Creative Escape 2026
We brought the team together for our Creative Escape at Fowlescombe Farm, a 450-acre regenerative working farm in Devon. It's rare that we're all out of our day-to-day environment, so instead of a typical summer party & Christmas night out, we chose something slower and more meaningful.
For our fourth annual Creative Escape, we headed to Fowlescombe Farm in Devon. A couple of days away from the studio at the end of September, and the whole team came back feeling like we'd properly exhaled.
Fowlescombe is a 450-acre regenerative working farm, tucked into a hidden valley on the edge of Dartmoor. People have been farming there since 1537, and it still runs by the rhythm of the land. We arrived in glorious sunshine, which helped, and it was surprising how little time it took for us to switch off.
Our first Creative Escape was in 2023, and its positive, lasting effect on the team is why we've continued it every year since. This year we went further afield to Devon, after the last couple of years in Dorset and the New Forest, but we still focused on our connection to nature, good food and being outdoors.
The idea behind our Creative Escapes hasn't changed - step out of our usual roles, go somewhere fairly remote and disconnect. Design chats happen anyway, they always do, but there's no sketching, no CAD and not a 3D print in sight. Just time away from the norm to enjoy the space in between.
This year, that meant getting stuck into farm life. We did a tour of the working farm, got to watch a live bread-making session with the chefs, and spent a lot of time at the wild lake, with the sauna on hand to warm us up afterwards. Both were firm favourites.
Tuesday's weather was mixed, but that didn't stop a couple of the team heading out on a 70km road ride, while others went off on trail runs and hikes around the farm. With Komoot routes from the door, it was easy to find a good trail. Everyone ended up back at the lake and sauna, which is hard to beat after a day outdoors.
And the food - it was sensational. In the Refectory, the menu is led by what's coming out of the farm's fields, woodlands and gardens, with the chefs working closely with the farm and garden teams. We felt you could really taste the difference when produce has travelled that short a distance. One evening we were treated to a private dinner in a greenhouse, which was a real highlight of the trip.
Time away like this also lets us connect one-to-one in a way that's hard to find in the rhythm of studio life. Our Creative Escapes are intentionally small and pared back, and we plan to keep it that way. In a world where quantity can so easily overshadow quality, they bring us back to what matters: making meaningful work and valuing experiences that last.
Our team has grown this year, and for the new members this was their first retreat. Everyone agreed how important the time away is. We came back to the studio relaxed, recharged and more connected to our purpose: to create designs that are loved, that endure, and that honour the world around us. After all, nothing is more timeless than nature itself.
Fowlescombe has been featured in Condé Nast Traveller, The Times and National Geographic Traveller's 30 Best Hotels in the World, and having stayed, we can see why. A big thank you to the team at Fowlescombe for looking after us so well. We have a feeling we may be back.
SW X BU Design Wave Summer Social
On Thursday 30th July, Studio Wood welcomed creatives from across the South Coast and beyond for the BU Design Wave Summer Social. With fresh pizza, drinks, music and plenty of conversation, the evening celebrated the region's thriving creative community.
Studio Wood’s X BU Design Wave First Summer Social
Our partnership with Bournemouth University runs deep. Both James Wood, our Founder, who studied Industrial Design and Sophie Godfrey, our MD, who studied Sports Marketing studied at BU, so supporting the next generation and strengthening connections within the local creative community has always felt like a natural fit.
When the team at Bournemouth University approached us about hosting a BU Wave Summer Social for the South Coast creative community, we were delighted to open our doors.
Over the years, we've hosted summer gatherings for local graphic designers and even organised boat parties with fellow creative studios. This year, however, was an opportunity to broaden the invite list and bring together an even wider mix of creatives from across the region.
It was fantastic to welcome guests not only from across the South Coast, but also from Bristol, London, Southampton and the Midlands. With the sun shining, the evening was an amazing chance to showcase Bournemouth at its best while creating new connections, catching up with familiar faces and celebrating the strength of the creative community that continues to grow around it.
We were delighted to welcome a fantastic group of people from businesses including; A2V, Aetha, Brothers Make, Chilly’s, Element Creative, Forme, Design Truth, Mathmos, NLG, Gozney, Salad Creative, Studio Glass, Tangerine, Tom Studio, Tentbox and VaultX amongst a bunch of other freelancers, graphic designers and creatives.
The evening kicked off with Studio Wood's Song and Jamie behind the bar, serving local Eight Arch beers alongside a selection of cocktails poured from the Chilly's Big Mouth, one of the latest products we designed in collaboration with the Chilly's team, who were also joining us for the evening.
As the evening got underway, Sophie from Studio Wood and Abi from Bournemouth University welcomed everyone with a short introduction, thanking guests for coming and encouraging them to make the most of the evening, meet someone new, and enjoy the free pizza and drinks.
To keep the atmosphere going, Delia from Aetha on the decks, while the brilliant team at Pizza with Love served freshly made pizzas throughout the night.
The conversations continued well into the evening, and by 11.30pm we reluctantly had to encourage everyone to head home. It was a weeknight after all, and we all had work to get back to the next morning.
Overall, the evening was a huge success. It was fantastic to reconnect with familiar faces while welcoming plenty of new ones into the Studio Wood community. Bringing together such a diverse group of creative people is exactly what these events are all about, and we can't wait to do it again.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the evening. A special mention to Abi and Tim for trusting us to host the BU Wave Summer Social. We hope it won’t be the last and we’re open to a mould wine version this winter! Special thanks to Delia, Bret, Song, Jamie and Celine for helping us make it possible.
The response over the past week has been so great, everyone was in such a good mood that evening and we feel lucky to have such a wonderful creative community on our doorstep. We are always open to feedback about our events and to new ideas - so if you have an idea or an event you’d like our help hosting please get in touch with Sophie.
