Dan Stanton

Dan founded EMP Designs more than two decades ago and continues to lead the company today. As Managing & Technical Director, his role spans business development, client relationships, product innovation, engineering, and strategic direction. No two days are ever quite the same, and that's exactly how he likes it.

 

Tell us about your role at EMP Designs.

As Managing & Technical Director, my role covers a bit of everything. One moment I'm in meetings with clients, the next I'm helping solve technical problems, discussing new product ideas with the R&D team, or dealing with the day-to-day challenges of running the business. People often imagine that I spend my days designing electronics, but the reality is far more varied than that. We have weekly R&D meetings where we discuss new ideas and current development projects, but much of my time is spent helping steer the company and responding to whatever challenges arise throughout the day.

 

What does a typical day look like for you?

Utter chaos. No two days are the same. You can start the morning thinking you'll have a calm day to focus on a project you've been considering overnight, and then suddenly find yourself dealing with customer support, new enquiries, technical discussions, internal meetings, and everything in between. Somewhere amongst all that, we try to find direction for the business and continue moving forward.

 

What's the most interesting project you've worked on?

That's a difficult question to answer because every project has something interesting about it. Some projects are fascinating because of the technical challenges involved. Others are exciting because of where they'll eventually end up, whether that's on a film set, in a theatre production, or as part of a large installation. I've never really had a single standout project. Every project brings something different, and that's part of what keeps the job interesting.

 

How has EMP Designs changed since you founded the company?

One of the biggest surprises has been how much the direction of the business can change. We'll identify an opportunity, develop it, and hope it leads somewhere productive. Along the way, there are always successes and failures. In reality, there are usually far more failures than successes. The successful projects help guide the direction of the business and often open doors to opportunities we never anticipated.

 

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The challenge of solving problems. There are moments when you're working on something incredibly difficult and eventually arrive at a solution that just makes sense. Those moments are hugely rewarding. I enjoy taking complex problems and finding practical ways to solve them. That's always been one of the most satisfying parts of engineering.

 

What would people be surprised to learn about EMP Designs?

Most people know us for electronics, but I don't think they fully appreciate the depth and breadth of what we do. We have an exceptionally capable team covering development, manufacturing, software, motion control, lighting control, and a huge range of bespoke engineering disciplines. From the outside, people often see the final product. They don't always see the expertise and capability that sits behind it.

 

How would you describe the team culture?

Collaborative. We're a small company, and that means everyone works closely together. The best solutions often come from people sharing ideas and helping each other solve problems.

 

What are some of the biggest lessons you've learned?

Running a business teaches you very quickly that you never stop learning. We work with consultants, specialists, customers, and industry experts. Every time you think you've mastered something, you'll meet somebody who knows more than you do. One of the most important lessons is understanding that you'll never know everything. The moment you think you've learned it all is usually the moment you stop progressing.

 

What opportunities have had the biggest impact on the company?

In the early years, we were fortunate to become involved in some large control system projects. However, one of the biggest influences on the business has been LED control. We demonstrated an aptitude for controlling LEDs quite early on, and over time we've developed increasingly sophisticated technologies and products in that area. Those developments opened up opportunities across film, television, theatre, visitor attractions, and live events. Interestingly, that work also led us into tungsten dimming and control systems, which was never an area I expected the business to move into. Today, it's become another important part of what we do.

 

How would you describe EMP Designs in three words?

Innovative. Friendly. Fun.

 

What kind of people succeed at EMP Designs?

People who genuinely enjoy what they do. We've found that people who enjoy problem-solving outside of work often thrive here because that same curiosity carries through into their professional life. Problem-solving sits at the heart of almost everything we do.

 

What advice would you give to someone joining EMP Designs?

Get involved with everything you can. Learn about all the processes and never underestimate any task you're given. When I graduated, I thought having a degree meant I was ready for anything. One of my first jobs involved sweeping the floor. The reality is that every task has value, and often the small things teach you lessons that help you progress later on.

 

What excites you most about the future of the company?

The unknown. It can be slightly terrifying at times, but it's also what makes running a business exciting. You never know exactly what opportunities or challenges are around the corner.

 

How much freedom do you have to experiment?

Probably less than I'd like. I could happily spend all day experimenting with ideas and building prototypes, but running a business requires balancing creativity with commercial reality. The challenge is finding enough time to explore new ideas while making sure the business continues moving forward.

 

Is there anything else you'd like people to know about EMP Designs?

One of the things that makes EMP Designs unique is the sheer variety of work we undertake. On one day we might be making a light flash in a very specific way. The next day we could be designing a precision monitoring system, developing a large-scale motion control installation, or building a tiny animatronic device. The variety of client requests keeps things constantly interesting. As a smaller business, people also get the opportunity to be involved in projects from start to finish. You don't just work on one small section of a larger process. You often see an idea evolve from an initial concept all the way through to a finished product leaving the workshop and being used by the customer. That's a rare opportunity, and one of the most rewarding aspects of working here.

 

Finally, what's your hot drink of choice?

A cup of tea. And preferably a slice of cake to go with it.