The Creator Series
We’re celebrating a major milestone, 30 years of design innovation, with the launch of The Creator Series.
This new video series dives into the story behind our work. From the early days of Inflate to the evolution of AirClad, and everything that’s shaped our journey in between. At the heart of it all is Nick Crosbie, our Founder and driving creative force, sharing insights, challenges, and the thinking behind three decades of pushing boundaries.
The Creator Series isn’t just about looking back, it’s about understanding the creative process, learning from experience, and exploring what it takes to keep innovating in an ever-changing world.
If you’re curious about design, creativity, or the future of adaptable architecture, this one’s for you.
Episode 1: Challenge
It all started in 1989, a fateful trip to Barcelona and a copy of the INTERNI design book… Nick shares the moments that shaped his love of design and the designers that inspired him in the early days of his career.
Episode 2: Saint Martins
The peril of facing expulsion from Saint Martins, an inflatable portfolio, a floating television and splashing about in the pool with Chris Evans on the Big Breakfast…
Episode 3: RCA
Getting stripped to the bone creatively by the RCA – and becoming petrified by design.
Episode 4: Approach
Putting pen to paper. Nick takes us through his SAINT MARTIN’S sketchbook and some of his early ‘analogue’ design concepts, the design approach he uses to this day – plus a glimpse of the very first INFLATE logo!
Episode 5: Influence
Nick talks about the design innovators that have shaped his design philosophy, stripping design down to a minimal form and the importance of DESIGN leading TECHNOLOGY, to the benefit of human connection.
Episode 6: Inflate
Taking the first steps into the world of business, with the iconic fruit bowl and egg hoop. A burst paddling pool. An approach from Alessi, and a party, with drunk guests and Inflatable thefts.
Episode 7: Dip Mould
1997: A step away from INFLATABLES and into the world of DIP MOULDED products. The creation of ‘Mr & Mrs Prickly’, co-creating a back pack range with Craig Morrison and an iconic album cover for The Super Furry Animals.
Episode 8: Airflow
A move into the limitless world of large format cut and sew airflow structures. The creation of an office in a bucket, the first outdoor structures and projects for Dyson, Issey Miyake and O2.
Episode 9: The Deal
Creating the unknown, and pushing the boundaries. A technically challenging project for Smirnoff, required a unique engineering approach, a leap of faith and a bold negotiation tactic!
Episode 10: Belief
Delivering a uniquely mammoth project for Unipart at Goodwood Festival of Speed, caused Nick to dig-deep, and focus his energy on the power of perseverance, positive thinking and belief!
Episode 11: Challenge
Feeling the heat in Australia. How a project for Lacoste pushed the limits of inflatable design and engineering, and how this build—crafted with serious architectural ingenuity and rock-solid structural integrity—gave Nick an idea…
Episode 12: AirClad
From Inflate to AirClad: The first AirClad structures – a house project, a rooftop build, an ambitious restaurant, and even an aborted concept for easyHotel – sparked a new way of thinking for Nick. That vision soon led to standout projects for global brands like Puma and Kia.
Episode 13: FASTARCHITECTURE
Speed is an opportunity to look at architecture in a different way. Making decisions now that will be great in the future. Perfection isn’t about layering stuff, perfection is about removing stuff. How do we make better, faster? This is #FASTARCHITECTURE
Episode 14: Structures
Fast, Faster and Fastest. Discover AirClad’s modular systems – designed for speed, scale, and creativity. From the XPRO range (a fully configurable, Meccano-style kit of parts) to the EXPRESS pop-up pods (ready in minutes), and the XTRL mobile units (pre-engineered trailer spaces), AirClad delivers flexible solutions for events, retail, and hospitality. Engineered for performance, built for immersion, and open to limitless creative overlays – AirClad brings fast architecture to life.
Episode 15: Louis Vuitton
From inflatables to high fashion, this video explores how experimental design turned into collaborations with some of the biggest names in the industry. What began with playful prototypes like inflatable sliders grew into projects with designers such as Craig Green and global fashion house Louis Vuitton, led by the late Virgil Abloh.
Episode 16: Aesthetic
We all migrate to things we like. There is a commonality around what people find attractive. Creating beautiful products from a process, instead of layering. Design has a balance. If it looks ugly, revisit it, pick into it, so it looks nice in the end. The process makes it beautiful!
Episode 17: Challenging Project
CES Las Vegas nailed! Where modular structures come together from 4 different countries to make something beautiful!
Episode 18: Dream Project
Big sporting events need big infrastructure, or do they? Sometimes we just overthink it. Bring simple things and make them come alive.
Episode 19: Futures
Final Episode. What if a house doesn’t need to be permanent? It could go up for as long or short as you like, and move on. Why buy low quality housing from developers because that’s all what is on offer, when you can have a space you love.
Media Enquiries
Nick is available for interviews, commentary and insights on temporary architecture, event spaces, sustainable modular design and pretty much everything between.
