In September of 2015, we were invited by the British Council to kickstart a programme of talks and workshops in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Almaty lies on the South Eastern tip of Kazakhstan, close to the borders of China and Kyrgyzstan.  There is an increasing interest in fostering a local design scene in Kazakhstan, however, designers face major challenges, including lack of industry infrastructure and access to suppliers and producers to enable them to make and sell products. It was a fantastic trip, an insight into a new land and its people, culture and traditions.