion the silversmithing and jewellery sector, including exhibitions with the V&A, Christie’s and the Silver Trust, and most recently directed Silver in the Fast Lane at Goldsmiths’ Hall. Karin played a key role in the creation of the Goldsmiths’ Centre and is a founding Trustee of the Goldsmiths’ Foundation.

Trained as a silversmith at Medway and in design at the Royal College of Art, she is committed to supporting professional craft skills and strengthening the cultural role of British silversmithing internationally. She is currently leading industry-led research on the silversmithing sector for the Goldsmiths’ Company, helping to inform future development and support across the field.

Who are the special audience guests?

To be announced soon!

Why should you attend?

As an independent jewellery designer or maker, this is your chance to:

– Understand how AI and digital culture are shaping customer expectations

– Gain insight into whether physical retail and in-person connection are becoming more valuable

– Hear perspectives from across the industry – makers, retailers and commentators

– Reflect on what makes your work distinctive and difficult to replicate

– Consider how to position your practice confidently in a changing landscape

– Connect with like-minded designers in a real, shared space

This is not a conversation about resisting technology. It is about recognising where your strength lies — in skill, material, presence and human exchange

What will happen on the evening?

6.00pm: Welcome drinks

6.30pm: Panel discussion followed by open floor comments and questions. 

7.15pm: Drinks and mingle

8.00pm: Close

Who is it for?

Everyone interested in the benefits of creativity, education, learning, creative spaces, open access spaces, creative hubs and the future of craft learning, making and business. 

What should I bring?

- Note book and pen

- Glasses (if you need them!)

What is included?

Dinks on arrival and during networking

How do I get there? 

FORGE 59 Leather Lane, London EC1N 7TJ

See contact page for details on public transport and parking.

How do I book?

To book your place, simply add the number of spaces you'd like and click Add to Cart, then click on the basket icon in the top right corner to proceed to checkout.

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