BUILD IN PROCESS
But not without first diving into why we’re bringing sound system workshops into a university like UCL, and a crash course on design engineering and the physics of sound.
Many thanks to The Urban Listening Room’s technical lead @david.chen02 for leading our first day of the workshop, and to our participants for their engagement.
Join the listening session on Friday 15 May 2026, 6.30-9pm @uclurbanroom to see the sound system in process (link in bio).
@daddydarkrdc@ucleastengage
We’re excited to return to @the_bbe_store for our next motion on Friday 22nd of May 🐎‼️
We will also be dropping exclusive motion merch available only on the night, so make sure you come down 🫡
Catch our resident DJs playing all evening long from 6–11pm. And as always with BBE, entry is free and no tickets required.
See you on the floor 🌟
LISTENING AS BUILDING
What does it mean to host a listening session? Who are we listening to, and why?
‘The Urban Listening Room: Listening Session – Build in Process’ brings together project collaborators and audiences in East London to reflect on this collectively.
Emerging from a two-day sound system workshop, this free session listens to uncertainty, testing, adjustment, and resolution in real time, while previewing the sound system developed across the workshops as it comes into being.
Hosted by @daddydarkrdc , the evening continues a journey first opened through our November 2025 session with Run Dem Sound. Listen to selected vinyl records, conversation, and the relationship between sound, space, and collective presence.
While open to all, spaces are limited | Book your spot
Full information in flyer
Illustrations: Charlie Dark’s Run Dem Sound system by Dana Sousa-Limbu
Flyer design: @hadrihanah . Inspired by David Rodigan Roots Rockers flyer, in A Night To Remember: UK Soundsystem Flyers 1972-1994
BUILD IN PROCESS
‘The Urban Listening Room: Build in Process’ explores how a sound system takes shape through making and collective listening.
Free two-day workshop (limited spaces) in East London led by @david.chen02 , culminating in a public listening session led by @daddydarkrdc across 14-15 May 2026.
Register your interest via link in bio
Flyer design & illustrations: @hadrihanah . Inspired by David Rodigan Roots Rockers flyer, in A Night To Remember: UK Soundsystem Flyers 1972-1994
This project and event series are supported by UCL Grand Challenges x ChangeMakers, the Bartlett School of Architecture Just Environments Incubator Fund, and the UCL East Community Engagement Seed Fund.
[FULLY BOOKED]
Our BoAtPod show is up on YouTube for playback ⛵️📡
Enjoy 2 hours of soulful energy – disco, jazz funk, hip-hop, bruk and much in between.
We even snuck in a conversation on an exciting new project… listen back to find out what we’ve got in the works. Check the link in our bio 🌟
Handle With Care featured for @gauchoworld Platinum Sounds series with DJ and designer @david.chen02
“From Fela to Skepta, DVD’s sound is undefined; yet consistently celebrates some of the referential greats.”
Link in bio to hear the full mix 🌐🪭
ONE YEAR ON: David Chen / @david.chen02@handlewithcare.store
A series where we check in with our contributing designers, from our 2024 Exhibit with Kindred / @kindred_ldn
David Chen (b. Dallas, 2002) is an emerging product designer and creative technologist based in London. Having recently completed a Master’s in Design Engineering at Imperial College, he is establishing a strong interdisciplinary practice which explores the intersection between DJ culture and design engineering.
What have you been up to since the exhibit?
Since the Kindred show, I’ve graduated from the Design Engineering MEng course at Imperial College. Since then, I’ve been freelancing full-time in audio-related product design and engineering, mainly designing and building custom soundsystems. Towards the end of last year, I also started a party with my friend Tai called “Motion”, which now has a residency at BBE Store in Hackney.
Your thoughts on how being part of the exhibit impacted you or your practice.
For me, the show was an introduction to a field of extremely talented designers and makers, some of whom I currently work with and all of whom I draw inspiration from.
What’s next, anything new to share?
I always find myself working on many projects at once, so I’ll narrow it down to the ones I’m most excited about. I’ve released a DJ headphone which has been gaining traction over the past month or so – I’ve been able to collaborate with some of my GOAT DJs and producers, including Benji B, Charlie Dark and Steven Julien. So I’m excited to see how far that project goes. I’m also working on a cool custom home hifi system with my friend Saji, who runs a spatial design practice called Protean. And of course, my party “Motion”, for which we are currently designing and building a soundsystem from repurposed oriental furniture. The next step for me would be to move into a proper studio space and lock in. So we’ll see how that goes.
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Design Everything
The 7” adapter/grinder is our first project designed and produced under @45rpm.store
The parts are milled from engineering grade aluminium with a sand blasted finish. Each set is packaged in a reusable translucent hardshell.
Purchase is exclusively available at 45rpm.store and kindredeverything.com
This is an NJD dub siren with a raw aluminium chassis.
The aim of this modification was to simplify the function and reorganise the layout, arranging touchpoints to avoid accidental activation while giving the unit a clearer visual structure. The build-it-yourself flat-pack design of the siren was chosen for its accessible manufacturing process.
Catch it in use exclusively @motioncrewonly 🚨