London Design Festival: Open for Innovation

Workshop and networking event as part of London Design Festival on 20 October 2022, delivered by the Royal College of Art’s Executive Education programme.

Marsha de Cordova, Open for Innovation Executive Education event

To celebrate the opening of the Royal College of Art’s new state-of-the-art campus in Battersea and the return of in person executive masterclasses and short courses, over 60 people participated in a half day workshop and networking opportunity as part of London Design Festival on 20 October 2022.

The event explored new ways business, policy makers and higher education can collaborate to transform their capacity for innovation with three interactive workshops designed by RCA Executive Education faculty including Dr Nick de Leon, Clive Grinyer and Dr Rob Phillips, with support from RCA graduate facilitators.

Participants experienced the new 7th floor Executive Education spaces, with 360 degree views of London and were invited to join a behind the scenes guided tour of the research centres, IRCA incubator, MA studios and facilities.

Research and Innovation

Collaboration with business

Executive Education

Community Engagement

“In Battersea we see the beginning of a new creative cluster with the campus of the world’s No 1 Art & Design University as an anchor institution...The RCA is creating a space that encourages people to make connections, share ideas and network, with the possibility of establishing future collaborative projects. Design-led innovation, creativity and collaboration with universities can respond to the current challenges of business and wider society. Collaborating and working together, we can tackle the big issues and deliver sustainability, design for social impact and responsible growth.”
Marsha de Cordova MP for Battersea, quote from her Welcome Address

Executive Education

Expertise

Sir Peter Bazalgette, RCA Pro-Chancellor & Chair of Council and Co-Chair of Creative Industries Council gave a Welcome Address
Dr Emma Wakelin, RCA Director of Research and Innovation
Presenting key reflections from the interactive workshops.
Workshop session on Delivering a Sustainable Future, led by Professor Clive Grinyer, Head of Service Design MA
Workshop session on Responsible Business Growth and Development, led by Dr Nick de Leon, Executive Education and Knowledge Exchange Lead.
Views across London from the Terrace, at the new Research and Innovation campus designed by Herzog & de Meuron.
Presentations about how design can inform responses to contemporary global and local challenges across business and wider society.
Dr Rob Phillips, workshop on designing with communities for local action

More information

Interactive workshop sessions

Workshop 1: Delivering a Sustainable Future

Led by Professor Clive Grinyer, Head of Service Design MA

Clive Grinyer, workshop at Open for Innovation Executive Education event

How can we balance our need for transformational growth with the need to reach zero carbon goals?

In this workshop, participants learnt about and discussed new systems of sustainable business models, ethics and purpose that is driving business and public sector strategy and delivery.

'One of the great moments of enjoyment that I have, is watching people realise how creative they can be when given permission. With the right tools delegates could turn their problem solving capabilities into creativity: to create new solutions, innovations, the types of things they would have never considered.' Professor Clive Grinyer, Head of Service Design MA

Workshop 2: Designing with Communities, For Local Action

Led by Dr Rob Phillips and Dr Delfina Fantini van Ditmar, from the School of Design

Dr Rob Phillips workshop, Open for Innovation Executive Education event

The workshop explored the opportunities, pitfalls and benefits of working alongside communities that are embedded within society, for local transition to more sustainable practices.

'The aim was to catalyse new conversations and directions, kind of unpicking design processes that are really challenging. The session proved to be a catalyst to open up new opportunities and have important conversations about what design is, what it means to people's businesses, their practises, the local government, and how they can utilise it to improve the lives of those around them.' Dr Rob Phillips, Senior Tutor Design Products MA

Workshop 3: Responsible business growth and development

Led by Dr Nick de Leon, Executive Education and Knowledge Exchange Lead

Dr Nick de Leon workshop Open for Innovation Executive Education event

The workshop explored the evolution and practice of design to address the grand challenges facing people, planet and nature and the opportunities this creates for business to deliver sustainable growth.

'Such an approach demands new models of interdisciplinary and collaborative working and an evolution of the role and skill sets of designers. It also means a much more open approach to innovation by industry - the co-creation of solutions working with an ecosystem of partners.' Dr Nick de Leon,

7th floor Executive Education Spaces, Rausing Research & Innovation Building in Battersea

'The top floor spaces have been specifically designed for the delivery of Executive Education. It's an incredible space with windows all around and 360 degree views across London - simply put, it's a really lovely, immersive, inspiring place to learn.' Hattie Allen, Executive Education Manager

The Royal College of Art's new £135m design, research and innovation campus designed by Herzog & de Meuron and opened in 2022.

Rausing Research & Innovation Building, Battersea

Event Space, Level 7 Rausing Research & Innovation Building in Battersea

Terrace, Events Spaces, Rausing Building Battersea

View 7th Floor Terrace, Rausing Building Battersea

About RCA Executive Education

The RCA delivers senior-level custom executive education programmes for business, government, the public sector and universities globally.

We can leverage world-class design research and researchers, unrivaled design expertise and teaching, and the widest range of established disciplines to be found across the design spectrum. These span our Schools of Architecture, Arts & Humanities, Design and Communication.

Award winning research centres and incubators include the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, the Material Science Research Centre, the Intelligent Mobility Design Centre, Computer Science Research Centre and InnovationRCA.

Get in contact if you would like to discuss developing a programme.

Peter Christian, Head of Executive Education
Hattie Allen, Executive Education Manager

“Uplifting open and light spaces with unique views over the city - the mix of open areas, workshop rooms and the balcony for chatting in the breaks kept the atmosphere dynamic and energetic. I made lots of connections for future collaboration…definitely one of the most effective events for networking that I’ve ever been to.”
Rose Abdollahzadeh Director of Public and Social Impact, London Design Festival
“I could not fail to be impressed. The college’s remit goes far, far beyond art and design – it truly is a factory of ideas and inspiration.”
Lucy Gravatt Director of Partnerships and Communications, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership
“The new campus is a brilliant space for new and emerging creative minds to develop their craft. Based on my understanding of other design schools across the UK and wider, I think it’s probably fair to say the facility is best in class.”
Peter Webster Arup
“What the Royal College of Art represents is a set of world leading experts delivering really high, impactful workshops, programmes, interactions with people, encouraging collaboration, leaving you with and feeling inspired.”
Simon Littlewood CEO, Estu Global Ltd
“The half day of creative conversations and workshops was an exciting opportunity to discuss how design can respond to contemporary global and local challenges.”
Paola Galdi International Affairs, POLI.Design
“A great day in an inspiring place, with inspiring people.”
Tom Gray Chief Strategy Officer, Imagination