Curious Orbit is a new independent software studio based in North-East England, founded by two friends who have known each other for more than twenty years.
Curious Orbit began with a simple idea: combine first-hand experience of real-world problems with the technical ability to build thoughtful, well-engineered solutions.
John comes from education, with a background teaching ICT, Design & Technology and Science. Paul comes from software development and database design. Between us, we bring together classroom experience, product thinking, software engineering and a strong understanding of data.
We have been friends for more than twenty years, and Curious Orbit gives us a place to turn that shared curiosity into products of our own — from practical tools for teachers to ambitious game worlds.
We are starting small and deliberately. Being a new independent studio means we can stay close to the problems we are solving, make careful decisions and let each product grow at the right pace.
John's background is in teaching ICT, Design & Technology and Science. That experience brings an understanding of classroom realities, pupil needs, workflow and the difference between a feature that sounds useful and a tool that genuinely saves a teacher time.
Bubblefocus grows directly from that perspective: start with a real classroom problem, then design around how teachers actually work.
Paul's background is in software development and database design. He brings the technical perspective needed to turn ideas into robust systems, structure data well and build foundations that can support increasingly capable products.
That experience is especially important for products like Bubblefocus, where useful insight depends on careful handling of complex data, and for the persistent systems behind Sparks of Gresskar.
Our products may sit in completely different categories, but the same principles keep them in the same orbit.
Understand the problem before deciding what the answer should be.
Complex systems should still feel understandable to the people using them.
Good data structures, maintainable engineering and thoughtful design make room for growth.
A studio should have room for practical products, creative experiments and unexpected ideas.
From classroom technology to a persistent fantasy world, these are the first journeys around the Curious Orbit.