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News and events

Read about Design Directions and its related work.

Call for change in design education

Is design education keeping pace with the growing demand for new design professionals able to operate in a range of service-based environments was the question arising from our recent pamphlet, Social Animals: tomorrow's designers in today's world. Published in June 2009 the author, Sophia Parker, argues that design education is still largely hinged on industrial principles. Students need to be equipped with a broader range of research and communication skills, alongside their more traditional design skills, and encouraged to think more laterally about the sites and spaces where these could be used

Read Social Animals: tomorrow's designers in today's world

Launch of Design & Society

At a reception held at the RSA on 23 July, the Society's new design programme was launched. Taking as its starting point the RSA's central mission to foster good citizenship by closing the gap between our everyday behaviour and the future to which we aspire, Design and Society argues that design is fundamental to achieving this aim because of the particular resourcefulness that designers represent. Ready to improvise and prototype, brave in the face of disorder and complexity, holistic and people-centred in their approach to defining problems, designers have a vital role to play today in making society itself more resourceful.

Read more about Design and Society

RDInsights

rdi insights logoRDInsights is a series of lively and informal interviews conducted by graphic designer Mike Dempsey RDI with fellow Royal Designers.

They span a wide range of fascinating design disciplines.

Find out about how you can hear the latest conversations

Trefor Campbell Award 2007

Ryan Crewe and Trefor CampbellA new initiative to produce ethical, fair-trade underwear for men won Ryan Crewe the Trefor Campbell Enterprise Award this year. He was given £15,000 towards the start up costs of his business and intends to spend the money on product development and materials, as well as to conduct further research and development.

More on the Trefor Campbell Enterprise Award

RSA Flying Start 2007

2006 Trefor Campbell award winnersRead more on the 2007 RSA Flying Start programme for design graduates wishing to start their own businesses. The £15,000 Trefor Campbell Award is again on offer.

More on Flying Start 2007

Tutor Briefing Day 2007

Some presentations from the 2007 event

Designing our Futures

Matthew Taylor and Roger ColmanRead more on the RSA exhibition Designing our Futures, part of the international conference on Inclusive Design held at the Royal College of Art, London on 2-4 April 2007.

More on Designing our Futures

Trefor Campbell Award 2006

Nin Castle, Dr Trefor Campbell and Phoebe EmersonRead about the award scheme for young graduate design entrepreneurs initiated by RSA Fellow Dr Trefor Campbell CBE as part of the Flying Start programme provided by the RSA and the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE).

More on the Trefor Campbell award

Goodone Clothing

Staff at the Goodone studioRead about Goodone Clothing, a start-up fashion business selling ethically produced fashion. Goodone were winners of the first Trefor Campbell Award after demonstrating outstanding entrepreneurial skill during their participation in the RSA Flying Start programme.

More on Goodone Clothing

RSA Flying Start 2006

Mentoring session in progressFlying Start is the national investment readiness programme for UK university graduates of design and creative arts courses provided by the RSA and the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE).

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Dott

Dott logo next to a windfarmFind out about the RSA'S collaboration with the Designs of the time (Dott) project run by the Design Council. The project provides designers, businesses and public service providers with an opportunity to engage citizens in projects to improve their daily life through design.

More on Dott

Tutor briefing day 2006

Notting Hill carnival stamp designAccess presentations from the 2006 tutor briefing day. Project reference material includes Sustainable Packaging, Design for Patient Safety, Wellbeing, and Postage Stamps.

More on Tutor Briefing Day